Marine HF/SSB radio with DSC

Transcription

1 BRUNEI BAY RADIO (division of Intrepid Management Services S/B) PO Box 2234, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8674, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM Phn: Fax: radio@bruneibay.net WEATHER SAILMAIL BBR HF/SSB RADIO YOTREPS WEATHER CHARTS Marine HF/SSB radio with DSC Effective Distress and General communications for Yacht Racing, Rallies and Cruising Event organisers around the world have always sought to deliver safe, fun and well managed experiences for their participating yachts and crews. Effective communication with and amongst participating yachts is crucial to achieve this desired outcome; for safety and general communication requirements. Yachts and their crews need: 1. Regular and accurate dissemination of updated details for anchorages, shore arrangements, CIQ procedures or changes to routes or schedules to all participants. This helps ensure smooth operations, and avoids frustration or unnecessary problems. Direct communications with all participating yachts rather than the unreliability of messages relayed via one or two participants has proven far superior in this regard. 2. Reliable and cost-effective communication - beyond the race or rally group - for their routine requirements, such as weather information, equipment maintenance and advice, parts replacements, repairs and crew arrangements. And to maintain communication with friends, family, work or business. 3. Convenient, fast and simultaneous communication with nearby participating yachts, to other vessels in the area and with more distant MRCCs to raise the alarm, initiate contact, request advice or assistance and manage the response; in the unlikely event of serious damage to a yacht, crew injury/illness or other Distress (Mayday) or Urgency (Pan-Pan) situation. With regard to Distress and Urgency communications: 1. Access to safety and emergency support services may not be as straightforward or have a fast response when operating away from Europe, the UK, and parts of North America, where professional search and rescue services are on 24/7 standby with RNLI lifeboats, helicopters and Coast Guard vessels at their immediate disposal. And where comprehensive VHF marine radio networks may exist, with continuous coverage and extended range created by hilltop relay and repeater towers. 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 1 of 14

2 2. Race, rally and cruising yachts in more isolated regions such as the Pacific and Indian Oceans, around Australia and in SE Asia must be more self-sustainable and equipped with communication tools which link them together to create a mutual self-support network. Rather than rely solely on communication with a distant shore based rescue service or event co-ordination centre for Distress, Urgency or routine needs, they need direct boat-toboat communication to update information, report progress, request advice to prevent or fix problems, and reliably contact each other for quicker assistance in a Distress or Urgency situation. 3. For many events operating away from the high population density areas of Europe, the UK and North America, the distance from the closest MRCC and the ability of yachts to spread out eg: over a long passage, along coastal anchorages or amongst islands means the event communication service must function over distances beyond marine VHF radio range, and it must broadcast messages, so information, requests or urgent/emergency calls can simultaneously reach all participating yachts with one transmission. So they all have access to the same information with the same timeliness. Here is an example of how an urgent message simultaneously broadcast by radio (in this case marine VHF) to multiple yachts monitoring their radios summoned immediate help from nearby rally yachts and prevented a problem becoming a disaster: Marine HF/SSB radio has always been the official maritime communication service for commercial and recreational vessels, over medium to long distances. However, the introduction of GMDSS for large ships seemed to ignore recreational vessel needs, especially because many Coast Stations closed and 24/7 monitoring of MAYDAY, PAN-PAN and SECURITE voice calls by MRCCs ceased in most of the world; when big ships were required to install expensive INMARSAT terminals and to install GMDSS HF/SSB radios with DSC calling. MRCCs progressively shifted from monitoring their HF/SSB radios 24/7 for voice Distress and Urgency calls to monitoring solely for DSC alarms in the 2000 to 2005 period. Radio speakers in most MRCCs around the world now remain muted and only open when a DSC alarm is received. Corresponding with this change in MRCC operations to only monitor for DSC alarms, commercial vessel requirements to maintain a 24/7 watch for voice Distress or Urgency calls on HF/SSB radio, also changed to a requirement to only maintain a 24/7 watch for DSC alarms; allowing them to also mute their radios speakers like the MRCCs so any voice Distress or Urgency calls can no longer be heard. As a result, recreational vessels have been locked out of the traditional ability to contact commercial vessels and/or MRCCs for assistance, because they were not immediately required to fit a similar DSC equipped HF/SSB marine radio. However, the more recent development of lower-cost and compact DSC equipped HF/SSB radios - eg: ICOM M801(E) & M802(DSC) - suitable for recreational vessels and other small craft, has largely overcome this problem. Recreational vessels can now have the same modern, advanced, marine HF/SSB radio communication services for General and Distress/Urgency calling - available to commercial vessels, and thereby regain the very significant benefit of direct, immediate 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 2 of 14

