Your Lifeline at Sea: Mastering VHF Radio Protocols

It is not a telephone. It is a safety device. Here is how to sound like a pro on Channel 16.

A handheld VHF radio is the most important piece of electronics on your boat. In an emergency, it is far superior to a mobile phone because it broadcasts your position to everyone in the area, not just one person.

However, owning one is not enough. You must know how to speak the language. At Sailing Munich, we train our students to use the radio with military precision. A nervous, rambling voice on the radio creates confusion. A calm, structured voice creates confidence.

1. The Golden Rules of Etiquette

Think of the VHF as an open conference call where every ship in line-of-sight is listening.

• Brevity is King: The airwaves are crowded. Keep it short. No one needs to hear a discussion about what color underwear you are wearing or what you want for dinner.

• Listen First: Before you press the PTT (Push to Talk) button, listen. Ensure you are not interrupting a distress call.

• The License: In charter destinations like Croatia, a VHF license (SRC) is mandatory for the skipper. Beyond the legal requirement, the license ensures you follow the protocols that save lives.

  
  

2. Know Your Channels

• Channel 16: The Holy Grail. This is for Distress, Safety, and Calling. You use it to establish contact or declare an emergency. Once you reach your friend, you must switch to another channel.

• Channel 09: An alternative calling channel in some waters.

• Working Channels (68, 69, 72): These are "Chat Channels" (Ship-to-Ship). Once you connect on 16, move here to talk.

  
  

3. The Routine Call (Ship-to-Ship)

You see your friend John on another boat and want to agree on an anchorage. The Protocol:

1. Hail on 16: Say the station name 3 times. Say your name. Say "Over."

2. The Reply: They acknowledge.

3. The Switch: Agree on a working channel (e.g., 68).

4. The Conversation: Switch to 68 and talk.

Example: You (Ch 16): "Explorer, Explorer, Explorer. This is Sailing Munich. Over." John (Ch 16): "Sailing Munich, this is Explorer. Switch to 68." You (Ch 16): "Roger 68. Out." (Both switch to 68) You (Ch 68): "Explorer, this is Sailing Munich. We are heading to Rogac Bay. See you there? Over." John (Ch 68): "Rogac sounds good. See you there. Out."

4. The Safety Call: Securité

Used for navigational hazards (floating logs, dead whales, extinguished lights) or weather warnings. It alerts others to be careful.

The Protocol: "Securité, Securité, Securité. All Stations, All Stations, All Stations. This is Sailing Munich. Safety message concerning a large floating log near Pigeon Point. Out."

5. The Emergency Calls: Pan-Pan vs. Mayday

This is where training pays off. You must know the difference.

PAN-PAN (Urgency) Used when you have a serious problem, but there is no immediate danger to life or the vessel.

• Examples: Engine failure, broken mast, minor injury.

• Call: "Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan..."

  
  

MAYDAY (Distress) Used only when there is grave and imminent danger and you require immediate assistance.

• Examples: Fire, sinking, man overboard (if you lose sight of them), medical emergency (heart attack).

• Call: "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday..."

  
  

The Mayday Structure (MIPDANIO) If you panic, remember this flow:

1. Mayday (3 times)

2. Identity (This is Sailing Munich...)

3. Position (Lat/Long or clear visual reference)

4. Distress (Nature of emergency: Sinking, Fire)

5. Assistance (Require immediate rescue)

6. Number of Souls (3 adults on board)

7. Information (Hull color, life raft deployed)

8. Over

Captain’s Advice

Print these protocols. Laminate them. Stick them next to your radio. When the adrenaline hits, your memory will fail, but the cheat sheet will save you.

Fair winds,

Captain Leo Cunha