Tag: VHF

The US NTSB issued an investigation report on the sinking of the motor vessel 'Exito' in the Bering Sea, Alaska, in December 2016, that caused two fatalities, a significant environmental damage, and a total ship loss. The probable cause of the sinking was progressive flooding from an undetermined location.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands reminds that IMO has pushed back the compliance date for ensuring Global Maritime Distress and Safety System communication capability. 

UK MCA issued amended guidance note to provide information about the changes made the Radio Regulations , which entered into force on January 1st, 2017 highlighting that the agency does not require the replacement of marine radio equipment installed and used on board. Therefore, it is operators' responsibility to consider, based upon the area of operation, whether an update or replacement of the on-board radio equipment is necessary.

UK Coastguard received a call about a man reporting to be lost at sea and to have lost power and radio communications. On the occasion, UK Coastguard advises how essential it is to have the correct and most suitable communications equipment when setting out to sea, especially in extreme weather conditions.

As explained, there have been a significant number of collisions where subsequent investigations have found that at some stage before impact, one or both parties were using VHF radio in an attempt to avoid collision. The use of VHF radio in these circumstances is not always helpful and may even prove to be dangerous.

Effective from 8 p.m. Tuesday, the US Coast Guard will set port condition ZULU for Puerto Rico and the US Virgins Islands, due to the possibility of sustained gale force winds greater than 39 mph from Tropical Storm Maria that may arrive within 24 hours. Maria has the potential to develop into a Category 3 Hurricane.

The US Coast Guard warns boaters in the Tri-State area to use extra caution, while out on the water, this Labor Day weekend. This weekend marks the unofficial end of the traditional beach and boating season, and is usually a very busy weekend on the water.

The US Coast Guard has deployed response efforts for Hurricane Harvey’s impact on the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. USCG Air Station Corpus Christi aircrews have rescued in total 20 people, after they received reports from watchstanders on Saturday morning and afternoon.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and IBM have jointly completed the pilot trial of three modules under the MPA-IBM SAFER project, which will be rolled out progressively, beginning September 2017.

Recent inquiries by US Coast Guard Marine Inspectors indicated that a large number of vessel operators and ship masters continue to rely on outdated high seas communications frequencies when communicating with the US Coast Guard.