Public Correspondence

Radiotelephony
 Radiotelephony
Public correspondence via CRS should be carried out on a
paired set of frequencies.

Call and Reply

When making a call to a CRS the purpose of the call and the
frequency/channel currently being used should be indicated.

e.g. Name and/or Call Sign of the station called x 3,

 Radiotelephony
'This is

Name and/or Call Sign of Calling station x 3 on Ch. 26,

Require a Link Call Over.

In areas where reliable communication in the VHF band is

practical, the call may be made in the following form
 Radiotelephony
Call Sign of station called x 1
This is
Call Sign of Calling station x 2
When the station called does not reply to a call transmitted 3
times at intervals of 2 minutes, calling should cease for a
further 3 minutes.
When the station called cannot accept traffic immediately, it
may indicate a waiting time and a reason for the delay shall
be given, the delay should not exceed 10 minutes.
 Radiotelephony
Difficulties in Reception

When a station called receives a call without being certain the call is
intended for it, it shall not reply until the call has been repeated and
understood.

However when it is certain that the call is intended for it, but the identity
of the calling station is not clear, it shall reply immediately asking for a
repetition of the call

Example Station calling Columbus x 3

This is Columbus x 1 please say again Over.

 Radiotelephony
Traffic Lists

In ship to shore communications, the ship initiates and

establishes communication with the CRS.

CRS that have traffic on hand for ships at sea, indicate this by
means of Traffic Lists.

These lists consist of call signs/names of those vessels that the CRS has
traffic for.

The call signs/names in these lists are arranged in alphabetical order and
these lists are transmitted on specified frequencies at scheduled times.
 Radiotelephony
The schedules of broadcast are printed in the ITU List of Coast Stations.

Port operations and Pilot Services

These are communications related to the movement and safety

of ships, operational handling and in an emergency, the safety of
persons.

A vessel calling a Pilot Service should call on (in the following order of
preference)

• A working channel on VHF (e.g. Ch. 12);

• An MF RT working frequency;
• 2182 kHz to establish a working frequency.
 Radiotelephony
Intership Communications

VHF Ch. 13

For navigation and safe movements of ships in inland

waterways provided both ships are underway.

MF 2048 kHz

For navigation and safe movements of ships in inland

waterways provided both ships are underway.
 Radiotelephony
Ch. 06, 08, 10

Primary, Secondary and Third intership channel for communications

outside of harbour.

Transmission in Harbour and Inland waterways

In harbour and estuaries public correspondence is limited to;

• Exchange of traffic Via the local coast station;

• Communications with pilots or port authorities.

 Radiotelephony
On Board Communications

When conducted on VHF Ch. 15 or Ch. 17, the transmissions should be

limited to a maximum power output of 1 W.

Calling shall take the following form;

From the Master Station (Bridge) Venus Alpha (not more than three
to the substation: times)
this is
Venus Control.
From the substation to the Venus Control (not more than three times)
Master Station (Bridge); this is
Venus Alpha.
 Radiotelephony
ITU Paired Channels

All public correspondence whether RT or NBDP made through coast

stations in the VHF, MF and HF bands will be conducted on paired
frequencies.

The frequencies for use are indicated in the ITU list of Coast Stations.

Simplex

A mode of communication between two stations, where simultaneous

transmission and reception cannot be had.

Simplex needs only one frequency for communication.

 Radiotelephony
Duplex

A mode of communication between two stations, where simultaneous

transmission and reception is possible.

Duplex makes use of two frequencies, one for transmission and another
for reception.

Duplex.also makes use of separate antennas, one for transmission and

the other for reception, or it uses a single antenna with a duplexer.
 Radiotelephony
Semi-Duplex

A mode of communication between two stations with simplex

at one end and duplex at the other.

Thus making the communication virtually simplex.

