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Communication - Coggle Diagram
Communication
Visual
Flares
Need to be kept dry
Handheld flares do last a while, but they are still a temporary signal
More Effective at night
Aerial flares can be seen over huge distances, but will only display your location for a few seconds at most
Smoke
Provides a very clear and wide signal both to the air and the surface.
Dye
Helpful for locating from above, but provides very little help for boats trying to find you
Lights
Flashlight
Hard to use while paddling
Often higher powered and more waterproof than most headlamps
Headlamp
Keeps your hands free
Simple way to make people aware of your location in the dark
You should have one no matter what
Strobe
Effective at attracting attention from miles away
Attach it high on your life vest
Laser
Can transmit over extremely long distances, but only effective if people know that they are looking for you, otherwise they may discount the signal
Some kind of light is required for any night paddling
Most lights should be visible from all directions to be effective
Reflective tape
Simple passive indicator
Useless unless someone else is looking for you with a light
Flags
Simple way to make your hands more effetctive
Still not that much more effective than hands or arms, the orange color is the primary difference
Hand
You always have them, but often they are useless at longer ranges.
Waving your arms over your head is a universal symbol for distress
Mirror
Most effective on sunny days
Useless at night
Works best when others are already aware of the emergency
Radio
VHF Radio
VHF stands for very high frequency and ranges from 30 to 300 megahertz
Recreational boats under 65.5 feet are NOT required to have a VHF radio. You may not be able to communicate with them
Vessels that do have a radio are supposed to watch channel 16 for possible emergencies.
Can also be used to get weather for your area
Channels
Channel 9
Primary Calling Channel
Format for hailing other radios, stations, vessels and the like
Name of station being called x3, "THIS IS", Name of caller, "OVER"
Wait for reply. Reply should be in the same format as your call, but with the roles reversed.
Suggest a specific working channel to continue the conversation on, followed by "OVER"
Wait for confirmation from the station, then switch to the new channel.
Can be used to request a radio check
Use this channel to make contact with another radio, then move to one of the working channels ASAP
Channel 16
Emergency/ Distress Channel
Usage
Mayday Call
Should only be used if you or people in your party are in immediate danger of injury or death and require assistance
"MAYDAY" x3, "THIS IS", Name of party x3, Location, Problem, Number of people in the group, type of assistance desired, any other information that may be useful, "OVER"
LOCATION is best described by latitude and longitude, or by a bearing and distance to a landmark (bearing can be true or magnetic just be clear of which one, Landmark should ideally be well known) If you are unable to give either of these descriptions of location, anything that will help responders to locate you will be helpful.
PROBLEM should be the nature of your emergency as clear and brief as you can
This is only the ideal format for an emergency call. People will still respond to almost any variation of "MAYDAY" and a location. However you can clearly communicate this and any other vital information will be the best method.
Repeat the message at regular intervals until you receive response
Pan-Pan Call
Use the same format as the Mayday call, but replace "MAYDAY" with "PAN-PAN"
This call is used in the event of an emergency that is not yet life threatening, but could potentially become so. Think of using it when there is a situation that may or may not end up needing a mayday call.
May be used in a situation where you want help standing by, but do not yet require their help.
Securitay / Securite
Safety signal
Used to transmit safety information about navigation
Examples
Large vessel coming through a narrow channel
Weather information
Powerful storm system approaching
Hazardous debris in the water
"SECURITAY" x3, "ALL STATIONS" x3, "THIS IS", [Vessel Name] x3, "SAFETY MESSAGE CONCERNING", [Location], "TO FOLLOW ON CHANNEL", [#], "OUT"
Repeat the above on new channel, but with the addition of the hazard after location.
May also be used by the USCG to broadcast Urgent marine information such as weather
Channel 22a
USCG use only.
Coast guard may direct you to switch from channel 16 to this channel after making contact
If you do not receive a response to your emergency call on channel 16, try transmitting on this channel
Channel 13
Bridge to bridge communication between vessels.
Good channel to listen to in order to know what larger vessels are doing around you, and to communicate with them.
Channels 68, 69, 71, 72, 78a
Working Channels
Use these channels for communication between your group, or to communicate with vessels you have already contacted over channel 9.
Cheat sheet for list of all channels and their uses:
U.S. VHF CHANNEL INFORMATION
Voice Procedure
Non emergency and other improper use of channel 16 is illegal and can carry a $5000 fine plus the cost of any actions the Coast Guard may take as a result
No one can transmit while you are transmitting and vice versa. Take a moment before transmitting to be sure you are not stepping on someone else's conversation.
