Marine Communications Safety at Sea Seminar
Dec 23, 2015
Marine Communications
Safety at Sea Seminar
Your Host – A.J. ‘Doc’ Holub
Licensed Radio Officer, U.S. Merchant Marine (ret)
Commercial Radiotelegraph Operator License
Commercial Radiotelephone Operator License
GMDSS Operator/Maintainer License
Amateur Radio License, Extra Class
Instructor, Marine Electrical Systems, Sailing Academy, Orange Coast College
Why Do We Want to Communicate?
What Types of Communications?
• Emergency• Personal • Business
ISAF Required Equipment
VHF radio
VHF hand held
SSB transceiver or satellite phone
Suggestions Before You Depart
Locate communications equipment
Find out how to activate
Determine if there is a communications protocol
Be prepared for an emergency
If You Have Iridium Satellite Phone
Iridium does not have Operator Assistance.
Before departing, program into your Iridium critical telephone numbers: Coast Guard station at point of departure; Coast Guard in any intermediate points;Coast Guard at destination point; medical assistance numbers if you have assistance contracts; other medical emergency numbers you might require.
A Few Other Words Before We Start
On February 1, 1999 all merchant vessels worldwidewere required to have GMDSS (Global Marine Distress Safety System) installed aboard. This systemAutomatically monitors VHF DSC (Digital Selective Calling) channel 70 plus high frequency DSC channels.
Many private vessels also have installed at least VHF DSC equipped radios. This is important in case of emergency
GMDSS Continued:
• You must register your vessel and receive a free MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identifier) number.
• Register on-line at Boat US or FCC.
• Follow setup instructions for your DSC VHF.
• More information later in this presentation.
These Vessels can be Your Friends in Case of Emergency
Let’s Talk Emergencies
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY… Life, limb or ship in imminent danger.
PAN PAN PAN…Houston, I’ve got a problem.
SECURITE SECURITE SECURITE…Anyone around me, I’m going to do something.
Communications Options
VHF….. Close by
SSB/HAM….. World wide (maybe)
SATELLITE….. World wide, instant
O.K., We Have a Medical Emergency
• It’s 0300 and there is a medical emergency on board.
• If in race, and doctor close by, try VHF.• Otherwise, Iridium or other satellite
telephone.• Be able to describe the problem.• Follow their advice.
Ship Emergency – Imminent Disaster
• If you think there is help nearby, initiate VHF DSC call (press the red button). It should wake up the watch at the other end. Standby on Channel 16.
• If no reply, pick up microphone and call Mayday on Channel 16.
• If still no reply, use Iridium or use EPIRB.
How Do You Broadcast a VHF Mayday?
Set your vhf radio to Channel 16.
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”
“This is the sailing vessel Morning Light, Morning Light, Morning Light”
“Any vessel, please answer channel one-six”
(Listen for answer, repeat if necessary – but not too long)
(Watch your adrenalin!)
When/If You Receive an Answer
“Vessel Name” (answering vessel)“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”“This is the sailing vessel Morning Light, Morning Light, Morning Light”“We are taking on water and we’re unable to stop it.”“We are located at 24 degrees 15 point 45 minutes north, 151 degrees 56 point 80 minutes west.”“Morning Light is a 52 foot sailboat with a tan deck and blue hull.”“There are 15 persons on board. We have an EPIRB and three life rafts.”“This is the sailing vessel Morning Light, standing by on Channel one-six.”
If You Acknowledge a Mayday Call
• Listen carefully to see if other vessels answer. Do not cause interference. If no other vessel answers:
• Acknowledge that you are prepared to render assistance.
• If unable to render assistance, be prepared to relay information to other vessels or appropriate authorities.
• Relay this information to the Mayday calling vessel.
• You temporarily are in charge of the situation until you are able to pass it off to another vessel or authority.
• You may be the relay vessel until assistance arrives.
