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Non-GMDSS VHF Radiotelephone Procedures |
If language difficulties arise use TABLES 2 and 3 below, sending the word INTERCO to indicate that the message will be in the International Code of Signals. Call out letters as in TABLE 1. Call out numbers figure by figure as in TABLE 1.
TABLE 1 - Phonetic alphabet & Figure-Spelling Tables (May be used when transmitting plain language or code)
| Letter | Word | Pronounced as |
| A | Alfa | ALFAH |
| B | Bravo | BRAH VOH |
| C | Charlie | CHAR LEE |
| D | Delta | DELL TAH |
| E | Echo | ECK OH |
| F | Foxtrot | FOKS TROT |
| G | Golf | GOLF |
| H | Hotel | HOH TELL |
| I | India | IN DEE AH |
| J | Juliet | JEW LEE ETT |
| K | Kilo | KEY LOH |
| L | Lima | LEE MAH |
| M | Mike | MIKE |
| N | November | NO VEM BER |
| O | Oscar | OSS CAH |
| P | Papa | PAH PAH |
| Q | Quebec | KEH BECK |
| R | Romeo | ROW ME OH |
| S | Sierra | SEE AIR RAH |
| T | Tango | TANG GO |
| U | Uniform | YOU NEE FORM |
| V | Victor | VIK TAH |
| W | Whiskey | WISS KEY |
| X | X-ray | ECKS RAY |
| Y | Yankee | YANG KEY |
| Z | Zulu | ZOO LOO |
| NOTE: The syllables to be emphasized are in bold. | ||
| Figure or mark to be transmitted |
Word | Pronounced as |
| 0 | NADAZERO | NAH-DAH-ZAY-ROH |
| 1 | UNAONE | OO-NAH-WUN |
| 2 | BISSOTWO | BEES-SOH-TOO |
| 3 | TERRATHREE | TAY-RAM-TREE |
| 4 | KARTEFOUR | KAR-TAY-FOWER |
| 5 | PANTAFIVE | PAN-TAM-FIVE |
| 6 | SOXISIX | SOK-SEE-SIX |
| 7 | SE1lESSEVEN | SAY-TAY-SEVEN |
| 8 | OKTOEIGHT | OK-TOH-AIT |
| 9 | NOVENINE | NO-VAY-NINER |
| Decimal Point | DECIMAL | DAY-SEE-MAL |
| Full Stop | STOP | STOP |
| NOTE: Each syllable should be equally emphasized. | ||
OVER = Mesage ends, reply requested
OUT = Message ends, no reply requested
TABLE 2 - Position in Code from the International Code of Signals
| 1) | By Bearing and Distance from a Landmark. Code letter A (Alfa) followed by a three figure group for ship's TRUE bearing
from landmark; or |
| 2) | By Latitude and Longitude. Latitude: Code letter L (Lima) followed by a four-figure group; (2 figures for Degrees, 2 figures for Minutes) and either - N (November) for Latitude North, or (Sierra) for Latitude South. Longitude: Code letter G (Golf) followed by a five-figure group; (3 figures for Degrees, 2 figures for Minutes) and either - E (Echo) for Longitude East, or W (Whiskey) for Longitude West. |
TABLE 3 - Nature of Distress in Code from the International Code of Signals
| Code Letters |
Words to be Transmitted |
Text of Signal |
| AE | Alfa Echo | I must abandon my vessel |
| BF | Bravo Foxtrot | Aircraft is ditched in position indicated and requires immediate assistance |
| CB | Charlie Bravo | I require immediate assistance |
| CB6 | Charlie Bravo Soxisix | I require immediate assistance. I am on fire |
| DX | Delta X-ray | I am sinking |
| HW | Hotel Whiskey | I have collided with surface craft |
| Answer to Ship in Distress | ||
| CP | Charlie Papa | I am proceeding to your assistance |
| ED | Echo Delta | Your distress signals are understood |
| EL | Echo Lima | Repeat the distress position |
NOTE: A more comprehensive list of signals may be found in the International Code of Signals.
EXAMPLES OF DISTRESS PROCEDURE
1. Where possible, transmit ALARM SIGNAL followed by spoken words Mayday Mayday Mayday ...... (name of ship spoken three times, or callsign of ship spelt three times using TABLE 1 ) Mayday ...... (name or callsign of ship) Interco Alfa Nadazero Unaone Pantafive Ushant Romeo Kartefour Nadazero Delta X-ray "(Ship) in Distress Position 015 Degrees Ushant 40 miles I am sinking."
2. Where possible, transmit ALARM SIGNAL followed by spoken words Mayday Mayday Mayday ...... (name of ship spoken three times, or callsign of ship spelt three times using TABLE 1 ) Mayday ...... (name or callsign of ship) Interco Lima Pantafive Kartefour Bissotwo Pantafive November Golf Nadazero Unaone Soxisix Terrathree Terrathree Whiskey Charlie Bravo Soxisix. "(Ship) in Distress Latitude 54 25 North Longitude 016 33 West I require immediate assistance I am on fire."
(For use only when in grave and imminent danger and IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE is required)
1. Ensure transmitter is switched on and set to VHF Channel 16.
2. Then say:
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
THIS IS............................................... (Ship's name or callsign 3 times)
MAYDAY followed by ship's name or callsign
POSITION............................................................................................
NATURE OF DISTRESS......................................................................
AID REQUIRED........................................................................
NUMBER OF PERSONS ON BOARD and ANY USEFUL INFORMATION......................................................................
OVER
3. Listen for a reply and if none heard repeat above procedure.
EXAMPLE:
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY,
This is NONSUCH, NONSUCH, NONSUCH,
MAYDAY, NONSUCH, Position 54 25 North 016 33 West,
My boat is on fire and sinking, I require immediate assistance,
4 persons on board, are taking a lifeboat, OVER."
Any message prefixed by one of the following pro-words concerns Safety. If you receive a message beginning with one of them pay particular attention and if possible write it down. Always allow at least 3 minutes for a Coast Station to reply before responding.
| MAYDAY | Means that a ship, aircraft, other vehicle or person/s is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. |
| MAYDAY RELAY |
Means that the calling station is passing on a message from a ship, aircraft, other vehicle or person/s in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. |
| PAN-PAN | Means that the calling station has an urgent message concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, other vehicle or person/s. |
| PAN-PAN MEDICO | Means that the calling station is in need of medical assistance or advice. |
| SECURITE | Means that the calling station has a message concerning the safety of navigation or giving important meteorological warnings. |
The following pro-words will be transmitted if you disturb the transmissions during a distress situation
| SEELONCE MAYDAY | Means that the controlling station, in a distress situation is telling you to begin and maintain radio silence. On receipt of this message you must cease transmissions. |
| SEELONCE DISTRESS | Means that a ship station (that may be involved in a distress situation) is telling you to begin and maintain radio silence. On receipt of this message you must cease transmissions. |
For details about Ship Radio Licensing contact the:
The Aeronautical & Maritime Section
Radiocommunications Agency
Wyndham house
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SXTel: 020 7211 0215
| RA 292 (Rev 4) April 2000 |
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