Making a distress call
2
Lift the red cover. Press and hold the button for DISTRESS
three seconds. The UM455 transmits your boat’s location
every few minutes until you receive a response.
NOTE: If the radio displays , cancel ENTER USER MMSI
the automatic distress call and make a normal voice
distress call.
Making a voice distress call
Speak slowly -- clearly -- calmly.
1. Make sure your radio is on.
2. On the microphone, press the button to switch to Channel 16 (156.8 16/67-TRI
MHz). (If the corner of the display does not show 16, press the 16/67-TRI
button again until it does.)
3. Press the button on the microphone and say:PUSH TO TALK
" " MAYDAY --MAYDAY-- MAYDAY.
4. Say " "THIS IS {name or call sign of your boat}.
5. Say " "MAYDAY .{name or call sign of your boat}
6. Tell where you are: (what navigational aids or landmarks are near, or read the
latitude and longitude from your GPS).
7. State the nature of your distress, e.g. are you sinking, medical emergency,
man overboard, on fire, adrift, etc.
8. Give number of persons aboard and conditions of any injured persons.
9. Estimate present seaworthiness of your ship, e.g. how immediate is the
danger due to flooding or fire or proximity to shore.
10. Briefly describe your ship (length, type, color, hull).
11. Say: " ." I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16
12. End message by saying "THIS IS {name or call sign of your boat}, OVER."
13. Release the button and listen.PUSH TO TALK
If you do not get an answer after 30 seconds, repeat your call,
beginning at step 3, above.
Making a DSC DISTRESS Call
For future reference, write your boat’s name & call sign here:
NOTE: There is no official VHF DSC shore infrastructure in Australia. Vessels
fitting VHF DSC equipment should realise that this equipment can only be used
for vessel - to - vessel alerting in the Australian region. There is no official
shore-based infrastructure but there are a number of volunteer marine rescue
(VMR) stations that have installed VHF DSC and a check with your local VMR
should be made.
Lift the red cover
and press the
DISTRESS button.
