Example of VHF conversation at sea.

 

 

-Colombo Pilot Station this is c/v CMA CGM KALAMATA.How do you read me?Over.

-Yes.This is Colombo Pilot Station.Please change ch 06.Over.

-Roger,change ch 06.

-CMA CGM KALAMATA.This is Colombo PS.Over.

-Yes,this is CMA CGM KALAMATA.I require a pilot.Over.

-Pilot will be on board at 0700 local time in position 1 nm from Light buoy QA Pilot lader strbd from water.Over.

-Colombo PS.This is CMA CGM KALAMATA.We are now 1 nm SE from Light bouy QA .Pilot lader strbd side 1 meter from water.

-Roger that.Out.

-Out.

 

 

-SingaporePilot Station, this is m/v Bratsk. We've reached the position 1 mile westward off the Peak Island. Waiting fora pilot boat to come. Over.

-M/v Bratsk, this is Singapore Pilot Station. Keep drifting slowly. Pilot boat will approach you in twenty minites. Rig the pilot ladder on your port side.

 

 

-Singapore Pilot Station. We are rigging pilot ladder on our port side. 3. There's little free room in the harbour now.

-You'll have to get berthed stern-to, for a while. Later on you'll

reberthed alongside.

 

6.Examples of OOW’s professional situations when on bridge with the use of

VHF equipment.

 

Under STCW Code, the OOW is the master's representative and is primarily sible at all times for the safe navigation of the ship and for complying e COLREGS.

As the master's representative, the OOW is in charge of the bridge and therefore charge of the bridge team for that watch, until properly relieved. In compliance with shipboard operational procedures and master's standing orders, the OOW should ensure that bridge watch manning levels are at all safe for the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

To maintain a safe navigational watch, the primary duties of the OOW will involve watchkeeping, navigation and GMDSS radio watchkeeping.

The watchkeeping duties of the OOW include maintaining a lookout and general surveillance of the ship, collision avoidance in compliance with the COLREGS,

Recording bridge activities and making periodic checks on the navigational equipment in use. Procedures for handing over the watch and calling for support on the bridge should be in place and understood by the OOW.

The navigational duties of the OOW are based upon the need to execute the passsage plan safely, and monitor the progress of the ship against that plan.

With the introduction of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) radiocommunications have now become an important element in the functions of the OOW, who will be responsible for maintaining a continuous radio watch at sea. During distress incidents, one of the qualified radio personnel should be designated to have primary responsibility for radiocommunications. On passenger ships that person can have no other duties during a distress situation.

Only qualified radio personnel should operate equipment for GMDSS purposes. GMDSS equipped ships are required to be able to do the following wherever they operate:

• transmit ship-to-shore distress alerts by two independent means;

• receive shore-to-ship alerts (usually relayed by RCCs);

• transmit and receive:

• ship-to-ship alerts

• SAR co-ordinating communications

• on-scene communications

• locating signals

• maritime safety information

• routine or general communications to and from shore

• bridge-to-bridge communications.

 

The OOW should normally be in possession of a General Operator's Certificate (GOC). For ships operating only in GMDSS Area A1 a Restricted Operator's Certificate (ROC) is sufficient. The OOW will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the radio watchkeeping requirements of SOLAS, the ITU Radio Regulations and any local watchkeeping rules.

The VHF watchkeeping range is 20 to 30 nautical miles, depending upon antenna height. All ships must keep a continuous watch on:

1)DSC Channel 70 (156.525 MHz;)

2)Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) when practicable;

3)Channel 13 (156.650 MHz) when practicable.

Typical examples of using the VHF equipment are calling the Pilot Station or Vessel Traffic Service,ship to ship communications, SAR co-ordinating communications,VHF DSC transmission on VHF ch 70 and others.

Here is an example of VHF conversationn between the OOW and Harbour Master:

 

-Harbour Master,Harbour Master,Emma Maersk speaking.Over.

-Yes,Emma Maersk.This is Harbour Mastrer.Over.

-Mr Watson, this is Julliani, Second Officer of the m/v Emma Maersk speaking.We have some trouble aboard. Over.

-What's happened, Mr Julllini?Over.

-One of the deck-hands got incidentally iron filings into his eye. The eye has swollen and he is suffering much.Could you arrrange for an ambulance launch and motor car to take him right away to a hospital.Over.

-Roger.Certainly,sir. I'll directly see to that. Where have you anchored?Over.

-We’ve anchored in the inner roadstead at about a mile's your Port Sanitary Office.Over.

-Understood.Wait for an ambulance boat to come. I’ll do my best to make the boat come as soon as possible. Will anybody accompany your patient?Over.

-Yes,our ship’s Third Officer will. Please, help him to do everything necessary and to come back aboard the ship.Over.

-Roger that.Don’t worry, Mr Julllini.I’ll see to that myself. So wait for us to come soon.Out.

-Roger that.Out.