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Getting Help on the Delaware River and the upper Delaware Bay
Complete the following information and keep this handy aboard your boat for use in obtaining prompt assistance.
Boat Name: _____________________________
Radio Call Sign: ________________________________
Cell Phone Number: _____________________________
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Recreational Vessel VHF Radio Channels
16: Calling, safety, distress only. Coast Guard monitors this channel
09: Alternate calling only
06: Ship-to-ship, safety use only
13: Ship-to-Ship, Ship-to-bridge operators, navigation only (Large commercial vessels monitor this channel)
Recreational Vessels:
68,69: Ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore
71,78: Ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore
72: Ship-to-ship only
Other
70: Digital Selective Calling, not a voice channel
Wx 1,2,3: Continuous weather reports
Monitor channel 16 or 09 while aboard your boat.
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If you are in immediate danger, follow the procedure below:
MAYDAY Immediate Danger to Life or Property
Example: Boat sinking, on fire, or person badly injured or lost overboard. NOT when boat is grounded, out of fuel, engine failure, line in prop, or lost.
Sequence:
Select channel 16.
Repeat MAY DAY 3 times.
Give Vessel name and call sign.
Give position, as detailed as possible.
Describe emergency.
If no answer, repeat the above information every few minutes. Your radio may not be receiving, but probably is transmitting.
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If you are not in immediate danger:
If the situation is not life threatening, the Coast Guard may switch you to channel 22-A (a Coast Guard only channel) or channel 12 to obtain assistance for you. Communications on any "A" channel requires that your radio be in "United States" mode, not "International"
Procedures if not in immediate danger: You can call TowBoatU.S. local dispatch at 215-783-8259, TowBoatU.S. national dispatch at 800-888-4869, hail TowBoatU.S. on channel 16 on VHF Radio or deal with the Coast Guard process.
The Coast Guard will ask: name and description of your vessel; boat location; nature of difficulty; your name, address, home telephone number; and the number of persons on board. They may quiz you for details of safety equipment on board. Once data collection is finished, they will ask if you have a friend or commercial tower you want contacted to come to your aid. If you do not have anyone specific to be contacted, they will issue a Marine Assistance Request Broadcast to solicit aid. Following the MARB, a commercial towing firm in your area will reply by radio to offer prompt assistance. The Coast Guard process to issue a MARB can take from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. Calling TowBoatU.S. by phone or on channel 16 saves this time and avoids involving the Coast Guard in a non-distress case. If the Coast Guard responds to an assist, you can expect a boarding and safety inspection.
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