3 and 24/7 Distress/Urgency contact with MRCCs, and with dozens, hundreds or thousands of commercial vessels in their vicinity; along with any recreational vessels also maintaining a 24/7 DSC watch for General or Distress/Urgency calls. By fitting modern, marine HF/SSB radios with DSC capability, yachts and other small-craft can contact an MRCC directly, and simultaneously alert nearby yachts and commercial vessels which could provide quick and nearby advice or assistance. The broadcast feature of HF/SSB radio, in combination with the substantial number of large and small commercial vessels along with MRCCs now monitoring 24/7 for HF/SSB DSC distress calls, has created a reliable, convenient, low-cost and very functional marine Distress/Urgency communications network. The HF/SSB radio s DSC calling system for recreational vessels creates a new era of convenient mutual assistance and self-sufficiency that can also provide cautious recreational vessel owners and crew the re-assurance to safely enjoy beautiful, undeveloped and isolated cruising areas, beyond the commercial congestion which is common within the service area of 24/7, immediate response, professional Search and Rescue services of the UK/Europe and North America. Race and rally organisers in SE Asia, around Australia, the South Pacific Islands and in the empty spaces of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, can tap into this established, official and fully functional maritime communications and mutual support network, simply by ensuring participating yachts are equipped with a modern, marine HF/SSB radio with DSC. This DSC based marine HF/SSB communications and support network already exists; it s simply a matter of connecting in. Here is an example (September 2012) of rally yachts quickly coming to the assistance of another participant in advance of any official S&R response because of immediate and direct communication between yachts via HF/SSB radio: The arrival of satellite communications - especially low cost (to purchase) satellite phones - introduced what might appear to be a simple and convenient alternative to the official HF/SSB marine radio system for Distress/Urgency and General communication. But there are critically important communication features of HF/SSB radio which satellite phones cannot replicate and which satphone sales staff may not comprehend; especially those only familiar with local area, immediate response, European and North American search and rescue services. Here is an example of how a satphone call and EPIRB did not achieve the desired and expected result in a beautiful South Pacific cruising area: Australian-sailors/98741 A DSC distress alarm via marine HF/SSB radio could have alerted another cruising yacht in an adjacent anchorage, or the other side of the island. Or perhaps a fishing boat or other commercial vessel offshore. Any of these nearby vessels could have arrived in time to collect the crew. In contrast, the official search and rescue operation initiated by a technologically amazing satphone call to someone thousands of miles away took time to mobilise an effective response: 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 3 of 14

4 The following grounding incident (September 2012) again highlights the importance of broadcasting a distress or urgency call - via VHF or HF/SSB marine radio so other nearby mariners can facilitate or provide timely assistance in the tradition of mutual help and selfsufficiency which has underpinned safety and support in the maritime community: These recent (2012) examples of the critical importance of marine radio s broadcast capability clearly demonstrate why the advice of Australia s Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) continues to remain appropriate for this larger, emptier, less commercialised side of the world, or anywhere beyond the range of immediate response, 24/7, professional search and rescue facilities: "While satellites and satellite-compatible distress beacons have significantly improved the effectiveness of SAR operations, the system is NOT a substitute for carrying appropriate marine or aviation radio. (AMSA Website) The following information aims to illuminate the differences between satellite phone and modern marine HF/SSB radio communications for emergency situations in the vast majority of the world where many yacht owners choose to race, rally, cruise and explore; beyond the congested waterways, sophisticated shore based VHF marine radio and 24/7 search and rescue services. In doing so, this document aims to highlight important features of HF/SSB radio with DSC; which satphone based communications cannot replicate. 1. The basic ISAF/ORC Special Regulations for a Category 1 race does not include a HF/SSB radio. This appears to be the outcome of specifications created in Europe, where there are extremely well developed, extended range, marine VHF DSC radio networks based upon linked hilltop repeaters/relays providing a near continuous coverage of coastal and inshore waters. These marine VHF communication facilities simply do not exist on this larger, emptier side of the world; including 99% of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Australia and the USA have declared they have no official GMDSS marine VHF DSC radio service around their coasts. There are only isolated patches of shore-based marine VHF DSC radio coverage near major ports/islands/towns in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. For example at Singapore, Hong Kong and Guam. The famous Fastnet Race (a Category 2 yacht race) in the UK can operate with only VHF DSC communications because of the excellent network of VHF repeaters & relays. In contrast, the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race (also a Category 2 race in a much more hospitable sailing environment) along the well populated east coast of Australia cannot; HF/SSB radio communication is the only option to maintain contact with and between the race yachts. Yachting Australia's latest (July 2013 to June 2016) Special Regulations require a HF/SSB radio for both Category 1 & 2 races. This is an advance on the 2010 to 2013 Special Regulations which required a HF/SSB radio for Category 1, and recommended it for Category 2. Some Category 3 and 4 races in Australian need HF/SSB communications because there is no other means to effectively communicate with and between the yachts. Yachting Australia's Special Regulations also specify that race committees must arrange for "constant monitoring of the race frequency/ies". 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 4 of 14

