Better radio coverage

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34123, 8 April 1976, Page 10

Better radio coverage

Search and rescue authorities are becoming increasingly concerned that many yachts are out of range of coastal radio stations during ocean passages. To improve radio coverage for yachts on the high seas, commercial ships’ radio officers have now been asked to keep a watch on 2182 kiloherts during normal watchkeeping hours and to handle, messages from yachts. The marine division of the the Ministry of Transport has also issued a notice asking yachtsmen to carry out the following procedure: Make a 2182 kilohertz call each day at sea to a coastal radio station, if in range. If out of range.

make CQ (general broadcast) call asking for any ships to reply so that they may be asked to relay a position report from the yacht to an appropriate search and rescue author-' ity. Where contact is estab-, lished between the yacht, and a ship, the yacht; should confirm her position! and report where she is ! bound, where she is. from, the prevailing weather conditions and the yacht’s; estimated time of arrival at her destination. If a yacht receives no response from a coastal radio station or a ship, she; should make a “blind”, transmission at any time' practicable, although pref- , erably during “single radio! officer watchkeeping hours.”