 Radiotelephony
Radio-telegram

A radio-telegram is made up in five parts;

1 . Preamble

2. Service indicator or service instructions

3. Address

4. Text

5. Signature
 Radiotelephony
Preamble
Break
It consists of

The Prefix,
Office of Origin,
Radio-telegram Number,
Number of Words,
Date filed,
Time filed
And the Accounting Authority Identification Code.
 Radiotelephony
Radio-telegram Number

Radio-telegrams are numbered in a daily series

number one being the first radio-telegram sent to each station.

The same series is continued irrespective of whether transmitted by

radio-telephone or by telex over radio.

Date and Time Filed

These are indicated in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

 Radiotelephony
Accounting Authority Identification Code

It is also known by the Q - code "QRC".

It denotes the organisation responsible for setting accounts for the

stations radio-communications.
 Radiotelephony
Service Indicator

It indicates the kind of service required by the sender of the radio-

telegram.

For example; TLX81-11-2734 - meaning for delivery over the telex

network.

TF91-22-6236392 - meaning for delivery over the telephone network.

URGENT - meaning delivery be given priority over the landline

network.
 Radiotelephony
Address

Complete postal address or Registered cable address

Text

The contents of the text may be completely in plain language or in

codes or in a combination of plain language and codes.

Signature

It may be; a single word indicating the identity of the sender or a group
of words indicating the identities of a collective group of senders.
 Radiotelephony
Charging of Radio-telegrams & Counting of words

In a radio-telegram the Preamble is not charged.

The Service Instructions, the Address, the Text and the Signature are
charged at the rate per word.

Radio-telegrams are charged at a minimum rate as for seven words.

A word of up to ten characters is counted as one word.

Any word consisting of more than ten characters but not exceeding 20
characters, although written as one word will be counted and charged as
for two words.
 Radiotelephony
The number of words will be indicated in the preamble as
chargeable/actual.

In cases where the chargeable and actual number of words are the same,
only the actual number of words will be indicated.

Charging of Radiotelephone calls

Automatic calls:

The minimum charges are determined by the administration of the

concerned coast station and calls may be charged for in units of 1minute
each or units of 6 seconds each.
 Radiotelephony
Operator assisted calls: A minimum charge for 3 minutes is levied.

Note: Charges are indicated either in Gold Francs (GFr.) or Special

Drawing Rights (SDR) with I SDR 3.061 GFr.

Transit Report

A coast station or another vessel, if necessary request the ship station

to furnish it with its voyage particulars as indicated below.
Its name, call sign or other identity
The port it is coming from, the port bound for
ETA at the next port
It's present position, course and speed.
 Radiotelephony
Upon leaving port

• It's name, call sign or other identity;

• The port departed from, the port bound for and the ETA at the next
port;

• Its course and speed.

Upon entering port

• Its name, call sign or other identity;

• The port coming from and the name of the port being entered.
 Radiotelephony
Distress Communications in Radiotelephony

All communications in Distress (Urgency and Safety) shall be made

slowly, clearly and distinctively to facilitate reception in the first
instance.

Radiotelephone Distress Signal

The distress signal in radiotelephony is the French expression "m'aider"

meaning help me, pronounced as MAYDAY.
 Radiotelephony
The Distress signal indicates that the ship, aircraft or other unit sending
this signal is in

• grave and
• imminent danger and
requires immediate assistance.

Radiotelephone Distress Call

The Distress call consists of

the Distress Signal MAYDAY spoken thrice
the words THIS IS spoken once
the name and/or the call sign of the ship in distress spoken thrice
 Radiotelephony
The distress call and message are sent only under the authority of the
Master or Officer in charge of the vessel.

The Distress Message may be followed by a suitable transmission to

enable direction-finding stations to determine the location of the vessel
in distress.

When no acknowledgement is received on the frequency used for the

distress call and message any other frequency on which attention may
be drawn, may be used for retransmission of the distress call and
message.

The position of the vessel in distress may be indicated in latitude and

longitude or as a bearing from a known geographical location.
 Radiotelephony
The Distress Signal MAYDAY shall precede every call and every
message in the distress traffic that follows.