5 The latest Yachting Australia Special Regulations recommend a satphone for Category 1 and 2 events. Significantly, the satphone is optional only not required and the satphone is not listed as a potential substitute for the mandatory HF/SSB radio. A satphone simply cannot replicate the critical functions of a HF/SSB radio, which are so important on this big, empty, side of the world. 2. In contrast, the UK s MRCC Falmouth no longer has access to HF/SSB radio communication. They therefore advise recreational vessels to carry satellite based communications as this is their only available communication option when vessels are beyond the range of the UK s excellent coastal VHF DSC service: This recommendation to use satellite technology is understandable given that Falmouth Coast Guard does not have a HF/SSB radio, that the vessel in distress is beyond the range of their excellent marine VHF (with DSC) network, but within range of the very effective 24/7 distress coordination and search and rescue capabilities of the UK and Europe. These excellent quality, well equipped and 24/7 professional rescue services can take full, centralised, control and responsibility for managing and quickly solving incidents within their service coverage area. 3. The high density of commercial and recreational vessel traffic around the UK and Europe makes it imperative and financially feasible to sustain a full-time marine rescue capability; partly because there are so many incidents. See this article for more statistics: These very well developed, professional standard, 24/7 search and rescue services, have access to a wide range of sophisticated and dedicated resources. These capabilities simply do not exist on this much larger side of the world the Pacific and Indian Oceans, SE Asia and around Australia nor in most uncongested regions of the world where yacht crews love to cruise, race and rally. It s worth noting in the above article that the greatest distance the RNLI rescues operated in this reporting period is 80nm. The service is excellent, but for events operating beyond their range ie: in at least 99% of the world s popular yacht cruising, rally and race areas it s important to have an alternative strategy. The excellent marine VHF (with DSC) networks, the RNLI and other 24/7 rescue services cannot help over here; they don t exist. Experience on this bigger, emptier side of the world confirms that many yacht owners, crew and organisers from Europe, the UK and North America don t understand this difference when they make plans to cruise, race or rally on this side. Differences in the ISAF/ORC and Yachting Australia Special Regulations for Yacht Racing reflect these considerable differences in communication facilities, search and rescue capabilities, population densities, shipping traffic and the vast empty spaces on this bigger, emptier, side of the world. These Special Regulations differences include that a few years back the ORC/ISAF liferaft did not require a canopy; because pickup is fast. And even today the ISAF liferaft pack does not require food. But in Australia, the life-raft has required a canopy for as long as I remember, and Yachting Australia s Special Regulations still require food and water for the liferaft. For further information and an on-line link to the latest Yachting Australia Special Regulations For racing boats and recommended for cruising boats select the Cruising This Side page under the Yacht Cruising heading on our website 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 5 of 14

6 In Europe the liferaft risks being run down by one of thousands of potential rescue ships, because of the high shipping traffic density. In the Pacific and Indian oceans, most of the Atlantic, most of Australian s coastline and Search and Rescue responsibility region, and many areas of SE Asia, it could be days between seeing another vessel. RNLI lifeboats, Coast Guard Cutters and immediate response rescue helicopters do not exist. These significant differences in space and distance, search & rescue services and marine VHF communication facilities are reflected in differences between the base level ISAF/ORC Special Regulations, and Yachting Australia s Special Regulations; which are adapted to this much larger, empty, and less well equipped/funded side of the world. Yachting Australia s Special Regulations are far more prescriptive than the basic ISAF/ORC Special Regulations; for good reasons. Yachts need to be more self-sufficient than in Europe, because dedicated rescue resources may take time many hours or days to arrive, and because it's not just a matter of making a quick phone, satphone or VHF radio call to the central MRCC to have a rescue vessel or helicopter quickly appear over the horizon. Most probably, the closest assistance will be from other yachts in the same event, or nearby commercial vessels such as a fishing trawler or container ship or a sail or motor yacht beyond VHF radio range, over the horizon, or in the next anchorage along the coast or on the opposite side of a mountainous tropical island. This incident involving a French sailor rescued by an Antarctic cruise ship diverted from its planned trip highlights the differences on this side of the world: 1. The extended time period ie: 3 days in this case required to carry out rescues in these larger ocean areas away from the 24/7 immediate response search and rescue services of the UK, Europe and parts of North America. 2. Insufficient equipment, food and water in the small size life-raft designed and equipped for European operation - for the multiple days in the life-raft before pickup; which is common on this bigger, emptier side of the world. Standard ISAF life-raft equipment, food and water specifications assume prompt pickup. Yachting Australia s Special Regulations include considerable food and water and other equipment, in recognition of the search & rescue realities in these big, empty sea regions. 3. No immediate response rescue vessel, RNLI lifeboat or Coast Guard vessel nearby. A cruise ship had to be diverted and it took 3 days to arrive. Just like Australia s maritime authority (AMSA) warns on their website. And this recent incident demonstrated yet again that on this side of the world: 1. It can take considerable time 29 hours under engine for the nearest vessel 180nm away to reach a vessel in difficulty. 2. Help from other sailors can solve a problem to avoid abandoning the yacht. 3. There are no dedicated rescue vessels loitering nearby. 4. MRCC New Zealand also relies on nearby vessels to implement a distress response. 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 6 of 14

