ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

& LOGBOOKSSAR Crew Manual

Chapter 4

Introduction

Radio Watch

• A radio watch must be at all times when an RCM-SAR vessel is underway.

• Each volunteer shall know the duties of keeping a radio watch.

Radio Watch Duties 1

• Pre-departure checks of equipment, including set up of volume and squelch.

• Set up Channel 16 and working channels• Check of EPIRB, DSC and DMB where fitted• Ensure portable radios and cell phones start fully

charged• Monitoring any change in weather reports• Listen for and react to the spoken word

MAYDAY or PAN PAN

Radio Watch Duties 2

• React to and log all communications relevant to the mission.

• Relay messages to the coxswain and crew.• Send a regular Situation Report to Joint

Rescue Coordination Centre

Log Books

Log Keeping

• All RCM-SAR vessels are to keep a deck log and radio log. Erasures are not allowed, but are to be deleted by lining thorough and initialed.

• A running log may be kept in ink whilst out on the water.

Log Keeping Entries 1

• Entries and time (where appropriate) are to include:

1. Names of coxswain and crew, and passengers when carried.

2. All times of departure and arrival and other relevant important events.

3. Weather, visibility, sea and swell state.4. Times of passing landmarks5. Any incidents to own vessel

Log Keeping Entries 2

6. Any abnormal activities sighted and reported.7. All distress and urgency signals received or

exchanged buy your vessel.8. All communications sent or received by your

vessel on what channel.9. Any strange signals or communications or

circumstances monitored.

Logbook Abbreviations 116/83A Abm A/C Abv.Adv Alngsd Ahd Astn Blw. CC Ch.16 Coxn D. Descr. DF Dft.DMB ETA ETD F/G F/V Ft. GMB GRTHt. I/O JRCC Kts.L Lat. Lic. Loc.

Logbook Abbreviations 2

LKP Long. Lt. mM/V MOB Msg. NmO/B O/D P/C PgdPIW POB Pos. Pt.Rf. Rk. RPM RTBRx S/V Sitrep Stbd.Std Dn Super/ Wlhse Tx V/l VAC VTS Wx

Log Keeping

• A log is kept to record all pertinent events in the vessels operations, and may be used during legal action. If it is not recorded, it may be taken as it did not happen.

• Rough logs are also legal documents, as well as any other notes made at the time.

Information to be Logged 11. Time tasked by JRCC 2. Details of information supplied by JRCC3. Time away from dock4. Last known position of search object5. Description of search objects6. Time on scene7. Time, position and type of search pattern8. Weather, visibility, sea and swell

Information to be Logged 29. Tide and current10.Information on distressed vessel11.Name and address of operator12.Persons on board13.Vessel license or registration number14.Type of assistance supplied15. Distance towed16. Disposal of vessels/ persons recovered

Information to be Logged 3

17.Time of stand down18.Time of return to base.19.Time able to return to standby (if different to

return to base).20.JRCC incident number.

Search and Rescue Communications

SAR Region Boundaries

• Canadian Joint Rescue Centres1. JRCC Victoria, BC2. JRCC Halifax, NS3. JRCC Trenton, ON4. MRSC Quebec City,QC

5. MRSC St. Johns, NL

SAR Region Boundaries

VHF Communication System

VHF Radios

• All volunteers with the CCGA are expected to have their Radio Operator’s Certificate.

VHF RadiosOff/ On/ Volume

Squelch

DSC

Frequency Selector

High/Low PowerMode

Transmit

VHF Radios

• Squelch - adjust the receiver sensitivity and limits unwanted radio noise. Too high a squelch will result in weaker signals not being heard.

• Channel/ Mode - Keep the radio in USA/CDA mode at all times.

• Simplex channels transmit and receive on same frequency - duplex send and receive on different frequencies.

VHF Radios

• Hi/Lo - this control the power with which the VHF will transmit. High is generally 25W whilst Low is about 5W.

