position is South 3° 52
'
23
",
East 55° 34
'
42
"
, approximately five miles south-west of Denis Island. We have hit submerged object and are sinking. I have four persons on board. We require immediate assistance. Abandoning to life raft. Over.
’
The VHF radio crackled loudly with static.
No one responded to the distress call. Nor was a response expected.
Ling, who’d sent the message, sat safe and sound in Alpha team’s classroom at Buddyguard Headquarters, miles from any sinking ship. She turned to Bugsy, radio mic in hand. ‘Why does everything have to be repeated three times?’
Their surveillance and communications tutor, a bald-headed man with the stocky build of a wrestler, held up two stubby fingers. ‘First, to ensure that the message is heard accurately. And, second, to distinguish it from other radio chatter.’
He lowered the radio’s volume and faced the rest of the team.
‘Knowing how to make a Mayday call is a vital skill for any crew member aboard a boat. It can mean the difference between life and death at sea.’ His sharp beady eyes flicked across to Connor. ‘Summarize the Mayday procedure for me.’
Connor glanced at his notes.
‘Turn on VHF radio, check power, press and hold the red Distress button for five seconds –’
‘Good. Now, Amir, what does this action do?’ interjected Bugsy.
Amir was quick to respond. ‘It broadcasts a digital alert to all DSC-equipped craft as well as the local coastguard. This will include your MMSI – the unique number identifying your craft – along with your position and the time.’
Bugsy gave his student a big thumbs up and Amir beamed. ‘Jason, what if there’s no response within fifteen seconds?’
‘Err … repeat the distress call.’
‘That’s right. But this time by voice, just as Ling did.’ Bugsy turned to Richie, who was gazing out of the window with a blank expression. ‘Richie, what VHF channel should you transmit on?’
Richie fumbled for an answer. ‘Umm … ten?’
‘No, Channel Sixteen!’ snapped Bugsy, tapping the dial on the radio that clearly indicated this. ‘Pay attention. Just because you’re not going on this mission, Richie, doesn’t mean you won’t need this knowledge in the future. All distress, urgency and safety signals are transmitted by international agreement on VHF Channel Sixteen. Make a note of this.’
With a begrudging effort, Richie opened his laptop and typed the information down.
Bugsy tutted at his student then resumed his questioning. ‘So, Marc, what must you check before sending a verbal Mayday?’
Marc rubbed at his temple, trying to jog his memory. Then he clicked his fingers as he remembered. ‘That the radio is switched to
high power
to transmit.’
Bugsy nodded. ‘Connor, what is the official format of the Mayday call?’
Connor didn’t need to check his notes this time. ‘Repeat Mayday and the name of the vessel three times, then give your position, nature of the emergency, the number of people on board, what assistance you need, and finish by saying “over”.’
Bugsy fired more questions around the room, allowing
no one
the opportunity to switch off from his lesson again. Once satisfied that Alpha team knew the protocol inside out, he announced, ‘One important proviso about VHF radios – they have a limited “line-of-sight” range. In real terms, that’s about forty miles from a coastal station, but only ten miles between two yachts. So, considering the size of the oceans, this is by no means a foolproof distress system.’
‘How about using a mobile phone instead?’ Amir suggested.
Ling laughed. ‘You’re at sea, stupid! Where will you get a signal?’
‘In actual fact, mobiles can be used for requesting help,’said Bugsy. ‘In areas of little or seemingly no signal, a text might still stand a good chance of getting through.’
Amir gave Ling a triumphant look and waved his mobile in her face. ‘See! It would work.’
‘Teacher’s
'
23
",
East 55° 34
'
42
"
, approximately five miles south-west of Denis Island. We have hit submerged object and are sinking. I have four persons on board. We require immediate assistance. Abandoning to life raft. Over.
’
The VHF radio crackled loudly with static.
No one responded to the distress call. Nor was a response expected.
Ling, who’d sent the message, sat safe and sound in Alpha team’s classroom at Buddyguard Headquarters, miles from any sinking ship. She turned to Bugsy, radio mic in hand. ‘Why does everything have to be repeated three times?’
Their surveillance and communications tutor, a bald-headed man with the stocky build of a wrestler, held up two stubby fingers. ‘First, to ensure that the message is heard accurately. And, second, to distinguish it from other radio chatter.’
He lowered the radio’s volume and faced the rest of the team.
‘Knowing how to make a Mayday call is a vital skill for any crew member aboard a boat. It can mean the difference between life and death at sea.’ His sharp beady eyes flicked across to Connor. ‘Summarize the Mayday procedure for me.’
Connor glanced at his notes.
‘Turn on VHF radio, check power, press and hold the red Distress button for five seconds –’
‘Good. Now, Amir, what does this action do?’ interjected Bugsy.
Amir was quick to respond. ‘It broadcasts a digital alert to all DSC-equipped craft as well as the local coastguard. This will include your MMSI – the unique number identifying your craft – along with your position and the time.’
Bugsy gave his student a big thumbs up and Amir beamed. ‘Jason, what if there’s no response within fifteen seconds?’
‘Err … repeat the distress call.’
‘That’s right. But this time by voice, just as Ling did.’ Bugsy turned to Richie, who was gazing out of the window with a blank expression. ‘Richie, what VHF channel should you transmit on?’
Richie fumbled for an answer. ‘Umm … ten?’
‘No, Channel Sixteen!’ snapped Bugsy, tapping the dial on the radio that clearly indicated this. ‘Pay attention. Just because you’re not going on this mission, Richie, doesn’t mean you won’t need this knowledge in the future. All distress, urgency and safety signals are transmitted by international agreement on VHF Channel Sixteen. Make a note of this.’
With a begrudging effort, Richie opened his laptop and typed the information down.
Bugsy tutted at his student then resumed his questioning. ‘So, Marc, what must you check before sending a verbal Mayday?’
Marc rubbed at his temple, trying to jog his memory. Then he clicked his fingers as he remembered. ‘That the radio is switched to
high power
to transmit.’
Bugsy nodded. ‘Connor, what is the official format of the Mayday call?’
Connor didn’t need to check his notes this time. ‘Repeat Mayday and the name of the vessel three times, then give your position, nature of the emergency, the number of people on board, what assistance you need, and finish by saying “over”.’
Bugsy fired more questions around the room, allowing
no one
the opportunity to switch off from his lesson again. Once satisfied that Alpha team knew the protocol inside out, he announced, ‘One important proviso about VHF radios – they have a limited “line-of-sight” range. In real terms, that’s about forty miles from a coastal station, but only ten miles between two yachts. So, considering the size of the oceans, this is by no means a foolproof distress system.’
‘How about using a mobile phone instead?’ Amir suggested.
Ling laughed. ‘You’re at sea, stupid! Where will you get a signal?’
‘In actual fact, mobiles can be used for requesting help,’said Bugsy. ‘In areas of little or seemingly no signal, a text might still stand a good chance of getting through.’
Amir gave Ling a triumphant look and waved his mobile in her face. ‘See! It would work.’
‘Teacher’s
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