7 As a Winston Churchill Fellow, learning about mountain rescue services in the UK, I recall a bumper sticker available in outdoor gear shops - "Support Mountain Rescue - Get Lost". So many people were members of volunteer rescue services, there was competition amongst rescue groups to reach a situation first. It's impossible that yachts in isolated areas of SE Asia, the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, and around most of Australia s coast, will have the benefit of such competition if they have a problem. Depending on the exact location, they will need to wait hours or days for an official rescue response; or instead rely on nearby mariners for a more rapid response. In this bigger, emptier side of the world, race, rally and cruising yachts operating beyond the range of 24/7 professional search and rescue resources need to be suitably equipped to sustain themselves in a distress/emergency situation. And they need a communication system that gives them the best chance of attracting the attention of other, nearby, mariners in their vicinity. They will not know the satellite phone number of the fishing trawler, merchant ship or cruising yacht on the other side of the same island, or just over the horizon. They won't even know if they are there. But if they have a HF/SSB radio with DSC, the broadcast feature of HF/SSB radio, and the DSC Distress alarm, will trigger an alert state in any similar HF/SSB marine radio with DSC on any nearby vessel recreational, government or commercial maintaining a 24/7 watch for DSC alarms. Subsequent to a DSC alarm, all HF/SSB radio voice calls to MRCCs, or to other yachts in the same rally or race or other recreational or commercial vessels which respond to the DSC distress call are free of charge. And because the HF/SSB radio broadcasts its DSC alarm and subsequent voice information to all similar radios on the frequency, it can simultaneously reach dozens, hundreds or thousands of vessels. There is no need to make dozens, hundreds or thousands of costly satellite phone calls to achieve a similar result. Just press the DSC alarm button on the HF/SSB radio. The satellite phone system is a profit-making communications service based upon person to person calls, and charged on the time taken. Satphones cannot make broadcast calls to simultaneously advise multiple vessels and crews. Instead they require tens, hundreds or thousands of individual calls to achieve a similar distribution of information available with one call on a modern marine HF/SSB radio with DSC. The long-standing underlying principle of marine distress/emergency communications is mutual support of one vessel by others; therefore, communication via marine HF/SSB radio is free. Using marine radio, it's possible to send one signal/call/alarm which any other vessel in range can hear. For example a DSC alarm sent from one participating yacht will alert all the other yachts in a race or rally, and/or an MRCC, or other nearby recreational and commercial vessels. The subsequent broadcast voice response from an MRCC, any other yacht in the event or any other vessel or, coast station, can also be heard by any yacht, ship, coast station, MRCC etc where the marine HF/SSB radio has been triggered by the initial DSC alarm. Every yacht, ship and fishing trawler therefore becomes a potential source of problem solving advice or assistance/rescue, because they are all linked together into a common support network via the broadcast feature of HF/SSB radio. And that communication is free; absolutely no charge for the communications to help someone who needs help. No issues of someone running out of satphone credit while attempting to provide help, or deciding they don't have the budget to pay for calls to assist another mariner. 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 7 of 14

