The Bitter End
sécurité, 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 floating 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 five minutes.” These calls should be made By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill on channel 13, as all the commercial vessels will be monitoring that channel and it would be nice for them to know what boat traffic they may need to be aware of. Once the security information has been transmitted, end the call by saying (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. Next is the pan-pan message, elcome back to another installment the next level up from securite. of What Irritates a Gator! This month I’d like to This is for situations considered rant about proper radio usage, or a lack thereof, urgent but with no imminent either of which can be annoying at best and danger of loss of life or vessel. This dangerous at worst. From the title, you may is also issued on channel 16 and can gather where I’m going with this. Some people be given as a general call such as “all seem to think of their marine VHF radio as a stations,” or specific station near glorified CB radio. But I’ll do my best to educate you. rather than offend y’all. For example, you’re taking on First, I’ll run through the most common water and the bilge pumps seem to channels and their proper usage. be keeping up, but you’re worried Channel 9 – This channel is used for vessel to about a failure. Give the nature of vessel contact, as well as ship to coast, such as in the call and your location, this alerts hailing drawbridge operators. Although there’s boats in the area just to listen out in only one drawbridge left on the Georgia coast, case your condition deteriorates. there are still some remaining in other areas, such Finally, the mayday call. This is as Florida. Channel 9 is also used in some areas the scary one – things have gone (such as the northeast) as a hailing channel in lieu pear-shaped and loss of life or of channel 16. vessel is imminent. As with securite Channel 13 – This is strictly for navigational and pan-pan calls, Mayday should purposes for commercial vessels, such as near the also be said three times to start the Captain Gator exercising proper radio etiquette (and look, entrances to the Port of Savannah and the Port hail. Always be clear and concise as of Brunswick, as well as military vessels. If you he trimmed his beard!). to nature of call, your location, your are near these areas I’d advise monitoring this Photo by Connor McGuinty vessel name, and if possible a cell channel versus 16, as it will allow you to listen in phone number. Many radios today and have a better understanding of where the big ship traffic is. have a distress button feature – PLEASE be sure yours is functional. Channel 16 – This is your hailing channel. Hailing means to initiate When a mayday call is issued, all vessels in the area are to stop their a conversation. Once initial contact has been made, select another activities and lend aid in whatever capacity can be done safely. In other working channel, such as channel 72, and have your discourse there. DO words, do not increase the severity of a marine accident by placing your NOT ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION ON CHANNEL 16. own vessel in peril as this compounds the situation, but you are required Channel 22A – This channel is for Coast Guard use only. It may be to help if it’s safe to do so. Also be aware that in most areas, making a used to talk between the Coast Guard and a vessel in distress, or to make false mayday call is a criminal offense. marine safety/security broadcasts. I hope my monthly rant helps clarify some of this and I’m sure y’all Channels 24-28 – These are public telephone call channels. Note: will make every effort to use the radio properly! Also, please always be there must be a marine operator present to fulfill a ship to shore call. sure your gear (radio included) is functional. You never know when your Channels 67-69 – These are recreational channels sometimes used life or family might need to rely on it. by fishing fleets, such as shrimpers, to stay in touch with one another. Now that we know where and what the channels are used for, let’s 'Til our wakes cross again, peace and love, dissect proper usage! Channel 16 is the most often misused channel out and shrimp and grits. I'll see you on the water! there. Each fall and spring, we have a huge armada of snowbirds 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: Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com
VHF: Not the CB of the Water
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Southern Tides Magazine June 2022
