Many people have a VHF marine radio in their boat, but choose not to log on with their local marine rescue organisation for fear that they will sound foolish on the radio, or that they might get in trouble for not saying the right words. The truth of the matter is, you won’t get in trouble, and the limited coast stations are all manned by volunteers who are more than happy to ask you for the information they need to ensure your safety. A Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) is required to be held by the operator to use a VHF radio. Please note this rule does not apply if the vessel is in distress, or if assisting another vessel in distress. MROCP courses are run by volunteer marine rescue organisations.

I’ve got a mobile phone – why do I need a marine radio?

Mobile phones aren’t designed to get wet, their batteries go flat quickly especially when in areas of poor coverage, they can be totally out of coverage in some areas, and they only allow communication between two parties so other vessels in your area that may be able to assist in an emergency cannot be alerted . Marine radios on the other hand, are designed to withstand the harsh marine environment, they are able to hear all communications from all other vessels in range, and you can contact another vessel without knowing its phone number. Limited coast stations also broadcast weather updates and navigation hazards on marine radio. It is advisable to monitor the emergency channel of your VHF radio, channel 16.

Who do I contact and what radio channel do I use?

Emergency broadcasts will be covered a bit later, but to log on and off, receive a local weather forecast, or seek non-emergency assistance (such as engine breakdown and you need a tow), you should contact the nearest limited coast station / volunteer marine rescue organisation to your vessel position. VHF emergency channel 16 is known as the “Distress, Safety and Calling” channel. You may use the emergency channel to make initial contact with the limited coast station, although they may advise you to switch to another channel (the “working channel”) for further communication. The working channel differs between different limited coast stations, and is often the preferred channel for initial communication as it frees the emergency channel for actual emergency broadcasts. At the top of every Beacon to Beacon map, the nearest limited coast station is shown, along with the radio channels monitored by them, their hours of operation, and their telephone number. Being a lifesaving communications device, a VHF marine radio should never be used for unnecessary chat between two vessels, especially on the emergency channel 16 or the working channel for the limited coast stations in the area. If you wish to contact another vessel, you may use channel 16 to make initial contact, then switch to channel 72 or 77 to relay your message.

Preparing your marine radio to transmit

1. Raise your marine radio antenna to the vertical position 2. Switch on your radio 3. Adjust the volume to an appropriate level, such as half way. 4. Select the emergency channel or working channel for the limited coast station you wish to contact. 5. Turn the squelch all the way down until you hear static, then up again until the static just stops. Turning the squelch up too high will limit your transmission range. Some newer VHF radios have a squelch button which automatically adjusts the squelch to the correct level. 6. Wait at least 30 seconds before transmitting to ensure that you will not be interrupting any existing radio communications. 7. You can transmit by holding down the large PTT (Push-To-Talk) button on the side of your handheld microphone. Speak into the microphone then release the PTT button to allow the party you are calling to respond.

Making a routine call

A routine call is a non-emergency call to a limited coast station or another vessel. Examples of routine calls are logging on and off, requesting a weather forecast, and requesting a radio check. To make a routine call, state clearly: 1. The vessel/limited coast station you are calling – spoken three times 2. This is – name of vessel – spoken three times 3. Message 4. Over 5. Await response

Logging on and off

To log on with a limited coast station / volunteer marine rescue organisation, state the following information: 1. Vessel name 2. Vessel registration number 3. Number of persons on board (POB) 4. Point of departure 5. Destination 6. Mobile telephone number on board 7. Estimated time of return (ETR) Remember to log off upon your return, otherwise search and rescue proceedings will commence. The following is an example of vessel “Longboat”, registration number CM660Q, logging on with the Gold Coast Seaway Tower.

Distress calls

The distress call ‘mayday’ may only be used if the vessel is in grave and imminent danger and immediate assistance is required. Use the VHF emergency channel 16. 1. Mayday, mayday, mayday 2. This is – name and radio call sign of vessel in distress – spoken three times 3. Mayday 4. Name and radio call sign of vessel 5. Details of vessel’s position 6. Nature of distress and assistance required 7. Other information including number of people on board Repeat the above message as necessary until you receive an acknowledgement. If no response is heard on the emergency channel, try again on the VHF supplementary emergency channel 67. If still no response, try any other available channel which may attract attention, such as the working channel for the closest limited coast station.

What do I do if I hear a distress call?

If you hear a distress call, you should wait for a limited coast station to acknowledge receipt, otherwise your transmission may block vital communications. If no acknowledgement is heard after a while, and your vessel is within close proximity of the vessel in distress, you may acknowledge the vessel in distress and provide assistance. If your vessel is not in close proximity, you should defer acknowledgement to allow other nearer vessels to acknowledge without interference. If you hear a distress call, and the call has not been acknowledged by other stations, but you are not in a position to provide assistance, you should acknowledge the call and make contact with the nearest limited coast station or vessels which may be able to assist.

