Guidelines for Emergency Assistance

The Pacific Seafarer's Net maintains comprehensive emergency response procedures to assist vessels in distress. All network participants—vessels at sea, net control operators, and scribes—should understand these procedures before emergencies occur. Proper preparation enables effective response when lives are at risk.

Emergency Priority

Life-threatening emergencies receive absolute priority on the Pacific Seafarer's Net. All routine traffic immediately ceases when emergency situations arise. Any vessel in distress can call for assistance regardless of network registration, amateur radio licensing status, or prior participation.

Emergency Categories

Maritime emergencies fall into different categories requiring different responses. MAYDAY situations involve immediate life-threatening danger requiring rescue (sinking, fire, medical emergency, abandoning ship). PAN-PAN situations involve urgent circumstances not immediately life-threatening (equipment failure, medical issues, navigation problems). These distinctions help responders prioritize and allocate resources appropriately.

Calling for Emergency Assistance

Vessels requiring emergency assistance should follow established procedures to ensure rapid, effective response. Immediately call "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY" or "PAN-PAN PAN-PAN PAN-PAN" as appropriate, provide your call sign and vessel name, state your position (latitude/longitude), describe the nature of the emergency, indicate number of persons aboard, and specify assistance required.

Emergency Transmission Example

A proper emergency call might sound like: "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY. This is vessel [name], amateur radio call sign [callsign]. Position [latitude longitude]. We are taking on water and require immediate assistance. Four persons aboard. Preparing to abandon to life raft. Over."

Clear, concise emergency communication ensures responders quickly understand your situation and needs.

Net Control Emergency Response

When emergency traffic is received, net control operators follow specific procedures to coordinate effective response. Immediately acknowledge the emergency, clear all other traffic from the frequency, work the emergency station exclusively, gather complete information about the situation, contact the US Coast Guard or appropriate rescue coordination center, relay information between vessel and rescue authorities, identify nearby vessels that might assist, maintain communication until situation resolves, and document all actions taken.

Information Gathering

Effective emergency coordination requires comprehensive information. Net controllers systematically gather vessel position and movement, nature of emergency, persons aboard and conditions, vessel description and markings, safety equipment available (life raft, EPIRB, etc.), immediate dangers or complications, and assistance already requested through other means.

The vessel database maintained by net control operators provides additional emergency information including vessel specifications, equipment inventories, emergency contacts, and crew details that can be immediately provided to rescue services.

Coast Guard Coordination

The US Coast Guard serves as the primary rescue coordination center for US waters and extensive ocean areas. Net control operators maintain established procedures for Coast Guard contact including direct communication via telephone or radio, provision of complete vessel information from databases, relay of communications between vessel and Coast Guard, and coordination of nearby vessel assistance if appropriate.

International Rescue Coordination

For vessels in international waters or foreign territorial seas, rescue coordination may involve international authorities. Net controllers maintain contacts with rescue coordination centers in Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific island nations to facilitate appropriate response regardless of vessel location.

Nearby Vessel Coordination

In some emergency situations, nearby vessels represent the fastest assistance option. Net controllers may call for vessels in the area, coordinate response from nearby vessels, relay information about emergency location and nature, and help coordinate rescue actions between vessels.

The network's daily position tracking enables quick identification of vessels near emergency locations, potentially saving critical time in life-threatening situations.

Medical Emergencies

Medical emergencies at sea present unique challenges. The Pacific Seafarer's Net can facilitate medical consultation coordination, arrange radio medical advice from shore-based resources, coordinate medication transfer from nearby vessels, and facilitate medical evacuation if necessary.

Radio Medical Services

Several organizations provide radio medical consultation for vessels at sea. Net controllers can help connect vessels with these services or relay medical information to appropriate authorities for guidance.

Equipment Failures

Equipment failures may not threaten immediate survival but can compromise vessel safety. The network assists with technical troubleshooting and advice, coordination of parts delivery to ports, arranging tows if necessary, and connecting vessels with technical expertise.

Early reporting of developing problems allows more options for resolution before situations become critical.

Weather Emergencies

Severe weather can create dangerous situations for offshore vessels. The network provides current weather information and forecasts, reports from other vessels in the area, advice on weather routing and tactics, and monitoring of vessels in severe conditions.

Regular position reporting during challenging weather provides reassurance to families and enables rapid response if vessels fail to check in as expected.

Search and Rescue Support

When vessels fail to report as scheduled, the network initiates procedures to verify their status and location. This includes attempting contact on multiple frequencies, checking with vessels in their projected vicinity, contacting emergency contacts ashore, and notifying Coast Guard if vessel remains unlocated.

Vessel Inventories

Detailed vessel inventories maintained by the network provide critical information for search and rescue operations including vessel description and markings, safety equipment and capabilities, persons aboard with medical conditions, emergency contacts and next of kin, and last known position and intended route.

This preparation significantly enhances search and rescue effectiveness by providing comprehensive information immediately rather than after hours of investigation.

EPIRB Activation

When vessels activate Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, rescue coordination centers immediately initiate response. If the Pacific Seafarer's Net has vessel information in its databases, this data can supplement and verify EPIRB signals, potentially speeding rescue response.

Net controllers maintain contacts with rescue coordination centers to facilitate information sharing when EPIRBs are activated by network-participating vessels.

Post-Emergency Procedures

After emergency situations resolve, the network follows up to verify vessel and crew safety, document lessons learned, update vessel status in databases, notify family members of resolution, and debrief participants to improve future response.

Lessons Learned

Each emergency situation provides opportunities to refine procedures and improve response capabilities. The network regularly reviews emergency responses to identify improvements and share best practices.

Emergency Preparedness

Effective emergency response begins with proper preparation. Vessels should maintain their amateur radio equipment properly, ensure backup power capability, carry required safety equipment, participate regularly in roll calls (establishes relationships and familiarity), review emergency procedures before departure, and ensure crew members understand emergency communication.

Net control operators should maintain current vessel databases, understand emergency procedures thoroughly, know how to contact rescue coordination centers, practice emergency response scenarios, and coordinate with other network operators.

Non-Emergency Support

While emergency response receives priority, the network also provides non-emergency support including weather routing advice, technical problem troubleshooting, coordination with vessel agents and service providers, and general information and assistance.

This comprehensive support helps prevent problems from escalating into emergencies.

Emergency Communication Tips

Effective emergency communication requires remaining as calm as possible, speaking clearly and at moderate pace, providing information systematically, listening carefully to instructions, maintaining communication until released by authorities, and documenting all communications and actions.

Training and preparation help maintain composure during actual emergencies when stress levels are high.

Resources and Training

The ARRL emergency communications training provides excellent preparation for amateur radio operators involved in emergency response. Coast Guard auxiliary programs also offer maritime emergency response training.

Continuous learning and training improve emergency response capabilities and can make the difference between successful and unsuccessful emergency outcomes.