Satellite GMDSS Procedure
• If you have not received an answer on your VHF calls:
• If you are equipped with a satellite GMDSS certified system (Inmarsat C), activate the red button.
• Stand by for answer.
If No GMDSS Response
• GMDSS satellite system is worldwide but it could be possible that you do not receive a response because your own equipment is inoperative.
• If you have an Iridium telephone, call preprogrammed emergency numbers (USCG, etc)
• Activate your 406 mhz EPIRB, hopefully equipped with GPS.
• Wait patiently.
Enough Emergencies Already…
On to Part Two:
Routine Personal Communications
• We’ve been out for a week and I want to let my family know our location and condition.
• I want to check in with the daily ham radio network and give location, weather and condition.
• I just want to yack with other sailors.
• I want to check in to a ship-to-ship network.
Business Communications
• We need some replacement parts when we get ashore.
• Something has broken down and I have to speak with a shore side technician.
• Be aware of restrictions on business communications.
So, How Do We Do This?
Before We Talk Equipment…
In case you are in charge of communications or
equipping a vessel, there are some questions:
Qualifying Questions
• How far do you want to communicate?• With whom?• How often will you use it?• How important is the message?• How much skill is reasonable to expect
of the operator?
How Far Do You Want to Communicate?
• Effective transmission distances range from line of sight to worldwide.
• What is propagation?• Communicating with more powerful devices
may interfere with other communications.• High power equipment will affect battery life.
What Kind of Communications?
• Voice• Data (e-mail)• Fax• Internet Access• Emergency
Portable or Fixed Mounted?
• Portables:Independent from ship’s systemsConvenient
• Fixed mounted units: May have better antenna installations Higher power
With Whom Do You Want to Communicate?
• Coast Guard or other rescue agencies• Other vessels
RecreationalCommercial
• Telephone network• Internet
E-mailWeb Browsing
• Land stations (bridge tenders, YCs)
How often Will You Use It?
• Will impact total cost of operation Battery sizes, generators, fuel
• Monthly charges • Familiarity, ease of operation
How Much Skill is Reasonable to Expect of the Operator?
• Ham, in particular, is difficult for non-Hams to operate (and illegal)
• SSBs have a lesser but still challenging operating system.
• Other systems are as familiar as a portable phone
Now Let’s Communicate
• VHF• Single Side Band (a misnomer)• Ham Radio• Email (commercial – ham)• Portable Satellite (Iridium)• Fixed Satellite (Inmarsat C - M)• EPIRB
A Word About Licensing
• VHF U.S. coastwise, no license.• VHF foreign – ship/operator license (ROP).• SSB worldwide – ship/operator license (MROP).• Ham – U.S. license and permission if foreign.• Satellite – no license but contract. Contact www.fcc.gov for information and
forms Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit Marine Radio Operator Permit (OCC classes) Ship Radio Station License
Handheld VHF Radios
Handheld VHF
Range: 3 miles (another boat) to 20 miles (CG tower)
Cost: $100 to $300Best Uses: Cockpit safety, ship to dinghy, small
boats (inflatables, kayaks)
Limitations: Some uses are illegal but handy, short range, few channels
Fixed Mount VHF Radios
Fixed Mount VHF
Range: 20-60 miles (1.2 x sqrt H in feet)Cost: $100 to $500Best Uses: General boat to boat
communicationsCoast Guard; most cost-effective safety item on board if within range
Probably Digital Selective CallingLimitations: Marine only, line of sight range
ISAF Special Regs for VHF
• Radio shall have 25W output• Masthead antenna• No more than 40% power loss due to cable
<50’ RG-8X50-90’ RG-8U90-140’9913F140-230’ LMR600
• Handheld VHF in addition to fixed mount
VHF Antenna Considerations
• Antenna height largely controls transmit range
• Higher gain antennas can focus signal to increase punch or power
