Methods of Distress Notification

• A alarm signal or a distress call from another vessel at sea, either directly or by relay.
• A distress call or message from aircraft. This usually occurs by relay from a CRS.
• Alert sent from a vessel’s alerting equipment and then relayed shore-to-ship
• Visual signals or sound signals from a nearby distressed craft.

Immediate Action

• The following immediate action should be taken by any ship receiving a distress message:
  • acknowledge receipt of message.
  • gather the following information from the craft in distress if possible:
    • position of distressed craft
    • distressed craft’s identity, call sign, and name
    • number of POBs
    • nature of the distress or casualty
    • type of assistance required
    • number of victims, if any
    • distressed craft’s course and speed
    • type of craft, and cargo carried
    • any other pertinent information that might facilitate the rescue
  • maintain a continuous watch on the following international frequencies, if equipped to do so:
    • 500 kHz (radiotelegraphy)
    • 2182 kHz (radiotelegraphy)
    • 156.8 MHz (Channel 16, radiotelephony) for vessel distress
    • 121.5 MHz (radiotelephony) for aircraft distress
  • after 1 February 1999, vessels subject to the SOLAS Convention must comply with applicable equipment carriage and monitoring requirements
  • SOLAS communications equipment is referred to as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) equipment, and includes:
    • Inmarsat ship earth stations
    • VHF, MF, HF digital selective calling (DSC) radios
    • maritime safety information receivers like NAVTEX and SafetyNET
    • hand-held VHF equipment
    • emergency position-idicating radio beacons (EPIRBs)
    • search and rescue radar transponders (SARTs)
  • any vessel carrying GDMSS-compatible equipment should use it as intended, and must e prepared at all times to receive distress alerts with it.
• Vessels should maintain communications with the distressed craft while attempting to advise the SAR system of the situation.
• The following information should be communicated to the distressed craft:
  • own vessel’s identity, call sign, and name
  • own vessel’s position
  • own vessel’s speed and estimated time of arrival (ETA) to distressed craft site
  • distressed craft’s true bearing and distance from ship.
• Use all available means to remain aware of the location of distressed craft (such as radar plotting, chart plots, Global Positioning System (GPS).
• When in close proximity, post extra look-outs to keep distressed craft in sight.
• The ship or CRS co-ordinating distress traffic should establish contact with the SMC and pass on all available information, updating as necessary.

Proceeding to the Area of Distress

• Establish a traffic co-ordinating system among vessels proceeding to the same area of distress.
• Maintain active radar plots on vessels in the general vicinity.
• Estimate the ETA’s to the distress site of other assisting vessels.
• Assess the distress situation to prepare for operations o-scene.

On-Board Preparation

• A vessel en route to assist a distressed craft should have the following equipment ready for possible use:
  Life-saving and rescue equipment:
  • lifeboat
  • inflatable liferaft
  • lifejackets
  • survival suits for the crew
  • lifebuoys
  • breeches buoys
  • portable VHF radios for communication with the ship and boats deployed
  • line-throwig apparatus
  • buoyant lifelines
  • hauling lines
  • non-sparkling boat hooks or grappling hooks
  • hatchets
  • rescue baskets
  • litters
  • pilot ladders
  • scrambling nets
  • copies of the International Code of Signals
  • radio equipment operating on MF/hf or VHF/UHF and capable of communicating with the SMC and rescue facilities, and with a facility for direction finding (DF)
  • supplies and survival equipment, as required
  • fire-fighting equipment
  • portable ejector pumps
  • binoculars
  • cameras
  • bailers and oars
    Signalling equipment:
  • signalling lamps
  • searchlights
  • torches
  • flare pistol with colour-coded signal flares
  • buoyant VHF/UHF marker beacons
  • floating lights
  • smoke generators
  • flame and smoke floats
  • dye markers;
  • loud hailers.
    Preparations for medical assistance, including:
  • strechers
  • blankets
  • medical supplies and medicines
  • clothing
  • food
  • shelter.
    Miscellaneous equipment:
  • If fitted, a gantry crane for hoisting on each side of ship with a cargo net for recovery of survivors.
  • Line running from bow to stern at the water’s edge on both sides for boats and craft to secure alongside.
  • On the lowest weather deck, pilot ladders and manropes to assist survivors boarding the vessel.
  • Vessel’s lifeboats ready for use as a boarding station.
  • Line-throwing apparatus ready for making connection with either ship in distress or survival craft
  • Floodlights set in appropriate locations, if recovery at night.