XN000022-1994-07-07 — Page 23

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THURSDAY, JULY 7, 1994

HE STRESSED THAT DISTRESS COMMUNICATIONS

ON

PRIVATE RADIO CHANNELS WERE LESS EFFECTIVE AS SUCH COMMUNICATIONS HAD TO BE RELAYED TO THE RESCUE AUTHORITIES AND THE DELAY MIGHT RESULT IN THE LOSS OF LIFE.

THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED AN INCIDENT IN WHICH A HONG KONG- REGISTERED DREDGER STRUCK AN UNCHARTED SUBMERGED ROCK SOME 13 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHEAST OFF MACAU ON AUGUST 12, 1993. THE VESSEL CAPSIZED WITHIN MINUTES, RESULTING IN SIX DEATHS.

IN THE SHORT TIME AVAILABLE, THE MASTER OF THE VESSEL USED A COMPANY PRIVATE VHF CHANNEL TO ADVISE ANOTHER DREDGER THAT HIS VESSEL WAS SINKING. NO FORMAL RADIO DISTRESS MESSAGE WAS TRANSMITTED ON VHF CHANNEL 16.

THE MRCC LAUNCHED A RESCUE OPERATION FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF INFORMATION FROM A STAFF MEMBER OF THE DREDGING COMPANY SOME 40 MINUTES AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.

ON

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO REMINDED MARINERS OF THEIR OBLIGATION, HEARING A DISTRESS MESSAGE, TO RELAY THE MESSAGE PROMPTLY IF NO

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY A SHORE STATION WAS HEARD.

COMPANY OR IMMEDIATELY

IN THE CASE OF LOCAL VESSELS WHICH WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH VHF CHANNEL 16, A DISTRESS MESSAGE SHOULD BE SENT ON THEIR PRIVATE VHF CHANNEL WITH A REQUEST THAT THE MESSAGE WAS RELAYED EITHER TO THE MARINE POLICE RESCUE CENTRE ON TEL TO THE MRCC ON TEL 545 4645, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

312 6500 OR

HE ADDED THAT LOCAL VESSELS EQUIPPED WITH MOBILE TELEPHONES MIGHT CONTACT THE MARINE POLICE RESCUE CENTRE OR THE MRCC DIRECT.

THE PROCEDURE FOR SENDING A DISTRESS MESSAGE BY RADIOTELEPHONY ON CHANNEL 16 IS AS FOLLOWS:

1. THE WORD "MAYDAY" REPEATED THREE TIMES;

2. THE WORDS "THIS IS";

3. NAME OF THE VESSEL OR THE CALL SIGN REPEATED THREE TIMES;

4. THE POSITION OF THE VESSEL IN DISTRESS;

5. NATURE OF THE DISTRESS;

6. TYPE OF ASSISTANCE REQUIRED, AND

VHF

7. ANY ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION.

IF A MASTER USES A TELEPHONE TO REPORT A DISTRESS, HE SHOULD ENSURE THAT HE PROVIDES ALL THE ABOVE INFORMATION WHEN CONTACTING MARINE POLICE RESCUE CENTRE OR THE MRCC.

THE

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