All ships receiving the distress call will cease transmissions and
continue to monitor the frequency used for the distress call.

Any ship, even though unable to provide assistance, will continue to

follow distress traffic.

Until it is evident that assistance is being provided and that it's services
will not be required.
 Radiotelephony
The working frequency to be used for important

Urgency or Safety messages

may be announced on VHF Ch. 16 or on 2182 kHz during a lull in the

distress traffic.
 Radiotelephony
Examples

Distress Call Mayday Mayday Mayday

This is
MV Columbus/S60F x 3

Distress MAYDAY
Message MV Columbus/S6OF MMSI 419732000
Position. LAT 70 40' N LONG 90 22' E
Sinking
Require immediate assistance
23 persons on board abandoning vessel into two liferafts
EPIRB and SART being activated
 Radiotelephony
Acknowledgement MAYDAY
to a Distress Message S6OF x 3
This is
Charlotte/S6AT x 3
RECEIVED MAYDAY
Call and Message of MAYDAY
Proceeding for S6OF
Rescue This is
S6AT
Mayday
MV Charlotte/S6AT MMSI 419645000
Position. LAT 70 23' N LONG 90 44' E
Speed 12 knots
ETA 0300 Hours UTC
 Radiotelephony
Distress message Relay

Stations not themselves in distress, may relay distress messages, when

The station in distress is itself unable to transmit a distress message.

The Master or Officer in Charge of the vessel considers that further help
is necessary.

Although unable to render assistance, it has heard a distress message that

has not been acknowledged.
 Radiotelephony
Distress Relay Signal

The Distress Relay Signal consists of the words MAYDAY RELAY.

Distress Relay Call & Message

MAYDAY RELAY spoken thrice

This is spoken once
Name and / or Call sign of the relaying station ... spoken thrice

A repetition of the distress message received earlier from the vessel in

distress.
 Radiotelephony
Example of a Distress Relay Call & Message

Mayday Relay Mayday Relay Mayday Relay

this is
Cauvery/VWNK x 3

Mayday Following received from MV Akbar / ATGH on

(frequency) at UTC
Quote (a repetition of the entire distress message received)
Unquote
this is
Cauvery/VWNK Over
 Radiotelephony
Control of Distress Traffic

Distress traffic is controlled by

The station in distress

Or

Another ship station or coast radio station that has been delegated
control on behalf of the station in distress.
 Radiotelephony
If necessary any station other than the controlling station may impose
silence upon any or all stations interfering with distress traffic in the
manner indicated below.

The distress signal MAYDAY

All stations (or the name and / or call

sign of the interfering station) spoken thrice

The words This is spoken once

The name and/or call sign of the
transmitting station spoken once

The words SEELONCE DISTRESS.

 Radiotelephony
Examples

Imposition of silence by a station controlling distress traffic

Mayday

All stations (or the identity of the individual station) x 3

this is
Akbar/ATGH

SEELONCE MAYDAY

OUT
 Radiotelephony
Imposition of silence by a station other than the station controlling
distress traffic

Mayday

All Stations (or the identity of the individual station) x 3

This is Cauvery/ VWNK

SEELONCE DISTRESS

This is Cauvery/VWNK

OUT
 Radiotelephony
Resumption of Restricted Traffic

When complete silence is no longer necessary, restricted working may

be resumed on the frequency used for distress traffic.

An announcement to this effect, shall be made by the station controlling

distress traffic, in the manner indicated below

The distress signal MAYDAY

All stations ..... spoken thrice
The words This is spoken once
The name and / or call sign of the station in distress
Or the controlling station spoken once
 Radiotelephony
The time of handing in of the message name and / or call sign of the
station in distress

The word PRUDONCE.

