The Coast Guard is there to help. They have assisted me several times, and each time I’ve come away with a very satisfying feeling that I did the right thing by calling.
In this article, you will learn how to contact the Coast Guard on VHF. Generally speaking, when you call the Coast Guard on VHF your need to:
- Be calm
- tune to channel VHF Channel 16
- say “Coast Guard” 3 times
- state your location first then your emergency then
- describe the details of your exact needs.
I have always been slightly intimidated to make VHF calls. Especially calling the Coast Guard on VHF. I don’t know why. Probably it’s because of the grumps out there who bark at the chatty kathy’s, that makes me feel like I don’t have anything of worth to say on the radio. Whatever the reason, I find that I tend to hesitate making a call.
For example, I remember one incident while sailing in the Pacific Northwest, where a child had pressed the DSC button on my sailboat’s VHF radio. Yikes! For those who don’t know, the DSC button is the button you push in an emergency. A GPS signal and emergency message is sent to…well….everyone that might be able to do anything about that emergency.
First of all, I didn’t know about the DSC button being pressed for a few minutes. All of a sudden there was all this radio chatter coming in about my position and the fact that there was no response. When I was informed by my crew about what had happened, I froze thinking, ‘I’m in it now.’ ‘It’s my radio that transmitted the DSC call. Here comes the cavalry, all for nothing. What’s the penalty for false DSC calls anyway?’
It was then that I had to make my first Coast Guard call on the VHF. Spoiler alert, it wasn’t that bad, I didn’t get fined, and I realized the Coast Guard are normal, patient, helpful people. Whew!
This article will also look specifically at what the Coast Guard does, how to use the VHF radio, what to say when you reach the Coast Guard, and what information they will need from you in priority order.
The Coast Guard’s mission
In North America, the coast guard is on duty 24 hours a day. They are listening and are undergo training to help with any situation that arises on the open water. Generally speaking, the coast guard works on the ocean (Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic).
Freshwater lake and river monitoring are commonly left to local parks or community authorities, police, and/or volunteer search and rescue groups.
That being said, if you are on a lake inland somewhere, and you call the Coast Guard on the VHF, they may actually receive the call. At that time, they will certainly extend their influence to inland resources to in order to provide aid to the best of their ability.
What does the Coast Guard do?
The Coast Guard monitors VHF radio channel 16. Anyone who calls the Coast Guard on VHF will very likely be heard. That means their “ears are open” on this channel. Someone right now, all day every day, is sitting at a Coast Guard desk with their VHF radio on channel 16, awaiting calls.
If you have a VHF radio aboard your boat, you should also be monitoring channel 16. Who knows, you may be in a position to help someone in distress much sooner than the Coast Guard can.
In the event of a distress call, the Coast Guard first gathers information about the location, then about the emergency. They use every available resource to provide assistance or rescue. This can mean using Coast Guard assets exclusively, such as rapid response RIBs, helicopters, hovercrafts or other Coast Guard vessels when possible. Sometimes they send everything!
When Coast Guard assets are not immediately available, they will issue a general call to boats in the vicinity of a distressed vessel. All boats, public, private, commercial etc. in the area need to engage the resources at their disposal in order to help the Coast Guard.
This is maritime tradition, and if I’m not mistaken, in fact maritime law. If you are in a position to help, always inform the Coast Guard of your intent to help, and ask for advice on how to proceed.
The Coast Guard takes radio calls very seriously. They will need as much information from you as possible, as soon as possible in order to determine the severity of emergency. Once they determine the severity of the emergency, they can organize the means by which to resolve the issue.
In their experience, sometimes radio contact is interrupted or weak and intermittent. Your first call may be the only call they actually receive, so be concise.
Before you call, calm down
Take a moment to calm down and review in your head what you are going to say. Take a deep breath and focus on the task ahead of you. Shouting into the radio incoherently and demonstrating your panic is not helpful.
Don’t let the fact that you’re calling the Coast Guard on VHF intimidate you. They are there to help and will meet you where you’re at in order to execute a smooth resolution to your issue. When you call in, the Coast Guard will need to know the following, and generally in this order:
- Location
- Nature or severity of emergency
- Identifying features of vessel
- Identify Crew
- Describe Actions Taken
- Specific request for assistance
Using the VHF Correctly
- 1. VHF Radio Power On
The first thing you will need to do is turn your VHF radio to channel 16. Most radios have a button that immediately tunes your radio to this channel. Familiarize yourself with your radio and know exactly how to tune in to channel 16 in a variety of ways.
- 2. VHF Radio Volume Up
The next step is to turn your volume up, almost to maximum. Some who have told the tale of a Coast Guard rescue will often express frustration that they never heard back from the Coast Guard, despite their many attempts. It is true that transmitting and receiving issues do happen. You must remember that even though you may not hear a response, that does not mean that your transmission attempts did not get through. Always check the volume level on your radio.
- 3. VHF Radio Squelch dialed in
Your VHF will also have a squelch control knob similar in size to the volume. Turn it back and forth until you hear steady static. When the static is blasting, gradually turn the squelch ‘back’ until you find the ‘edge’ where the static stops. Now turn the squelch knob ‘towards’ the static again, stopping just short of the static sound. You may have to attempt finding this edge a few times. This squelch ‘edge’ is the strongest point of transmission.
- 4. Press the call button and say…
“Coast Guard, Coast Guard, Coast Guard, this is _______ (the name of your vessel), over”
It is important to say the station you are calling before you identify yourself. We are not on CB radios here, transmitting from one big rig 18 wheeler to another. Why?
