1. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS & LOGBOOKS
SAR Crew Manual Chapter 4

2. Introduction

3. Radio Watch
A radio watch must be at all times when an RCM-SAR vessel is underway.
Each volunteer shall know the duties of keeping a radio watch.

4. Radio Watch Duties 1
Pre-departure checks of equipment, including set up of volume and squelch.
Set up Channel 16 and working channels
Check of EPIRB, DSC and DMB where fitted
Ensure portable radios and cell phones start fully charged
Monitoring any change in weather reports
Listen for and react to the spoken word MAYDAY or PAN PAN

5. Radio Watch Duties 2
React to and log all communications relevant to the mission.
Relay messages to the coxswain and crew.
Send a regular Situation Report to Joint Rescue Coordination Centre

6. Log Books

7. Log Keeping
All RCM-SAR vessels are to keep a deck log and radio log. Erasures are not allowed, but are to be deleted by lining thorough and initialed.
A running log may be kept in ink whilst out on the water.

8. Log Keeping Entries 1
Entries and time (where appropriate) are to include:
1. Names of coxswain and crew, and passengers when carried.
2. All times of departure and arrival and other relevant important events.
3. Weather, visibility, sea and swell state.
4. Times of passing landmarks
5. Any incidents to own vessel

9. Log Keeping Entries 2 6. Any abnormal activities sighted and reported.
7. All distress and urgency signals received or exchanged buy your vessel.
8. All communications sent or received by your vessel on what channel.
9. Any strange signals or communications or circumstances monitored.

10. Logbook Abbreviations 1
16/83A Abm A/C Abv.
Adv Alngsd Ahd Astn
Blw CC Ch Coxn
D Descr DF Dft.
DMB ETA ETD F/G
F/V Ft GMB GRT
Ht I/O JRCC Kts.
L Lat Lic Loc.

11. Logbook Abbreviations 2
LKP Long Lt m
M/V MOB Msg Nm
O/B O/D P/C Pgd
PIW POB Pos Pt.
Rf Rk RPM RTB
Rx S/V Sitrep Stbd.
Std Dn Super/ Wlhse Tx
V/l VAC VTS Wx

12. Log Keeping
A log is kept to record all pertinent events in the vessels operations, and may be used during legal action. If it is not recorded, it may be taken as it did not happen.
Rough logs are also legal documents, as well as any other notes made at the time.

13. Information to be Logged 1
1. Time tasked by JRCC
2. Details of information supplied by JRCC
3. Time away from dock
4. Last known position of search object
5. Description of search objects
6. Time on scene
7. Time, position and type of search pattern
8. Weather, visibility, sea and swell

14. Information to be Logged 2
9. Tide and current
10.Information on distressed vessel
11.Name and address of operator
12.Persons on board
13.Vessel license or registration number
14.Type of assistance supplied
15. Distance towed
16. Disposal of vessels/ persons recovered

15. Information to be Logged 3
17.Time of stand down
18.Time of return to base.
19.Time able to return to standby (if different to return to base).
20.JRCC incident number.

16. Search and Rescue Communications

17. SAR Region Boundaries Canadian Joint Rescue Centres
1. JRCC Victoria, BC
2. JRCC Halifax, NS
3. JRCC Trenton, ON
4. MRSC Quebec City,QC
5. MRSC St. Johns, NL

18. SAR Region Boundaries

19. VHF Communication System

20. VHF Radios
All volunteers with the CCGA are expected to have their Radio Operator’s Certificate.

21. VHF Radios Off/ On/ Volume Transmit DSC Frequency Selector
High/Low Power
Squelch
Mode

22. VHF Radios
Squelch - adjust the receiver sensitivity and limits unwanted radio noise. Too high a squelch will result in weaker signals not being heard.
Channel/ Mode - Keep the radio in USA/CDA mode at all times.
Simplex channels transmit and receive on same frequency - duplex send and receive on different frequencies.

