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West Coast Groundfish Observer Program Manual, Part2 - NOAA

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CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 8<br />

Sending a May Day<br />

A mayday call is for a life-threatening emergency. The<br />

emergency frequencies are Channel 16 on VHF radios and<br />

2182.0 kHz or 4125.0 kHz on single side band radios (SSB).<br />

VHF radios are for short range and SSB radios are for longrange<br />

communications (See Appendix R for more<br />

information on radios). Vessels are required to monitor the<br />

emergency frequencies at all times. Most radios have a red<br />

button that changes to the emergency frequency immediately.<br />

Near the radios, there should be a placard posted that<br />

describes MAYDAY calls. Be familiar with what constitutes a<br />

proper MAYDAY call:<br />

• MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY (said three<br />

times)<br />

• Vessel name (said three times)<br />

• Location<br />

• Nature of emergency<br />

• How many persons on board<br />

• Vessel description<br />

• What radio frequency is being used<br />

Abandon Ship<br />

The worst possible emergency requires a person to give up<br />

their shelter—the vessel. Never abandon the ship unless it<br />

is certain that being on board the vessel is more dangerous<br />

than being in the water. Lives have been lost because ships<br />

have been abandoned too soon during fires or flooding.<br />

Knowing the nearest exits, mustering areas, life raft<br />

locations, immersion suit locations, EPIRB locations, and<br />

the emergency equipment available become critical factors<br />

in helping you survive an abandon ship emergency.<br />

1/30/2004 8-19

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