Module 18 of 20
Distress, urgency, safety calls, DSC/VHF procedure, visual signals, flag signals, Morse, and harbour traffic signals.
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A Yachtmaster candidate must be able to choose the right level of radio call quickly. MAYDAY is for grave and imminent danger to a vessel or person. PAN-PAN is for urgency, where help or...
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) sends an electronic distress alert from the VHF set. A DSC distress alert normally includes the vessel MMSI, position if the radio is connected to GNSS, ti...
A clear voice MAYDAY follows a predictable structure: MAYDAY repeated three times, vessel name repeated three times, call sign or MMSI if available, position, nature of distress, assistan...
PAN-PAN is used for urgent situations such as engine failure near a lee shore, a serious but stable medical problem, a lost person not yet known to be in immediate danger, or a vessel dis...
If you hear a distress call and no coastguard or other station responds, you may need to relay the distress. A MAYDAY RELAY passes on the distress details so that rescue authorities recei...
Visual distress signals support radio and electronic alerting. Red parachute rockets are for long-range night or poor-visibility alerting. Red hand flares help rescuers pinpoint the vesse...
The International Code of Signals provides a standard set of flags, pennants, and meanings. Yachtmasters do not need to memorise the whole code, but they should recognise common safety fl...
SOS in Morse is three short, three long, three short. It can be sent by light, sound, or any other signalling method. A safe water mark often uses Morse A, which is dot dash. A Yachtmaste...
Harbour entrances, locks, bridges, and traffic-controlled channels may display lights, boards, flags, or VHF instructions. The exact system is local, so the skipper must check the almanac...
Good VHF discipline is part of seamanship. Listen before transmitting, use low power when range allows, keep calls short, and move routine traffic to a working channel. Channel 16 must be...
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