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Emergency
Channel 16
If:
• Your ship is sinking, or on fire
• Someone has been lost overboard
• There exists grave and imminent
danger
Use this distress procedure:
• Select Channel 16
• Say "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday."
• Give call sign and boat name
• Give location of boat
• Describe emergency
• If no answer, repeat; then try and
other channel
Caution
Every ship at sea is obliged to give
absolute priority to radio
communications relating to ships in
distress — it is vital that false distress
calls or messages not be broadcast.
Calling
Channel 16 & Working Channel
If — you wish to establish
communications with another station
And — you know which working channel
the station is monitoring
Then — initiate the call directly on that
working channel
If — you wish to establish
communications with another station
And — you do not know what working
channel the station may be monitoring
Then — initiate the call on channel 16.
After contact is made switch to a working
channel.
NOTE: Due to congestion on channel 16
caused by frequent hailing of other
vessels, the FCC has approved channel 9
as a second hailing channel.
Avoid excessive calling and radio checks
Always monitor before transmitting
Never interrupt emergency
communications