• Handheld VHFs have a high of about 5W and a low of about 1W.

VHF Radio Procedures

• Use Channel 16 for calling only, except for MAYDAY. Monitor at all times.

• Name the station being called x 2, followed by the calling stations name or call sign x2.

• Always identify yourself when calling.• Use standard marine language and

vocabulary

VHF Marine Language

Over Out Roger WilcoChannel Say again I say again StandbyAll after Word after All before Word beforeAffirmative Negative That is correctCorrection Read back I spell BreakSeelonce Seelonce finis

Phonetic AlphabetBecause it is easy to confuse the sounds of some letters, when spoken over a radio, their phonetic equivalent is used instead..Alfa Bravo Charlie DeltaEcho Foxtrot Golf HotelIndia Juliett Kilo LimaMike November Oscar PapaQuebec Romeo Sierra TangoUniform Victor Whiskey Xray

Yankee Zulu

Search and Rescue Communications

Pager Codes

00000 Stand down11111 Information only - coxswain call JRCC22222 Urgency33333 Distress44444 Contact JRCC - the safety of your

vessel is in doubt

Communications

Communications

• B Brevity• A Accuracy• S Speed• S Secrecy

Communications 1

• Think before you speak• Key the microphone for 1 second before

speaking• Keep messages short and to the point• Use a working channel - not Channel 16• Check the channel is clear before speaking• Keep microphone about 2 inches from the

mouth

Communications 2

• Talk in a calm and clear voice• Do not use offensive language• Preface all distress calls with distress signal• Use proper words and expressions• Spell names phonetically• Say numbers individually• Do not “on air” for prolonged periods

Distress Communications

Distress Communications

• The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System applies to all vessels of 300 gross registered tons, or carrying passengers on international voyages

Distress Communications

• Sea Area A1 Within range of shore-based VHF DSC coast station (40 nautical miles)

• Sea Area A2 Within range of shore-based MF DSC coast station (excluding sea areas A1)(150 nautical miles)

Distress Communications

• Sea Area A3 Within the coverage of an Inmarsat geostationary satellite (approximately 70°N to 70°S) (excluding sea areas A1 & A2)

• Sea Area A4 The remaining areas outside sea areas A1, A2 & A3 (polar regions)

Distress Communications

Distress Communications

Digital Selective Calling

• Channel 70 on VHF is dedicated to DSC.• Each DSC has a unique 9 digit number called

a “Maritime Mobile Service Identifier”.• Canadian vessels start with “316”

EPIRBs, ELTs and SARTs

EPIRBs, ELTs and SARTs

• All Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (Marine), Emergency Location Transmitters (Aircraft), and Search and Rescue Transmitters transmit on either 121.5 or 406MHz

• EPIRBs all have their own unique identification number.

EPIRBs

• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons

• Automatic EPIRBs will float free and be activated by water

• Manual activation will require removal from their brackets and activated.

ELTs

• Emergency Locator Transmitters are fitted to aircraft and also transmit on 406 MHz

Search And Rescue Transponder

• SARTs

Distress Messages

Distress Messages

• Procedure for Channel 16:1. Transmit an alarm signal.2. Say “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”.3. “This is RCM-SAR 13, RCM-SAR 13, RCM-SAR

13”.4. Give vessel position be latitude/ longitude of

bearing and distance from identifiable point.5. State the nature of distress and assistance

required.

Distress Messages

6. State number of persons on board, injuries and other vessels involved.

7. Describe your vessel.8. Provide any other pertinent information to

assist rescuers.9. REPEAT, say “Over” and listen

Distress Messages

• Imposition of Silence “SEELONCE MAYDAY”

• Finish of Mayday “MAYDAY FINIS”

• Urgency “PAN, PAN” x3

Distress Messages

• If you are underway and you hear a distress message and no-one else answers, answer the vessel, gather and log all information given, and pass information to Joint Rescue Coordination Centre or Marine Communications and Traffic Services.