Keep your conversations brief so that channels can be opened to other people
Procedure words: Normal meaning
Use "OUT" to designate when you are done using a channel. Can be used before switching channels, or just if your conversation is over.
Use "OVER" to designate when you are done talking so that others know they can press transmit without broadcasting over you.
"AFFIRMATIVE": Yes
"NEGATIVE": No
"CORRECT": You are correct
"WRONG": Your last transmission was incorrect
"CORRECTION": The correct version is....
"RADIO CHECK": Tell me the strength and clarity of my transmission
"I READ YOU": Response to radio check
"READ BACK": Read back the following message to me exactly as received.
"I READ BACK": Response to read back, followed by the message
"RECIEVED"
"SAY AGAIN": Repeat your message
"I SPELL":
I am going to spell the next word phonetically.
This should be using the NATO phonetic alphabet
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-Ray, Yankee, Zulu
"ROGER": I received and understood your message
"WILCO": I received and understood your message and will comply
"FIGURES": I am about to say numbers
Watch your language, cursing and other crude language is illegal over VHF radio, and you could be fined
Speak clearly in a slightly higher pitched voice than your normal speaking voice
Do not shout, this could overload your mic and make your transmission inaudible
Speak slowly, in phrases not word by word
Audible
Fog Horn
Good for communicating your presence to larger vessels in poor visibility
Requires that your group stays close together to provide some degree of safety to everyone
One long blasts every two minutes when moving in fog.
Can be found in both breath powered or compressed air versions
Both can break
Bring a backup on a different boat in your group
Know how to repair your breath powered fog horn with some thin plastic like a chip bag.
Test your compressed air fog horn before going out
Can give a false sense of security if very large vessels are unable to hear the fog horn
Whistle
Good for communicating within your group, or for getting the attention of nearby smaller vessels
Small and light, everyone in your party should have one
Pre-Trip
Float Plan
Leave a plan behind with a trusted person, and be sure they understand what it is and why you are giving it to them
The float plan should include:
How many people in your group
Descriptions of your boats
Where you plan to go, and alternative locations
How long you intend to be out
Names, Age, Gender, and Phone number for all members of the group
Brief relevant gear list
What kind of signaling devices you are carrying with you
Any known medical conditions in the group
Where you plan to end your day
Leave a copy on the dash of your car
In some cases, it might be worthwhile to give a copy to the local coast guard or harbor master
Overdue Procedures
How long overdue before plan goes into action? This may vary based on what your plan for the day is.
Attempt to make contact between group and the shore first
Paddling group should be making regular check-ins from their expected return time, until they actually return
Sources
The 10 Standard Fire Orders and 18 Watchout Situations.
https://www.angelfire.com/nv/blm/safety.html
. Accessed 17 May 2021.
SRC: Procedure Words.
https://www.egmdss.com/gmdss-courses/mod/page/view.php?id=127&forceview=1
. Accessed 17 Dec. 2021.
“SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger Failed Check-Ins.” Brian Green,
https://www.briangreen.net/bbb/2012/09/spot-ii-gps-messenger-disappointment.html
. Accessed 17 May 2021.
Radio Information For Boaters.
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtBoater
. Accessed 17 Dec. 2021.
NATO. “NATO Phonetic Alphabet, Codes and Signals.” NATO,
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_150391.htm
. Accessed 17 May 2021.
Mountaineers (Society), editor. Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. 9th edition, Mountaineers Books, 2017.
“Marine VHF Radio The Basics.” CT.Gov - Connecticut’s Official State Website,
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Boating/Safety/Marine-VHF-Radio--The-Basics
. Accessed 17 Dec. 2021.
Macnamara, Traci J. “How to Communicate With Airborne Rescuers.” LiveAbout,
https://www.liveabout.com/rescue-signaling-ground-to-air-emergency-code-3157501
. Accessed 17 May 2021.
“How to Use a VHF Radio • PaddlingLight.Com.” PaddlingLight.Com, 27 Dec. 2010,
https://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/how-to-use-vhf-radio/
.
Hansel, Bryan. “Signaling Devices to Carry While Canoeing and Kayaking.” PaddlingLight.Com, 23 Mar. 2012,
https://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/signaling-devices-to-carry-while-canoeing-and-kayaking/
.
“Calling for Help: Marine Communications.” BoatUS Foundation,
https://www.boatus.org/marine-communications/calls/
. Accessed 17 Dec. 2021.