Urgency calls

Urgency calls should be used when the use of a distress call is not justified but a very urgent message needs to be transmitted regarding the safety of the vessel or the safety of a person onboard, such as a medical emergency. Use the VHF emergency channel 16. 1. Pan pan, pan pan, pan pan 2. Hello all stations, hello all stations, hello all stations 3. This is – name and radio call sign of boat – spoken three times 4. Details of the vessel’s position 5. Details of assistance required and other information

Marine radio maintenance

It is worth performing some regular maintenance on your marine radio to ensure the communications device is in perfect working condition for when you need to rely upon it in an emergency. 1. Check the antenna connection at the rear of the radio unit is not corroded. Unscrew the antenna and spray the connections with a marine lubricant such as Inox or WD-40. Scrub any corrosion or salt residue off with a stiff toothbrush. 2. Check the antenna connection at the base of the antenna. Unscrew the aerial whip from the base and clean with a marine lubricant and a stiff toothbrush. 3. Check the antenna whip and antenna cabling for any cracks and replace if necessary. 4. Check any inline fuses or fuse holders are not corroded, and apply a marine lubricant. 5. Ensure your battery terminals are not corroded, and that the battery is in good working order. Check the electrolyte level in the battery and top up with distilled water if necessary. 6. Regularly request a “radio check” from a limited coast station to determine if your transmission distance is degrading over time.

VHF marine radio cost

A standard VHF radio costs about $200 and can transmit approximately 50km. VHF radios are the recommended radio for recreational craft. A VHF radio with DSC (Digital Selective Calling) costs about $250, and has the advantage that a distress call can be made with a simple push of a button, alerting all nearby DSC equipped vessels and limited coast stations with your vessel identification and vessel position when the radio is hooked up to a GPS receiver. VHF marine radio antennas cost about $70 and it is recommended to purchase the longest practical antenna for your vessel.

VHF Marine Radio Sticker Pack

Sticker packs designed specifically for VHF Marine Radio in Australian waters can be purchased here.

I’m crossing a coastal bar – who do I contact?

When crossing a coastal bar, you should contact the nearest limited coast station. If you cannot get contact with the nearest limited coast station for whatever reason, try contacting the next closest limited coast station.

The Phonetic Alphabet

The phonetic alphabet should be used if poor reception occurs, and when specifying your boat registration number. (A boat registration number of CM660Q would be announced as “Charlie Mike Six Six Zero Quebec”.)

Many people have a VHF marine radio in their boat, but choose not to log on with their local marine rescue organisation for fear that they will sound foolish on the radio, or that they might get in trouble for not saying the right words. The truth of the matter is, you won’t get in trouble, and the limited coast stations are all manned by volunteers who are more than happy to ask you for the information they need to ensure your safety. A Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) is required to be held by the operator to use a VHF radio. Please note this rule does not apply if the vessel is in distress, or if assisting another vessel in distress. MROCP courses are run by volunteer marine rescue organisations.

I’ve got a mobile phone – why do I need

a marine radio?

Mobile phones aren’t designed to get wet, their batteries go flat quickly especially when in areas of poor coverage, they can be totally out of coverage in some areas, and they only allow communication between two parties so other vessels in your area that may be able to assist in an emergency cannot be alerted . Marine radios on the other hand, are designed to withstand the harsh marine environment, they are able to hear all communications from all other vessels in range, and you can contact another vessel without knowing its phone number. Limited coast stations also broadcast weather updates and navigation hazards on marine radio. It is advisable to monitor the emergency channel of your VHF radio, channel 16.

Who do I contact and what radio chan-

nel do I use?

Emergency broadcasts will be covered a bit later, but to log on and off, receive a local weather forecast, or seek non-emergency assistance (such as engine breakdown and you need a tow), you should contact the nearest limited coast station / volunteer marine rescue organisation to your vessel position. VHF emergency channel 16 is known as the “Distress, Safety and Calling” channel. You may use the emergency channel to make initial contact with the limited coast station, although they may advise you to switch to another channel (the “working channel”) for further communication. The working channel differs between different limited coast stations, and is often the preferred channel for initial communication as it frees the emergency channel for actual emergency broadcasts. At the top of every Beacon to Beacon map, the nearest limited coast station is shown, along with the radio channels monitored by them, their hours of operation, and their telephone number. Being a lifesaving communications device, a VHF marine radio should never be used for unnecessary chat between two vessels, especially on the emergency channel 16 or the working channel for the limited coast stations in the area. If you wish to contact another vessel, you may use channel 16 to make initial contact, then switch to channel 72 or 77 to relay your message.

