Listening Watch – Serious Business

As a past military and commercial airline pilot, Craig Warner is always trying to take his safety background and transfer that knowledge to the sailing community. For 44 years, he handled radio calls daily, and the value of these messages is near and dear to his heart.

As a follow-up to a recent report on the clarity of calls, Warner adds his experience to the conversation:

As difficult as it may be to understand a United States Coast Guard message, it is imperative that you understand the message at all times. If you are in doubt, ask the USCG or anyone sending an urgent message to repeat it slowly. A SECURITE, PAN-PAN, OR MAYDAY message sent over VHF Channel 16 may contain information necessary for your safety or the safety of others.

LISTENING WATCH is a serious business. I come from a long career as a military and airline pilot. I lived, literally, by radio communications. In all my flying experience, there is no such thing as not understanding a message sent via radio.

I have been racing for almost as long, and can’t tell you the number of times I have heard fellow racers tell me that they leave the radio off, or no one is listening to radio messages, because it distracts them from enjoying the day. Let me put it bluntly: these messages may contain information that can prevent an accident or save a life. You must develop the professional discipline to monitor the radio and understand the message.

Routine radio traffic is transmitted in a set format. There are also varying levels of radio messages. A SECURITE message sends routine message information. It can range from a navigation buoy not being in place to commercial shipping movements. Although a SECURITE message may not seem important, it can be. Learn the format of these messages to anticipate what will be said, and you will have an easier time understanding them.

PAN PAN or MAYDAY are profound messages that may contain life-threatening information. The PAN PAN and MAYDAY are the two messages you must understand immediately and take appropriate action! Part of that action may require you to relay via radio information to the Coast Guard. When you hear emergency messages, your race or cruise may be over because now you might become a rescue asset.

There is no threat to you by asking that the radio call be repeated and read at a slower pace. There is a threat that if you disregard the message, you may miss the opportunity to help resolve an emergency. Safety is a boater’s highest priority, and radio calls can play a large part in the safety equation.