 |
E
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT LONDON SE1 7SR
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7735 7611 Fax: +44 (0)20 7587 3210
MSC.1/Circ.1658
28 November 2022
GUIDANCE ON DISTRESS ALERTS
The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 106th session (2 to 11 November 2022), approved the revised Guidance on distress alerts, as set out in the annex, prepared by the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR), at its ninth session (21 to 30 June 2022).
This circular describes the operating procedure for a distress alert, in accordance with chapter IV of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974.
Member Governments are invited to bring the annexed Guidance to the attention of their shipowners, seafarers and all other parties concerned.
This circular becomes effective on 1 January 2024, superseding COMSAR/Circ.45 as from that date.
***
MSC.1/Circ.1658
Annex, page 1
ANNEX
GUIDANCE ON DISTRESS ALERTS
COVER
until acoustic and light-indication becomes steady
(more than 3 seconds) Use the HANDSET for voice calling
THIS IS
or other IDENTIFICATION
(if the initial alert is sent by DSC)
SHIP'S NAME: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ CALL SIGN: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ MMSI: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
NAME of the VESSEL in distress
CALL SIGN or the IDENTIFICATION
MMSI
(if the initial alert is sent by DSC)
Given as latitude and longitude
or
If latitude and longitude are not known or if the time is insufficient,
in relation to a known geographical location
NATURE of distress
Kind of ASSISTANCE required Any other useful INFORMATION
DISTRESS and COMMUNICATION FREQUENCIES
DSC | Radiotelephony | |
VHF | Channel 70 | Channel 16 |
MF | 2 187.5 kHz | 2 182 kHz |
HF4 | 4 207.5 kHz | 4 125 kHz |
HF6 | 6 312.0 kHz | 6 215 kHz |
HF8 | 8 414.5 kHz | 8 291 kHz |
HF12 | 12 577.0 kHz | 12 290 kHz |
HF16 | 16 804.5 kHz | 16 420 kHz |
Remember to use the correct HF procedures. Do not forget, your EPIRB is the secondary means of alerting