Preparing your marine radio to

transmit

1. Raise your marine radio antenna to the vertical position 2. Switch on your radio 3. Adjust the volume to an appropriate level, such as half way. 4. Select the emergency channel or working channel for the limited coast station you wish to contact. 5. Turn the squelch all the way down until you hear static, then up again until the static just stops. Turning the squelch up too high will limit your transmission range. Some newer VHF radios have a squelch button which automatically adjusts the squelch to the correct level. 6. Wait at least 30 seconds before transmitting to ensure that you will not be interrupting any existing radio communications. 7. You can transmit by holding down the large PTT (Push-To-Talk) button on the side of your handheld microphone. Speak into the microphone then release the PTT button to allow the party you are calling to respond.

Making a routine call

A routine call is a non-emergency call to a limited coast station or another vessel. Examples of routine calls are logging on and off, requesting a weather forecast, and requesting a radio check. To make a routine call, state clearly: 1. The vessel/limited coast station you are calling – spoken three times 2. This is – name of vessel – spoken three times 3. Message 4. Over 5. Await response

Logging on and off

To log on with a limited coast station / volunteer marine rescue organisation, state the following information: 1. Vessel name 2. Vessel registration number 3. Number of persons on board (POB) 4. Point of departure 5. Destination 6. Mobile telephone number on board 7. Estimated time of return (ETR) Remember to log off upon your return, otherwise search and rescue proceedings will commence. The following is an example of vessel “Longboat”, registration number CM660Q, logging on with the Gold Coast Seaway Tower.

Distress calls

The distress call ‘mayday’ may only be used if the vessel is in grave and imminent danger and immediate assistance is required. Use the VHF emergency channel 16. 1. Mayday, mayday, mayday 2. This is – name and radio call sign of vessel in distress – spoken three times 3. Mayday 4. Name and radio call sign of vessel 5. Details of vessel’s position 6. Nature of distress and assistance required 7. Other information including number of people on board Repeat the above message as necessary until you receive an acknowledgement. If no response is heard on the emergency channel, try again on the VHF supplementary emergency channel 67. If still no response, try any other available channel which may attract attention, such as the working channel for the closest limited coast station.

What do I do if I hear a distress call?

If you hear a distress call, you should wait for a limited coast station to acknowledge receipt, otherwise your transmission may block vital communications. If no acknowledgement is heard after a while, and your vessel is within close proximity of the vessel in distress, you may acknowledge the vessel in distress and provide assistance. If your vessel is not in close proximity, you should defer acknowledgement to allow other nearer vessels to acknowledge without interference. If you hear a distress call, and the call has not been acknowledged by other stations, but you are not in a position to provide assistance, you should acknowledge the call and make contact with the nearest limited coast station or vessels which may be able to assist.

Urgency calls

Urgency calls should be used when the use of a distress call is not justified but a very urgent message needs to be transmitted regarding the safety of the vessel or the safety of a person onboard, such as a medical emergency. Use the VHF emergency channel 16. 1. Pan pan, pan pan, pan pan 2. Hello all stations, hello all stations, hello all stations 3. This is – name and radio call sign of boat – spoken three times 4. Details of the vessel’s position 5. Details of assistance required and other information

Marine radio maintenance

It is worth performing some regular maintenance on your marine radio to ensure the communications device is in perfect working condition for when you need to rely upon it in an emergency. 1. Check the antenna connection at the rear of the radio unit is not corroded. Unscrew the antenna and spray the connections with a marine lubricant such as Inox or WD-40. Scrub any corrosion or salt residue off with a stiff toothbrush. 2. Check the antenna connection at the base of the antenna. Unscrew the aerial whip from the base and clean with a marine lubricant and a stiff toothbrush. 3. Check the antenna whip and antenna cabling for any cracks and replace if necessary. 4. Check any inline fuses or fuse holders are not corroded, and apply a marine lubricant. 5. Ensure your battery terminals are not corroded, and that the battery is in good working order. Check the electrolyte level in the battery and top up with distilled water if necessary. 6. Regularly request a “radio check” from a limited coast station to determine if your transmission distance is degrading over time.

VHF marine radio cost

A standard VHF radio costs about $200 and can transmit approximately 50km. VHF radios are the recommended radio for recreational craft. A VHF radio with DSC (Digital Selective Calling) costs about $250, and has the advantage that a distress call can be made with a simple push of a button, alerting all nearby DSC equipped vessels and limited coast stations with your vessel identification and vessel position when the radio is hooked up to a GPS receiver. VHF marine radio antennas cost about $70 and it is recommended to purchase the longest practical antenna for your vessel.

VHF Marine Radio Sticker Pack

Sticker packs designed specifically for VHF Marine Radio in Australian waters can be purchased here.

I’m crossing a coastal bar – who do I

contact?

When crossing a coastal bar, you should contact the nearest limited coast station. If you cannot get contact with the nearest limited coast station for whatever reason, try contacting the next closest limited coast station.

The Phonetic Alphabet

The phonetic alphabet should be used if poor reception occurs, and when specifying your boat registration number. (A boat registration number of CM660Q would be announced as “Charlie Mike Six Six Zero Quebec”.)