Emergency Procedures #II

In the event of a NON LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, follow the instructions 1 through 4 above, but say the following:

VESSEL ASSIST, this is the NAME OF YOUR VESSEL AND CALL NUMBERS. Release the button and listen for a response. If no response, try again.

When asked, give the following information:

A. The nature of the emergency.
B. The number of people on board.
C. Your position. (Look at the LORAN and/or GPS screen and give position in lat/lon)
D. Description of vessel. (mine would be 36 ft. express cruiser, white hull and decks, red trim, red canvas, registration number CF 1889 SE) and any other information requested. Vessel Assist or Sea Tow, the at-sea version of the Automobile Club,may request the membership number, if known.

If you are a member of a towing service, there is usually no charge for towing back to your home port. Be sure to specify just where that home port is and request towing to there, or you could wind up at the closest fuel and repair dock.

If you cannot contact your towing service. call the Coast Guard and request they contact the towing service for you. Explain to the Coast Guard the nature of the problem, and they will advise you as to procedures.

IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT AS TO THE URGENCY OF THE PROBLEM, CALL THE COAST GUARD ON CHANNEL 16. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT ACTION TO BE TAKEN. IT'S BETTER TO CALL AND NOT NEED THEM THAN NOT CALL AND WISH YOU HAD WHEN IT'S TOO LATE!

You can also utilize the cellular phone for emergencies. If there is a life threatening emergency and you cannot reach the Coast Guard on the radio, try the cellular and dial 911. The police can assist you and contact the Coast Guard. Just remember a cellular phone has very limited range, and if you're far offshore, the cell phone may be useless. It is no substitute for the marine VHF radio!

K E E P C A L M

LEVEL HEADED THINKING AND ACTION WILL MAKE THE BEST OF AN EMERGENCY. YOUR ACTIONS WILL ASSURE THAT WE'LL ALL BE ABLE TO TELL SEA STORIES ABOUT IT LATER.