8 Using satellite phone as the communications system for a race or rally means organisers may need to call every individual yacht, ship, aircraft etc in the vicinity of a disabled or distressed yacht at significant expense and time delay to request their assistance; if they are known to be in the vicinity and if their sat phone number is known. This could require a large shore team to dial numbers and a substantial budget. Then there is the question of how many ships, aircraft, yachts and fishing trawlers which race or rally organisers should constantly track in the vicinity of the event in order to be able to immediately call the appropriate satphone numbers and ask then to make calls - at their expense - to the disabled or distressed yacht to assist them. It's cumbersome, inefficient, expensive, and can t possibly work very well. Using satellite systems as the principle communication medium for a race, rally or cruise group also raises the question of how much credit event organisers will require each participant to maintain in their satphone account and how to verify this so they have ample credit to make multiple calls in a distress or emergency situation; to satisfy Fundamental Rule 1.1 in the Racing Rules of Sailing Helping Those in Danger. And how much will each participant decide they are able/willing to spend on satphone calls to assist fellow participants, or another nearby mariner in distress? Perhaps the money that could have been available is already spent on a new sail. Or the yacht owner has received news that their investments have collapsed, or a family medical problem needs attention, so they need to minimise other satphone calls and costs. Therefore, the vessel and people in distress could be ignored, the vessel could be left to sink and the crew to fend for themselves. People could die because of the need to pay for emergency communications via the satellite system. For the majority of race, rally and cruising yachts - ie: those with a limited budget - a satphone based distress/emergency system places them in an ethical/financial dilemma when it comes to assisting another event participant, or any other mariner in distress. A yacht race, rally or cruise group could be the closest to a sinking cruising yacht with a family of adults and children on-board, or a group of local fisherman adrift in their small boat without drinking water or food, or a fishing trawler, or the next Titanic - which sank in calm seas. How much are participants able or willing to spend on satphone calls to help them, and to abide by Fundamental Rule 1.1 in the Racing Rules of Sailing Helping Those in Danger? When using a HF/SSB radio based communication system for a race, rally or cruise, communications at these critical times is totally free. Therefore money - and the opportunity to advise, assist or rescue other mariners - are far less likely to be in conflict with each other. For managing a distress/emergency situation, the broadcast feature of HF/SSB radio communications (or VHF if close) allows all involved to know what is happening, instantly and simultaneously, so they can consider how they might be able to assist. To use satphone for emergency communications may require a large shore team to make tens, hundreds or thousands of unique calls to disseminate the same information to all involved. Slow, costly and bound to have communication errors. And this centralised strategy is built upon the assumption that the person-in-charge in the control room is fully informed and has an absolute monopoly on wisdom, knowledge and judgement. It severs access to the resources, knowledge, wisdom and initiative of others nearby who could help, because they are precluded from hearing the flow of communications and therefore the ongoing issues, needs and potentials. Their judgement, knowledge, wisdom, resources and experience is locked out of the situation; effectively blocked from benefiting those in distress. An example of how the broadcast feature of HF/SSB radio facilitates initiative and gives access to the wisdom and resources of other mariners was the J35 skipper washed overboard at night during a Sydney to Hobart race. The captain of an oil tanker, experienced with the area, and listening on his 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 8 of 14

9 HF/SSB radio to the emergency communications between race yachts, race control and the MRCC assigning search tasks to yachts and other vessels, instead positioned his ship beyond the official search area, turned off the main engines (so his crew could hear anyone calling from the water), switched on all the deck lights, and drifted. The yacht skipper, who had been in the water for a few hours, came over the crest of a wave to see the tanker fully lit, drifted down the side, called out and was pulled from the water. These unique features of a modern marine HF/SSB radio with DSC are why the official service for medium to long distance maritime distress/emergency is still based on HF/SSB radio. And also why: 1. MRCC Australia says "While satellites and satellite-compatible distress beacons have significantly improved the effectiveness of SAR operations, the system is NOT a substitute for carrying appropriate marine or aviation radio. Depending on the circumstances, your initial distress alert should still be made by radio if possible. You should activate your distress beacon only if contact cannot be made by any other means or when told to do so by a rescue authority." 2. And MRCC Australia also says "The arrangements for search and rescue (SAR) in Australia have been influenced by the physical size of the island continent, the large size of the search and rescue region, Australia's relatively small population and the nature of governmental processes. Dedicated SAR facilities are limited in Australia. When necessary, other facilities are diverted from their primary function by arrangement or request." If Australian search and rescue facilities are limited or thinly spread, it does not take much imagination to appreciate the situation in many of the beautiful, isolated and untouched parts of SE Asia, the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, and other areas of the world which are attractive rally, race and cruising venues. Yacht crews need to be relatively self-sufficient and have communication systems that allow them to quickly link to each other, an MRCC and other nearby shipping in an emergency. Rather than struggle their way down a wet list of satphone numbers between periods of frantic bucketing to check who has their phone switched on, who is nearby and who can help them. 3. The Country Fire Authority (CFA) in Victoria (Australia) is fitting HF/SSB radios (and Pactor /short message/position controllers) to fire trucks and rural fire stations. They learnt in the last deadly fires of 2009 that the sophisticated network of linked hilltop communication towers can easily stop working, so all communication services also stop. Someone forgot that one of the first actions commonly taken by rural fire fighters is to have the electricity turned off, so evacuating people and fire-fighters are not electrocuted when power poles are burnt down, or houses are in flames. As a result, the entire fire-fighting and emergency response command and control system failed after the backup batteries and generators in the towers expired. No sms phone messages or FM radio broadcasts to tell people to evacuate, no communication system to co-ordinate the efforts of police, ambulance, fire trucks, fire fighters on the ground etc. The heads of Police, Emergency Services, Fire, Ambulance and Country Fire Authority in the "War Room" in Melbourne had no idea what was happening and no ability to manage resources. They did not know till late on the first night that anyone had died. And it took eight days after the fires stopped to get minimal communications services operating again, despite the nearby availability of technical expertise and spare parts. With the benefit of hindsight, the CFA is now fitting HF/SSB radios and Pactor controllers. 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 9 of 14