Well, there are things to do on a sailboat while you are awaiting a radio response. Sometimes you need to depart from the radio to take care of urgent or dangerous situations. By calling the vessel three times in succession, you are making it clear who the call is for. If the receiving station is listening but for good reason may be busy or away from their radio, calling the vessel three times gives them the chance to stop and listen.
- 5. Listen for Coast Guard Reply. The Coast Guard will reply indicating they have received your transmission.
The Coast Guard reply may sound like:
“(name of vessel) this is Coast Guard, over.”
You need to tell them some key information right away. You will get to the nature of the emergency in good time, but for now the emergency has to wait.
The first thing you need to tell them is your location.
If they lose radio contact with you, they will at least know where to find you. Also, by letting the Coast Guard know your position, you are also letting other boats in your immediate area know that you are in distress.
The best way to describe your position is to use a proper marine chart. This will have the longitude and latitude information the Coast Guard needs. GPS units, and even some quality vhf radios will have this info as well. If you do not have a chart of the area you are in, you will need to give general information about your location.
What was the last major landmark you remember seeing?
What was the last marina you visited and how far away is it?
And in what direction?
Are there any aids to navigation around like a lighthouse?
Any information, no matter how general, will be of some use to the Coast Guard and other boats in your vicinity.
A sample response to the Coast Guard reply could sound like
“Coast Guard (3x) this is (your boat name).”
Unspecified Location: “I am located an hour north of Cold Bay….”
Or,
“I am located a few miles west of Moorage Cove on Winston Island….”
Or,
“I am located near a lighthouse on my way to Maine Island, heading North.”
If you know the exact coordinates of your position, give those instead.
- 6. Describe the severity of your emergency. If it is not life and limb (or loss of vessel) they may direct you to continue the conversation on another channel. Remember, Channel 16 is for communicating emergencies, not having conversations. The sooner the non-emergency communication can be moved to a different channel, the better.
If the emergency is life and limb, it may be more suitable to remain on Channel 16. In an actual life threatening emergency, remaining on Channel 16 will allow other vessels in your immediate area to have the opportunity to communicate how they may be able to provide assistance. The Coast Guard will, and should only advise of any changes of channel that are needed.
- 7. Once the Coast Guard knows your position, and the nature of your emergency, they will need to know how to identify you visually. You will now describe your boat color, style, and length. Also tell the Coast Guard the number of people aboard. Be concise.
The following is another sample response. This one is with actual location coordinates:
“Coast Guard (3x) this is _________ (your boat name).”
Location: “I am located 54 degrees, 52 minutes North, by 125 degrees, 25 minutes West, approximately 2km south of Ingott Island….”
Identify emergency: “The boom struck a crew member in the head. He is unconscious. Please advise”
Allow Coast Guard to respond…
Coast Guard will likely ask about how to visually identify your boat. They will want to know what actions you’ve already taken to remedy the situation. If they decide this is a conversation for a different VHF channel, they will notify you of this. They will also request the assistance of any other vessels in the area. This is why it is so important that you always monitor channel 16 when you are not communicating with your VHF.
Your reply:
- Identify your boat: “Coast Guard (your boat name) is a 36ft sailboat, red hull, white sails and white decks, towing a grey 10ft zodiac”
- Identify your crew: “There are 5 souls aboard, all crew are in lifejackets”
- Describe actions taken: “Victim is laying down. His head and neck are supported.”
- Request specific help: “Victim needs to be taken to hospital ASAP.”
MayDay calls
In the event of a life threatening emergency, it is better to call a ‘May Day’. ‘May Day’ originated during World War 1 and became widely used during that time. In France, French airplane pilots under fire or after a crash would often radio “m’aider” which means “Help Me!”
‘May Day’ is considered the most extreme of emergency situations. Those monitoring channel 16 take May Day calls to mean there is a life threatening emergency.
How to call a ‘May Day’
Using channel 16, state as much information as possible, in the order above, without stopping for confirmation of receipt.
Instead of transmitting “Coast Guard” three times, you will need to call “May Day” three times. Everyone listening in understands that you need help from anyone and everyone that receives the message. Coast Guard included.
Some samples of a May Day call could sound like:
Example 1: general location, no coordinates
“May Day (3x) this is (vessel name). I am located 5km due west of Tofino on Vancouver Island. I’ve hit a deadhead and we are taking on water faster than we can bail. (vessel name) is a 44ft sailboat with a white hull and blue bimini and dodger. There are 6 souls aboard, all safe. All have life jackets and survival suits on. The engine is swamped in sea water and is dead. Over.”
Example 2: specific location, coordinates included
“May Day (3x) this is (vessel name). I am located 52 degrees, 131 minutes North by 131 degrees 08 minutes West. We had an engine fire which has been put out by extinguisher. Two crew are injured and need immediate burn treatment. (vessel name) is a 35ft sailboat. White hull, white sails, towing an orange 12ft zodiac tender. Engine is dead. Black smoke is pouring out of the cabin and engine bay. Seven souls aboard. Two crew are in survival suits and lifejackets and are aboard the tender. We are attempting to tow the sailboat upwind with the tender. Over”
Conclusion
The Coast Guard is here to help. They are in the business of solving problems on the water. Just like your police or fire department, they are a tax funded agency mandated and dedicated to keep you safe. If you need help, please feel free to contact the Coast Guard using VHF channel 16. Remember to be patient, speak clearly, and be willing to take direction from them. And please, make sure you always have your VHF radio on and tuned to channel 16 at all times. You never know when your response to a call could be the difference between life and death.