23. VHF Radios
Hi/Lo - this control the power with which the VHF will transmit. High is generally 25W whilst Low is about 5W.
Handheld VHFs have a high of about 5W and a low of about 1W.

24. VHF Radio Procedures
Use Channel 16 for calling only, except for MAYDAY. Monitor at all times.
Name the station being called x 2, followed by the calling stations name or call sign x2.
Always identify yourself when calling.
Use standard marine language and vocabulary

25. VHF Marine Language Over Out Roger Wilco
Channel Say again I say again Standby
All after Word after All before Word before
Affirmative Negative That is correct
Correction Read back I spell Break
Seelonce Seelonce finis

26. Phonetic Alphabet
Because it is easy to confuse the sounds of some letters, when spoken over a radio, their phonetic equivalent is used instead..
Alfa Bravo Charlie Delta
Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel
India Juliett Kilo Lima
Mike November Oscar Papa
Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango
Uniform Victor Whiskey Xray Yankee Zulu

27. Search and Rescue Communications

28. Pager Codes
Stand down
Information only - coxswain call JRCC
Urgency
Distress
Contact JRCC - the safety of your vessel is in doubt

29. Communications

30. Communications
B Brevity
A Accuracy
S Speed
S Secrecy

31. Communications 1 Think before you speak
Key the microphone for 1 second before speaking
Keep messages short and to the point
Use a working channel - not Channel 16
Check the channel is clear before speaking
Keep microphone about 2 inches from the mouth

32. Communications 2 Talk in a calm and clear voice
Do not use offensive language
Preface all distress calls with distress signal
Use proper words and expressions
Spell names phonetically
Say numbers individually
Do not “on air” for prolonged periods

33. Distress Communications

34. Distress Communications
The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System applies to all vessels of 300 gross registered tons, or carrying passengers on international voyages

35. Distress Communications
Sea Area A1 Within range of shore-based VHF DSC coast station (40 nautical miles)
Sea Area A2 Within range of shore-based MF DSC coast station (excluding sea areas A1)(150 nautical miles)

36. Distress Communications
Sea Area A3 Within the coverage of an Inmarsat geostationary satellite (approximately 70°N to 70°S) (excluding sea areas A1 & A2)
Sea Area A4 The remaining areas outside sea areas A1, A2 & A3 (polar regions)

37. Distress Communications

38. Distress Communications

39. Digital Selective Calling
Channel 70 on VHF is dedicated to DSC.
Each DSC has a unique 9 digit number called a “Maritime Mobile Service Identifier”.
Canadian vessels start with “316”

40. EPIRBs, ELTs and SARTs

41. EPIRBs, ELTs and SARTs
All Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (Marine), Emergency Location Transmitters (Aircraft), and Search and Rescue Transmitters transmit on either or 406MHz
EPIRBs all have their own unique identification number.

42. EPIRBs Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons
Automatic EPIRBs will float free and be activated by water
Manual activation will require removal from their brackets and activated.

43. ELTs
Emergency Locator Transmitters are fitted to aircraft and also transmit on 406 MHz

44. Search And Rescue Transponder
SARTs

45. Distress Messages

46. Distress Messages Procedure for Channel 16:
1. Transmit an alarm signal.
2. Say “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”.
3. “This is RCM-SAR 13, RCM-SAR 13, RCM-SAR 13”.
4. Give vessel position be latitude/ longitude of bearing and distance from identifiable point.
5. State the nature of distress and assistance required.

47. Distress Messages
6. State number of persons on board, injuries and other vessels involved.
7. Describe your vessel.
8. Provide any other pertinent information to assist rescuers.
9. REPEAT, say “Over” and listen

48. Distress Messages Imposition of Silence “SEELONCE MAYDAY”
Finish of Mayday “MAYDAY FINIS”
Urgency “PAN, PAN” x3

49. Distress Messages
If you are underway and you hear a distress message and no-one else answers, answer the vessel, gather and log all information given, and pass information to Joint Rescue Coordination Centre or Marine Communications and Traffic Services.