ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

1
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS LOGBOOKS
SAR Crew Manual Chapter 4
2
Introduction
3
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.

4
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

5
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

6
Log Books
7
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.

8
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 landmarks
• 5. Any incidents to own vessel

9
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.

10
Logbook Abbreviations 1

• 16/83A 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
  GRT
• Ht. I/O JRCC
  Kts.
• L Lat. Lic.
  Loc.

11
Logbook Abbreviations 2

• LKP Long. Lt.
  m
• M/V MOB Msg. Nm
• O/B O/D P/C
  Pgd
• PIW POB Pos.
  Pt.
• Rf. Rk. RPM
  RTB
• Rx S/V Sitrep
  Stbd.
• Std Dn Super/ Wlhse Tx
  
• V/l VAC VTS
  Wx

12
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.

13
Information to be Logged 1

• 1. Time tasked by JRCC
• 2. Details of information supplied by JRCC
• 3. Time away from dock
• 4. Last known position of search object
• 5. Description of search objects
• 6. Time on scene
• 7. Time, position and type of search pattern
• 8. Weather, visibility, sea and swell

14
Information to be Logged 2

• 9. Tide and current
• 10.Information on distressed vessel
• 11.Name and address of operator
• 12.Persons on board
• 13.Vessel license or registration number
• 14.Type of assistance supplied
• 15. Distance towed
• 16. Disposal of vessels/ persons recovered

15
Information to be Logged 3

• 17.Time of stand down
• 18.Time of return to base.
• 19.Time able to return to standby (if different
  to return to base).
• 20.JRCC incident number.

16
Search and Rescue Communications
17
SAR Region Boundaries

• Canadian Joint Rescue Centres
• 1. JRCC Victoria, BC
• 2. JRCC Halifax, NS
• 3. JRCC Trenton, ON
• 4. MRSC Quebec City,QC
• 5. MRSC St. Johns, NL

18
SAR Region Boundaries
19
VHF Communication System
20
VHF Radios

• All volunteers with the CCGA are expected to have
  their Radio Operators Certificate.

21
VHF Radios
Off/ On/ Volume
Transmit
DSC
Frequency Selector
High/Low Power
Squelch
Mode
22
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.

23
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.

24
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

25
VHF Marine Language

• Over Out Roger
  Wilco
• Channel Say again I say again Standby
• All after Word after All before Word
  before
• Affirmative Negative That is correct
• Correction Read back I spell Break
• Seelonce Seelonce finis

26
Phonetic Alphabet
Because it is easy to confuse the sounds of some
letters, when spoken over a radio, their phonetic
equivalent is used instead.. Alfa Bravo Charlie
Delta Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel India
Juliett Kilo Lima Mike November Oscar Papa
Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango Uniform Victor Whiske
y Xray Yankee Zulu
27
Search and Rescue Communications
28
Pager Codes

• 00000 Stand down
• 11111 Information only - coxswain call JRCC
• 22222 Urgency
• 33333 Distress
• 44444 Contact JRCC - the safety of your vessel
  is in doubt

29
Communications
30
Communications

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

31
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

32
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

33
Distress Communications
34
Distress Communications

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

35
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)

36
Distress Communications

• Sea Area A3 Within the coverage of an Inmarsat
  geostationary satellite (approximately 70N to
  70S) (excluding sea areas A1 A2)
• Sea Area A4 The remaining areas outside sea areas
  A1, A2 A3 (polar regions)

37
Distress Communications
38
Distress Communications
39
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

40
EPIRBs, ELTs and SARTs
41
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.

42
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.

43
ELTs

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

44
Search And Rescue Transponder

• SARTs

45
Distress Messages
46
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.

47
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

48
Distress Messages

• Imposition of Silence SEELONCE MAYDAY
• Finish of Mayday MAYDAY FINIS
• Urgency PAN, PAN x3

49
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.