10 4. Following the 9/11 and New Orleans TS tragedies, the USA instituted a public access, natural disaster communications system. It's based on HF/SSB radios with Pactor radio controllers - the same equipment and software combination used for SailMail in yachts. They chose not to use satellite based systems. 5. Following natural disasters in Asia, I'm routinely contacted by Europe and North American based emergency relief organisations asking to link into my HF/SSB services for voice and for their natural disaster relief teams. These organisations also use satphone; but they understand its limitations, and cost. In tropical latitudes these limitations include losing contact because of heavy cloud densities (a similar problem as the SE Asian region satellite TV service), or the wide distance between polar orbiting satphone service (ie Iridium) satellites. And the account being terminated promptly if the bill is not paid or the credit allowance exceeded. 6. Barrett and Codan in Australia - and numerous other HF/SSB radio makers around the world - have experienced great business expansion since 9/11, the New Orleans TS and the Asian Tsunami, when a lot of people, organisations and governments realised just how fragile, complex and time consuming to repair, the terrestrial and satellite phone and data systems really are. 7. Military vehicles, planes, ships and infantry still use HF/SSB radio - despite having plenty of money for more sophisticated systems - because they know how fragile these systems are, and how the independent functionality of HF/SSB radio still works when all the other technically complex and interdependent fancy stuff does not. And HF/SSB radio does not require the expense or availability of a rocket scientist, space shuttle and astronaut for maintenance or repairs. The very first rule in the entire Racing Rules of Sailing is titled Helping Those in Danger. It states "A boat or competitor shall give all possible help to a person or vessel in danger". This rule embodies the historical notion that everyone who goes down to the sea in ships should look out for everyone else on a mutually supportive, self-help basis. Because we are all - yachts, fishing trawlers, passenger ships, navy vessels etc - out there in what is not our natural environment, where a race, rally or cruise fleet yacht could be the only or fastest source of assistance available. The first rule of sailing does not say "A boat or competitor shall give all possible help only to another participant in the same event, but not to commercial, government or recreational vessels outside the event." If that was the case then perhaps in a small event, each competitor could carry a list of the sat phone numbers of all the other participants and they could spend time - and money - calling each other a few times a day to check each is OK. And in an emergency the yacht in distress could individually call all the other yachts and ask if they are nearby and can they help. Still relatively cumbersome, expensive and time consuming; especially for a short-handed yacht crew struggling with a serious problem. But there is a far superior technology available, which works for all the yachts in the race, rally or cruise fleet or cruising independently - to support each other, and also for yachts and crew to meet their obligations as mariners, licensed marine radio operators and under Rule 1.1; it's a HF/SSB radio with DSC. It quietly (with a muted speaker) monitors 24/7 for distress calls from all the other event yachts - and any other vessel - with a similar DSC equipped marine HF/SSB radio. It does so without the need for crews to make sat phone calls to check on each other, or to frantically call each other to tell them to assist another vessel - assuming everyone keeps their satphone turned on 24/7, and they have plenty of credit in their account or for event organisers to have a team of people on standby to make multiple (expensive) calls to individual satphones to co-ordinate the incident response. 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 10 of 14

