3-10
3.2.2 Distress alert received on HF band
If you receive a distress signal on HF band, the ALARM lamp lights and the audio alarm sounds.
Press the [CANCEL] key to silence the audio alarm. Wait for the distress acknowledge from a
coast station. If you do not receive it within five minutes do one of the following:
•
Watch on the distress frequency.
•
Relay the distress alert in the following cases.
•
You do not receive distress acknowledge call from coast station within five minutes after
receiving distress call.
•
You have not received distress relay from other ship.
•
You cannot receive distress communications from other ship over radiotelephone.
•
If it is clear the ship or persons in distress are not in the vicinity and/or other crafts are
better placed to assist, superfluous communications which could interfere with search
and rescue activities should be avoided. Details should be recorded in the appropriate
log book.
•
The ship should establish communications with the station controlling the distress as
directed and render such assistance as required and appropriate.
Action for ships receiving HF distress alert
Press [CANCEL] key to
silence alarm.
DSC Distress alert received.
Listen to associated RTF or
NBDP channel(s) for 5 minutes.
Is the alert
acknowledged or
relayed by CS and
or RCC?
Is own
vessel able
to assist?
No
Is distress commu-
nication in progress
on associated RTF
channels?
No
Transmit distress
relay on HF to coast
station and inform
RCC.
Contact RCC via most
efficient medium to offer
assistance.
Ye s
Ye s
Ye s
Enter details in log.
No
CS = Coast Station
RCC = Rescue Co-ordination Center
HF DSC RTF AND NBDP CHANNELS (kHz)
DSC RTF NBDP
4207.5 4125 4177.5
6312.0 6215 6268
8414.5 8291 8376.5
12577.0 12290 12520
16804.5 16420 16695