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Very Important Safety Gear: the VHF-DSC Radio

10/28/2013

If you have a digital selective calling (DSC) radio aboard (it has a red “distress” button on the front), have you read the radio’s manual for this important piece of safety gear? Does the radio have an integral GPS or must it be connected to an existing GPS or a GPS chart plotter on the boat? The Coast Guard reports that 80% of the VHF-DSC Mayday calls have no vessel location because the radio is not connected to an operating GPS. Without a precise location, rescuers cannot respond quickly to the emergency. If the instructions in the radio and GPS manuals about hooking the radio up to a GPS look too complicated, contact a marine electronics installer and get it done. The cost is worth it. If the radio has a built-in GPS, then you only need an MMSI number.

Any DSC radio must have an MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number programmed into it so the emergency feature works. This number identifies the vessel; you will fill out an application form with the boat information. If the boat will operate only in U.S. waters, you can get a number for free from BoatUS (www.BoatUS.com/MMSI).

If a U.S.-registered boat travels to foreign waters (Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean or abroad) you will need to get the MMSI number, for a small fee, from the FCC at
http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home.

After you’ve hooked up the DSC radio to a GPS, read the radio manual and see what else a DSC radio can do for you. There is a very nice tutorial about DSC radio on the BoatUS website at http://www.boatus.com/foundation/dsc/player.html.

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The end of traditional paper charts in the U.S.

10/23/2013

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In a press release dated Oct. 20, 2013, the U.S. chart producing agency, NOAA, announced that as of April 13, 2014 it will no longer produce traditional paper charts for U.S. waters. However, “NOAA-certified Print-on-Demand partners will continue to sell up-to-date paper nautical charts.” http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2013/20131022_nauticalcharts.html

“With the end of traditional paper charts, our primary concern continues to be making sure that boaters, fishing vessels, and commercial mariners have access to the most accurate, up-to-date nautical chart in a format that works well for them,” said Capt. Shep Smith, chief of Coast Survey’s Marine Chart Division. “Fortunately, advancements in computing and mobile technologies give us many more options than was possible years ago.”

Please follow the Mariner’s Guide blog for upcoming posts about paper and electronic charts.

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Do you blow your own horn? Part 3 of 3

10/21/2013

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Rule 35 of the Navigation Rules prescribes the sound signals for power-driven and sailing vessels in or near an area of restricted visibility, day or night. Visibility can be affected by fog, rain, snow, dust, smog, haze, smoke, sandstorm, blizzard, etc. Note that night by itself is NOT restricted visibility. The sound signals are essentially the same under International and Inland Rules. There are signals for vessels underway and making way, underway but stopped, vessels doing specific operations, vessels anchored, aground, or being towed. Note that “underway” in the Rules means “not at anchor, aground, or made fast to the shore.”

Study Rule 35: the text of the rule is available at www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent. There’s a lot to learn, not only for your boat but for other vessels out there lurking just out of sight. Buy a plastic reference card with the sound signals and lights on it, and keep it near the helm. When you hear a loud whistle signal near you that makes you jump out of your skin, you’d better know what is making the sound and what you should do about it.

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Do you blow your own horn? Part 2 of 3

10/8/2013

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Power-driven vessel signals. A power driven vessel is defined in Rule 3(b) of the Navigation Rules as “any vessel propelled by machinery.” This includes a sailboat operating the engine with the sails up or a canoe with an electric outboard motor. Rule 34 details the sound signals that shall be used by power-driven vessels maneuvering in sight (visually) of each other.

Rule 35 has the sound signals for vessels in or near restricted visibility, day or night. Learn the signals for your boat and for other vessels so you know what is approaching. There are also special signals for narrow channels, and the rules are slightly different for Inland and International waters.

Learn the sound signals for the waters in which you operate and have ready access to your boat’s horn. Remember, if you hear five short and rapid blasts on a boat’s horn or a ship’s whistle near you – look around! That’s the danger signal. Have a plastic reference card that lists the sound signals near the helm for quick reference. The text of the rules is available at www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent.

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Very Important Safety Gear: the VHF-DSC Radio

The end of traditional paper charts in the U.S.

Do you blow your own horn? Part 3 of 3

Do you blow your own horn? Part 2 of 3

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