11 Imagine how many men, women, children and babies would have been alive after the Titanic sank if a yacht race, rally or cruise fleet had passed by. But only if the Titanic could contact them. The modern day Titanic captain will not know the yachts are there just over the horizon, nor will he or she know their satphone numbers to call. Nor will the MRCC that he/she calls for help on his INMARSAT terminal or HF/SSB. But they can press the DSC alarm button in the HF/SSB radio. That will alert all the race, rally or cruising yachts - also carrying a HF/SSB radio with DSC and monitoring 24/7 for Distress calls and give them the precise location so they can follow both the spirit and the law of Fundamental Rule 1.1 in the Racing Rules of Sailing Helping Those in Danger, and comply with their radio operator s license and vessel radio licence requirements to maintain a continuous watch for Distress calls from all other mariners. It s become increasing difficult to comprehend how carrying a HF/SSB radio without DSC, or one or more satphones on a yacht rather than a modern marine HF/SSB radio with DSC can now satisfy either the spirit or the law of Fundamental Rule 1.1 in the Racing Rules of Sailing, or the radio licensing obligations. Because a satphone or a HF/SSB radio without DSC - does not make the yacht and its crew easily contactable and accessible to other mariners in danger; recreational or commercial, known and unknown. And because a satphone does not have the broadcast feature of radio. And because the widespread use of modern marine HF/SSB radios with DSC by commercial vessels small and large means this is the default, official & common service that already links participating mariners in a self-supportive communication network. And a satphone is really not very practical - ie: suited to the realities of the situation - when there is actually a problem. Which is no-doubt why the above list of 7 situations exists; where HF/SSB radio has been chosen over satellite for critical communications services. Other people have already learnt that lesson; many of them the hard way. Certainly, a satphone - and waterproof VHF marine radio with DSC - is a practical alternative to the HF/SSB radio if a crew must step up into the liferaft. But the HF/SSB radio with DSC could have already summoned some nearby advice or help - from a previously unknown vessel with an unknown satphone number - to plug the hole or tow the yacht, and avoid the entire liferaft and sinking yacht scenario. Here again is the statement from MRCC Australia for this bigger, emptier side of the world: "While satellites and satellite-compatible distress beacons have significantly improved the effectiveness of SAR operations, the system is NOT a substitute for carrying appropriate marine or aviation radio. A marine radio installation and repair specialist in Darwin (Australia), who's principle clients are fishing trawlers and other small commercial vessels, remarked to me that - based on practical experience - these modern HF/SSB marine radios with DSC effectively eliminate the search from Search and Rescue. These radios have a terminal to connect GPS position data. When the DSC Alarm button is pushed, the alarm data transmission also sends information about the vessel, including the precise GPS position. This action is quick, easy for the crew to initiate, and data gets through despite static, interference or noisy conditions on the receiving vessel which might make it difficult or inaccurate for someone to receive a voice call with the same information. Any yacht, fishing trawler, cruise ship, merchant ship or navy vessel (and MRCC or Coast Station) with a similar radio will receive that precise position information, and the alarm call will trigger the receiving DSC radio into an alarm state, to attract the crew s attention. 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 11 of 14

12 By eliminating the Search from Search & Rescue, the response to help someone is much faster, substantially reducing the number of S&R resources required, along with the extended time/effort/expense of commercial vessels, fishing trawlers, yachts, planes etc normally tasked by the MRCC to help locate a vessel in distress. Considerably fewer resources can instead be concentrated on solving the problem rather than searching for the problem and the timely arrival of assistance increases the probability of a successfully outcome. Based on this experience in Darwin, the position transmit feature of a modern HF/SSB marine radio with DSC, has been instrumental in solving problems fast, with minimal disruption, and/or loss of income, for those mariners who responsibly play their part in the official marine emergency communication network, by maintaining a 24/7 watch for DSC alarms. It's not difficult to understand that the crew of fathers operating their fishing trawler could be somewhat upset about being requested by their MRCC, yet again, to spend a day searching for a yacht that is in distress - rather than catching fish to generate money to feed, cloth and educate their children - simply because the yacht owner chose not to carry an appropriate radio. Equipping a yacht solely with satellite phone communications - without an effective HF/SSB radio system - is like saying "I plan to call an MRCC on my satellite phone to get help. I expect other (commercial or recreational) mariners to maintain a 24/7 watch on their DSC equipped HF/SSB radios, to receive distress alerts from the MRCC, and I expect them to come to my assistance if I need it. But I'm not willing to contribute to the same marine safety network. I will not equip my yacht with a modern HF/SSB radio with DSC, nor maintain a 24/7 watch for DSC distress alerts related to other vessels recreational or commercial and I will not make myself and my yacht easily available/contactable in an emergency to help the same people I expect will help me". This attitude seems in complete conflict with the spirit of Fundamental Rule 1.1 of the Racing Rules of Sailing, and ignores the historical principle that all mariners work together to assist and protect each other. It is also an approach that could cause marine and communication authorities to consider curtailing the significant freedoms presently extended to private yacht owners to go to sea without the same expensive certification, inspections, equipment and manning requirements applied to similarly sized commercial vessels which will be called upon to go to their assistance. In regard to a distress situation for another vessel - eg: the modern Titanic, a cruising yacht family, fishing trawler or missing island fishermen in their small canoe - I'm sure all yacht race, rally and cruising yacht crews would be very distressed to learn they sailed straight past an unfolding disaster where they could have helped resolve the problem, or save lives and prevent a sinking; if only they had known about it. Carrying a modern marine HF/SSB radio with DSC - and maintaining a 24/7 DSC watch - is a simple to operate option, with minimal on-board demands, and no ongoing call expenses. But, like the small and large commercial vessels which are compelled to carry and operate the more expensive version of a DSC radio, it makes yachts accessible and easily contacted by an MRCC or any other vessel in distress; recreational, government or commercial. And it hooks them into the benefits of the same marine safety communications network, so they can easily call for help or advice from other nearby mariners, if they need. Also, the MMSI number for their radio is like a phone number, which other yachts can use to call them direct, without the need to wait for skeds that might occur when on-board demands makes it difficult. All these advantages are available immediately, simply by fitting a modern marine HF/SSB radio with DSC. 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 12 of 14

