Here are some samples of actual marine radio communications on Southern Vancouver Island, courtesy of Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) in Victoria.

Transmitting on our vessel's VHF radio can be daunting for new crewmembers who may not be familiar with the vocabulary and pace of search and rescue communications. Adding to "mike fright" is the knowledge that our conversations are being monitored by other mariners and recorded by the Coast Guard as part of their standard logging procedures.

However, as you'll hear in these examples, the people at MCTS are there to help you do your job and are less concerned with formal radio protocol than the successful outcome of your search and rescue tasking. By listening to the marine radio you'll soon become familiar with standard radio procedures

MCTS Victoria is "Victoria Coast Guard Radio" and the station we communicate with when we're on a call. They are our link to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in Esquimalt, which activates our pagers and provides direction through MCTS during an incident.

An MCTS officer will monitor Channel 16 (emergencies), Channel 4A (our Auxiliary working channel) and Channel 83A (another Coast Guard working channel which has recently replaced Channel 22). In the same room, the "Victoria Traffic" officer handles large vessel traffic on Channel 11.

(More on MCTS: http://www.pacific.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/mcts-sctm/victoria/index_e.htm)

Two routine calls with safety information for mariners.

Example of an urgent call involving a vessel taking on water.

This is the most serious distress call. In this case MCTS is broadcasting a "Mayday Relay", forwarding to all mariners the information it has received about a vessel in trouble.

The transmission begins with the mayday alarm tone.

Despite the urgency of the situation, the MCTS sounds calm and presents the information very slowly and clearly.

When you are doing radio communications aboard our vessel during an incident, it is normal to feel flustered when dealing with a changing situation and an overload of information. Remember: you don't have to transmit until you're ready. Simply say "Stand by", take a breath, and prioritize the information you want to pass along. The MCTS officer you're speaking to will be patient, and you'll sound like a pro!

Whenever we depart or return to base we advise Coast Guard Radio, who in turn inform Rescue Coordination Centre so that RCC knows where we are. In this recording you can hear an Auxiliary unit contact Coast Guard Radio on Channel 04A. This recording also captures the followup conversation between the controller and RCC over a dedicated phone line as he relays the Auxiliary unit's information. (You won't hear this on the marine radio, however the logger tape captures these conversations as well for future reference.)

Note that the Auxiliarist provides the following detail: Unit number, purpose of the trip (training), where they are headed, how long they will be on the water, and the number of people on board.

Large vessels are required to participate in the Vessel Traffic Services system and monitor Channel 11. The MCTS traffic officer tracks vessels on radar and advises ships of other traffic in their area. While we are not required to participate, we're welcome to contact the Traffic Controller at any time, for example for ship information if we're operating near the traffic lanes in poor visibility.

This recording is long and at times dull - just like some of our calls. However it follows an incident from the initial call from the gillnetter Isabella Scott to its conclusion when an Auxiliary unit brings the vessel safely into harbour. It's a good example of effective communication between various players, including the fishing boat skipper, Coast Guard Radio, Victoria Traffic, Rescue Coordination Centre, a commercial assistance provider, a nearby navy vessel (Orca 55) and an Auxiliary unit that was tasked to assist.

After the vessel calls for assistance, Coast Guard Radio issues a Marine Assistance Broadcast to determine if any vessels in the area can assist. Note that a SAR vessel is not immediately tasked.

You can hear the "landline" communications between Coast Guard Radio and RCC. At all times RCC is aware of what's taking place on the water, including the on-scene weather, thanks to good communications between the vessels, the controller, and RCC. At times RCC speaks directly with the skipper of the Isabella Scott, however often an Auxiliary unit is the sole source of on-scene information.

When the navy vessel Orca 55 offers assistance, RCC notes their availability but makes it clear that the ship is not "tasked". A tasking is an official assignment from RCC, and for the Auxiliary it triggers certain responsibilities and subsequent compensation to the unit. While we would not wait for a tasking before assisting a vessel in serious trouble, we normally await a formal tasking before taking action.

While one MCTS officer coordinates the incident, his partner at the Traffic desk monitors the Isabella Scott on radar, advising other vessels such as ferries about the hazard, and later providing a "vector" (range and bearing) to help the assisting vessel to the correct position.

When the Auxiliary unit is tasked to help with the tow, they immediately confirm the working radio channel and take time to communicate with the naval vessel about how the handover will take place. They have Stopped, Assessed, and Planned.