Note: The signal PRUDONCE indicates that although distress

working is still in force, restricted working may be resumed,

Example

Mayday
All Stations x 3
This is Akbar/ATGH
AT …..UTC Akbar/ATGH PRUDONCE
 Radiotelephony
End of Distress

Upon termination of distress traffic when silence is no longer required

on the frequency used for distress traffic and when normal working may
be resumed, an announcement shall be made by the station in distress or
the station controlling the distress traffic in the manner shown below.

The distress signal MAYDAY

All stations spoken thrice
The words This is spoken once
Name and / or call sign of the station in distress
Or the station controlling distress traffic spoken once
the time of handing in of the message
the name and/or the call sign of the station
that was in distress the words SEELONCE
 Radiotelephony
Example

Mayday

All Stations x 3

This is Akbar/ATGH

AT….. UTC Akbar/ATGH

SEELONCE FEENEE

OUT
 Radiotelephony
General provisions in Distress and Safety Communications

• No provision of these regulations prevents the use by a mobile

station or mobile earth station in distress of any means at its
disposal to attract attention, make known its position, and obtain
help.
• No provision of these regulations prevents the use by stations on
board aircraft or ships engaged in SAR operations, in exceptional
circumstances, of any means at their disposal to assist a mobile
station or mobile earth station in distress.
• No provision of these regulations prevents the use by a land
station or coast earth station, in exceptional circumstances, of any
means at its disposal to assist a mobile station or mobile earth
station in distress.
 Radiotelephony
The Urgency Call and subsequent Message may be transmitted on
the Radiotelephone.

On the frequency used for Distress, Urgency, Safety, Call & reply.

However it is strongly recommended that a working frequency be

used for transmission in the case of long urgency messages.

This is especially in areas of heavy radio traffic; re-broadcasted

Urgency messages; medical service messages - MEDICO.
 Radiotelephony
Urgency Messages addressed to All Stations will require

• To be acknowledged by a nearby Coast Radio Station,

• A notification of cancellation, when the urgency message

becomes invalid,

• An acknowledgement of the cancellation of urgency

message, preferably from the same Coast Radio Station that
acknowledged it in the first place.
Examples
Radiotelephony
Urgency Situations:

Man overboard.

Loss of propeller and requiring tow.

Medical Advice by Radio.

Medical Assistance (airlift of patient).

A vessel being long overdue at stipulated position

(destination) without intimation, etc.
 Radiotelephony
Urgency Calls and Messages

Safety of Ship
Call & PAN PAN 3
Message All Stations'
This is
Name/call sign or other ID x 3 (of transmitting
station)

PAN PAN
Name and / or call sign or other ID of station
Position. Lat 20 34' N Long 90 22' E
Lost propeller and require tow
Drifting NNE at 3 knots
Master ….(Date and time in UTC)
 Radiotelephony
Request for Medical Advice by Radio

A message requesting Medical Advice by Radio from a Coast Radio

Station may be transmitted as a radio-telegram under Urgency priority.

Such messages may contain the:

• Vessels identity, its nationality, present position, next port of call,

• Patients particulars: name, sex, age, weight, symptoms of illness,

medical history,

• Type of medicine chest carried on board.

 Radiotelephony
Request for Medical Advice by Radio sent as radio-telegrams will bear
the prefix MEDICO and a service indicator MEDICO or MEDICAL
SERVICE as indicated in the ITU list of Special Service Stations.

Call PAN PAN x 3

MEDICO

Name / call sign or other ID of the Coast Radio Station 3

This is

Name / call sign or other ID (of transmitting stations x 3

 Radiotelephony
Safety Communication

The Safety Signal consists of the word SECURITE

pronounced as SAY-CURE-TAY.
The signal indicates that a navigational warning or a
meteorological warning is about to follow.
The Safety Signal SECURITE is spoken THRICE before the
call.
The Safety Call is transmitted on the Radiotelephone
frequency used for Distress, Urgency, Safety, Call & reply.
However the subsequent Safety Message will be transmitted
on a working frequency.