The Bitter End

VHF: Not the CB of the Water

By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill

pan-pan, or mayday. Say, for example, you’re in a well-traveled body of water and you see a huge piece of a piling or dock fl oating down the waterway that could cause damage. That would be known as a security issue. On channel 16, you would say, “Sécurité, sécurité, sécurité (it’s pronounced seh-KYURih-tay, and yes, you must say it three times), all vessels in the immediate area of (your location) be advised there is a (what-ever the issue is). Be advised it may be a menace to navigation.” If possible give the direction the tide is moving for folks approaching the area. If possible, also hail the coast guard and give them the same information. Another example of when to make a sécurité call is just prior to entering major shipping channels. Simply say, “Sécurité, sécurité, sécurité, all vessels in the (area you’re approaching), name of your vessel will be entering (that area) in fi ve minutes.” These calls should be made on channel 13, as all the commercial vessels will be monitoring that channel and it would be nice for them to know what boat traffi c they may need to be aware of. Once the security information has been transmitted, end the call by saying Welcome back to another installment (vessel name) will be standing by on channel (16 or 13). This will allow anyone concerned to contact you for any follow up information they may require. of What Irritates a Gator! This month I’d like to Next is the pan-pan message, the rant about proper radio usage, or a lack thereof, next level up from securite. This is either of which can be annoying at best and for situations considered urgent but dangerous at worst. From the title, you may with no imminent danger of loss of gather where I’m going with this. Some people life or vessel. This is also issued on seem to think of their marine VHF radio as a channel 16 and can be given as a glorifi ed CB radio. But I’ll do my best to educate general call such as “all stations,” or rather than off end y’all. specifi c station near you.

First, I’ll run through the most common For example, you’re taking on channels and their proper usage. water and the bilge pumps seem to

Channel 9 – This channel is used for vessel to be keeping up, but you’re worried vessel contact, as well as a ship to coast, such as about a failure. Give the nature of in to hail drawbridge operators. Although there’s the call and your location, this alerts only one drawbridge left on the Georgia Coast boats in the area just to listen out in there are still some remaining in other areas, such case your condition deteriorates. as Florida. Channel 9 is also used and in some Finally, the mayday call. This is areas, such as the northeast as a hailing channel the scary one – things have gone in lieu of channel 16. pear-shaped and loss of life or

Channel 13 – This is strictly for navigational vessel is imminent. As with securite purposes for commercial vessels, such as near the and pan-pan calls, Mayday should entrances to the Port of Savannah and the Port Captain Gator exercising proper radio etiquette (and look, also be said three times to start the of Brunswick, as well as military vessels. If you he trimmed his beard!). hail. Always be clear and concise are near these areas I’d advise monitoring this Photo by Connor McGuinty as to nature of call, your location, channel versus 16, as it will allow you to listen in your vessel name, and if possible a and have a better understanding of where the big ship traffi c is. cell phone number. Many radios today have a distress button feature –

Channel 16 – This is your hailing channel. Hailing means to initiate a PLEASE be sure yours is functional. conversation. Once initial contact has been made, select another working When a mayday call is issued, all vessels in the area are to stop their channel, such as channel 72, and have your discourse there. DO NOT activities and lend aid in whatever capacity can safely done. In other ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION ON CHANNEL 16. words, do not increase the severity of a marine accident by placing

Channel 22A – This channel is for Coast Guard use only. It may be a second vessel in peril as this compounds the situation, but you are used to talk between the Coast Guard and a vessel in distress, or to make required to help if it’s safe to do so. Also be aware that in most areas, marine safety/security broadcasts. making a false mayday call is a criminal off ense.

Channels 24-28 – These are public telephone call channels. Note: I hope my monthly rant helps clarify some of this and I’m sure y’all there must be a marine operator present to fulfi ll a ship to shore call. will make every eff ort to use the radio properly! Also, please always be

Channel 67-69 – These are recreational channels sometimes used by sure your gear (radio included) is functional. fi shing fl eets, such as shrimpers, to stay in touch with one another. You never know when your life or family might

Now that we know where and what the channels are used for, let’s need to rely on it. dissect proper usage! Channel 16 is the most often misused used channel out there. Each fall and spring, we have a huge armada of snowbirds Until next time, I'll see y'all on the water! traveling the ICW and I’ve heard most everything under the sun being said over the radio. Channel 16 is NOT a place to be giving someone Aunt Martha’s recipe for rhubarb pie, nor is it to be used by marinas or boat captains to yell at someone for two solid minutes about their wake. Trust me when I tell you, the people leaving a huge wake are not listening!

Now let’s look at what else channel 16 is used for, namely the sharing of important information, which can fall into three types of calls: sécurité, Email: jgaryhill@gmail.com

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