• Boats which roll require a wider transmission angle to avoid “clipping”
• Use the largest lead-in wire (coax) that can be used
ORC Regulations
• Use coax connectors for all terminations
VHF Antenna Considerations
Stable boats may be able to use a narrow-beam high-gain antenna
Boats which heel or roll may be better off with a wide-beam low-gain antenna
A Word About Digital Selective Calling
• New safety requirement• Free registration• Unique vessel identifier• Part of GMDSS (Global Marine Distress Safety
System)• Currently supplied on fixed VHF and some
other communications equipment• Not yet monitored by Coast Guard
Iridium 9555
Iridium
Range: WorldwideCost: $1500-$2500 plus $1.49 per minute
plus $20 per month Also rentalBest Uses: Portable voice communications
where there is no cellular, or where phone calls are expensive
Limitations: Hard to know if they can afford to replace LEO satellites2400 baud for data, 9600 with compression
Icom 710 SSB/Ham Transceiver
SSB/Ham Combined Transceiver
Range: WorldwideCost: $2,000-$3,000 plus installationBest Uses: Long distance ship to ship voice
communications, Coast Guard, and E-mailRugged, marinized designs
Limitations: Learning curve, complicated installation, time sensitiveHigh current draw on Xmit
Ham/SSB Differences
• SSB (commercial) radios are “channelized” Channel 802, 1206, etc by turn of knob Specific channels set aside for specific
uses. Ship-to-ship; ship-to-shore• Ham radio has continuous coverage in
specified bands.• Used to require two separate radios.• Newer equipment (Icom 710) combines.
HF Antenna Considerations
• Two general types23’ fiberglass whip antennasInsulated wire antennas
• Requires an antenna tuner to match frequency to wire length
• Requires a “counterpoise” in contact with water or coupled to water
Icom AT-130 SSB Tuner
E-mail via SSB or Ham
• Requires a radio, laptop, and TNC (Terminal Node Controller, $650)
• Slow transmission rates• Several non-profit services (Sailmail and
WinLink)• Commercial WLO Radio (www.wloradio.com) • 10 minute per day limit (Sailmail)• Very inexpensive compared to other options• HAM transmissions limited by non-commercial
rules
Terminal Node Controller
Block Diagram of SSB E-mail
PrinterLaptop
TNC
SSB Radio Antenna Tuner
Antenna
Counterpoise
Inmarsat C
Standard C/Inmarsat C
Range: WorldwideCost: $2,500 plus $0.25 for 32 charactersBest Uses: Reliable messages worldwide
Emergency position reportingFree text weather 4X per day for freeSmall antenna, relatively simple installation
Limitations: Expensive if brevity is not your forte
Inmarsat Mini-M
Inmarsat Mini-M
Range: Nearly worldwideCost: $3,000 (non-stabilized to $6,000
stabilized)$2.50 per minute
Best Usages: Reliable voice, fax and data FoolproofLimitations: Expensive
West Marine
EPIRBs
• 406 MHz BeaconsCategory 1 (hydrostatic release)Category 2 (manual release)PLB121.5 not monitored after 1 Feb 2009
• Unique encoding for each unit• Register it with NOAA (it’s free!)• World wide coverage• Available with GPS signal transmission potential • Waterproof, reliable, buoyant, rugged
West Marine
Keep Your Info Current
It’s free
GMDSSGlobal Marine Distress & Safety System
• Evolved from 1979 meeting of IMO (International Maritime Organization)
• Satellite- and terrestrial radio-based• Changed from ship-to-ship to ship-to-shore
Uses Rescue Coordination CentersEnd of Morse CodeEnables automatic transmissionsReduces need to monitor emergency frequencies
• Applies to ships over 300 gross tons• Cost me my job….
Additional Notes
•National Distress Response System (NDRS)VHF based system, coastal and 30 miles out. Digitally based system plus voiceDirection finding ability by Coast Guard using multiple
towers or GPS inputAutomated broadcastsUp to six emergency channelsRCCs connected to NDRSCompletion by end of 2007 or 2008 (hopefully)
The End• Thank you for your attention
• This presentation available at www.arholub.com