13 A special feature of the modern HF/SSB radio with DSC makes using the radio, and maintaining a dependable 24/7 watch, very convenient. Basically, the radio maintains the watch for General and Distress/Urgency calls, not the crew. The radio speaker is muted while it scans a range of frequencies for DSC calls; either DSC Distress/Urgency calls or DSC General calls. This eliminates the noise of other calls and background static from the speaker, thereby removing the temptation for crew to turn down the volume or turn off the radio. DSC and the muted speaker feature makes Distress/Urgency and General call monitoring far more convenient and reliable than the old open speaker requirement to maintain a voice watch. Radio licence courses highlight the obligation of all mariners to maintain a watch for Distress and Urgency calls. DSC makes it easy to comply. An adaptation to the General receiver scanning scheme in marine HF/SSB radios with DSC makes them even more beneficial to race and rally organisers, cruise groups and individual yachts. This adaptation is recommended by both Cmdr (US Navy Ret) Terry Sparks (see and Bob Smith (Yachtcom, UK see in their revised frequency scanning plan for the DSC General receiver in ICOM radios commonly used by yachts. This adaptation converts all the General DSC watch frequencies to simplex to facilitate yacht-to-yacht AND yacht-to-shore station-to-yacht use, rather than solely yacht-to-shore station use. See: %20ICM802/Appendix%20XI%20DSC%20calling%20upgrade%20for%20Cruisers.pdf AND This re-programming of the DSC General watch frequencies in ICOM M801(E) and M802(DSC) radios - for longer distance yacht-to-yacht communications - has been in successful operation for some years in the UK/Europe and in the USA, based on the (co-incidentally identical) strategy of both Terry Sparks (see and Bob Smith (see Making this adaptation to the standard General DSC watch frequencies enables longer range yachtto-yacht DSC/MMSI calls. Yachts in a race, rally or cruising fleet can maintain a constant scanning watch for General DSC calls from other participants, utilising the quiet/muted functionality of the DSC radio. This is especially useful for yachts in isolated areas and/or distant from immediate search and rescue response capabilities; so they can easily make contact to obtain advice or assistance from each other. There is no need to establish listening periods when crews should standby for voice calls from other participants, and no need for crews to wait for a sked time if they need urgent information or help. The DSC equipped radio (silently) monitors 24/7 on behalf of the crew, and only unmutes the speaker and rings when a MMSI/DSC call is received. This DSC General scanning adaptation also creates the opportunity to establish a unique DSC Group Calling facility for race, rally or cruising fleet participants. Any participant can then initiate a DSC Group Call (via the radio s General receiver, not the Distress/Urgency receiver) that will unmute the speakers in all other group participants radios. This permits any participant to quickly and simply contact all other participants for advice, assistance and mutual support. It could also be used to initiate routine skeds between the race yachts. Here is the information from Terry Sparks: With all the boats maintaining a DSC watch, this would allow the group members to immediately contact all others in a less than distress mode. I use this in Mexico with friends, but it also seems perfect for racers and rallies. 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 13 of 14

14 If you have not set up a group before, everyone just needs to create a group with the same MMSI number. The number must be unique and the easiest way to establish one is to take a real MMSI number, put a zero in front and move the other numbers right one place. e.g. My MMSI is The group I use in Mexico is If you have questions, comments or suggestions about how the significant advantages of a modern marine HF/SSB radio with DSC can be applied to your race, rally or cruising activities along with cost saving installation, setup and operation techniques feel free to me. Best wishes Allan Riches Brunei Bay Radio 7/08/ :23 hf-ssb dsc-foryachtrace,rally&cruise Page 14 of 14