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VOLUNTEER MARINE RADIO
Peac
h 07
/09
– W
AT0
626
Which radio should I use? Three types of marine radios are available:
27 MHz.Perhaps the most common marine radio fitted to small vessels, being easy to operate, low cost and no operator certificate or registration required. However, 27 MHz radios are subject to electrical and atmospheric interference, being a “natural frequency”.
27 MHz is considered as a marine CB radio and is essentially unregulated.
The channels used are:
VHF (Very High Frequency)
With the introduction of DSC (Digital Selective Calling) for automated distress transmissions, the cost of VHF radios has fallen considerably and they are now affordable for owners of both small and large vessels. VHF is a “man made” frequency and does not suffer the interference problems of 27 MHz sets. Transmission and reception is more reliable and clear.
VHF frequencies are the only frequencies to have repeater/relay installations along the coast to provide VHF reception between radio bases in NSW.
VHF sets should be registered with the Australian Communications Management Authority (ACMA), particularly where a DSC VHF set is fitted as these sets are coded to the specific vessel for emergency/distress use. They are configured to accept GPS input and provide accurate position information to all other VHF DSC sets within range at the press of a button. User certification is a Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) that can be obtained through the Volunteer Marine Rescue organisations.
Frequencies used:
MF/HF (Medium Frequency/High Frequency)
Used primarily for long-range transmissions, high power demand and is expensive. Requires ship station registration and operator MROCP. Subject to atmospheric and electrical interference.
Frequencies used:
88 (27.88) Distress, safety and calling.
86 (27.86) Distress, safety and calling (Supp. to ch 88).
90 (27.90) Calling and working.
91 (27.91) Calling and working.
94 (27.94) Calling and working.
2182 Distress, safety and calling.
4125 Distress, safety and calling.
Your principal safety tool
The marine radio is perhaps the most important piece of equipment on board your vessel. Radio transmissions can be heard by anyone who is monitoring the calling frequency (including nearby vessels) which could be critical in a life-threatening situation. You will also hear weather forecasts and warnings, navigation hazards as issued by the Volunteer Marine Radio Bases and distress transmissions from vessels.
The use of mobile phones is discouraged due to their unreliability at sea and the “one-to-one” nature of the transmission. Your mobile phone is of no use to call a nearby vessel unless you know their phone number and a “000” call will be answered by an Emergency Call Centre that can be in another state, not just locally.
Serviceability of your radio
When setting out to sea, always call your local Volunteer Marine Radio Base to establish if your radio is transmitting and receiving on both the calling and working channels. Your radio is your link to rescue agencies and other vessels, but is of little use if it does not function effectively. A simple radio check with your local radio base will establish your radio's performance.
Offshore Voyage Tracking
Volunteer Marine Radio bases offer the recreational mariner a free marine safety service of Offshore Tracking for coastal passages. For those who choose to use this service, it is the skipper's responsibility to log on with the volunteer base, establish an Offshore Tracking Sheet (OTS) with agreed Reporting Points and maintain a reporting schedule for the voyage.
There are two classes of volunteer radio bases: MRB (Marine Radio Bases) which operate at various hours and SARCC (Search and Rescue Coordination Centres) which operate 24/7 and maintain a round-the-clock radio listening watch. All Reporting Points during a voyage must be SARCC. Departure and destination ports can be MRB. There is a list of NSW SARCC and MRB in this brochure.
The originating volunteer base sends the OTS to the first Reporting Point to await the skipper's scheduled Position Report at the agreed time with latitude, longitude and ETA for the next Reporting Point. The OTS is then sent from Reporting Point to Reporting Point, until the voyage is completed.
The skipper is obliged to notify the SARCC of any changes to the voyage plan. If a vessel fails to make a scheduled Position Report, the volunteers are obliged to contact the vessel concerned and if unsuccessful, to initiate Search and Rescue procedures for that vessel and its crew.
Detailed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for Offshore Tracking are available at www.marinerescuensw.com.au
What is Marine Rescue NSW?
Marine Rescue NSW is the name of the State's new, unified volunteer marine rescue organisation announced in July 2009. There will be a transition period for the change to Marine Rescue NSW by bases of the three existing organisations; Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association, Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol and VRA Marine. With so many bases involved this will take a number of months. Bases will operate under their present names as listed overleaf until their change.
Local Safety Watch
All volunteer radio bases (SARCC and MRB) offer a local safety watch (log-on) for vessels leaving and returning to the same port, for example, for a day's offshore fishing. This service is essentially the same as for Offshore Voyage Tracking, however details are not forwarded to another base as with OTS.
In the event of a mishap, the log-on safety watch gives searchers a destination or last known position of the vessel provided that the skipper advises changes of position during the time at sea. Information gathered in the log-on also includes your berth/launching ramp and home contact details so a check can be made if the vessel has returned and the skipper has simply forgotten to log-off.
Remember: A 406 EPIRB is required for all vessels when two nautical miles or more offshore. Recent incidents have dramatically demonstrated the efficiency and life-saving value of these essential boating safety devices.
16 (156.800) Distress, safety and calling.
67 (156.375) Distress, safety and calling (Supp. to ch 16).
21 (Repeater) Coast/ship. Movement of vessels, safety.
22 (Repeater) Coast/ship. Movement of vessels, safety.
70 DSC Distress, Urgency Alerts
70 is a data channel. Responses to 70 should be on voice channel 16.
72 (156.625) Ship stations, port operations. pleasure craft ship/ship.
73 (156.675) Coast/ship calling and working.
74 (156.725) Coast/ship, safety and movement.
77 (156.875) Ship/ship commercial fishing
and pleasure vessels.
80 (Repeater) Coast/ship. Movement of vessels, safety.
81 (Repeater) Coast/ship. Movement of vessels, safety.
82 (Repeater) Coast/ship. Movement of vessels, safety.
Safety Partner
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TWEEDHEADS
BALLINA
YAMBA
COFFSHARBOUR
SOUTHWESTROCKS
PORTMACQUARIE
FORSTER
NELSONBAY
VMRKingscliff
VRABrunswick
Coastal PatrolCape Byron
VMRBallina
Coast GuardEvans Head
VMRIluka/ Yamba
VRAWooli
VRAWoolgoolga
VMRCoffs Harbour
VMRTrial Bay
VMRPort Macquarie
Coastal PatrolCrowdy-Harrington
VRACamden Haven
VMRForster Tuncurry
VMRPort Stephens
VMRPointDanger 17
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19
20
2122
23
2425
26
2728
31
30
34
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32
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NEWCASTLE
GOSFORD
SYDNEY
WOLLONGONG
NOWRA
NAROOMA
EDEN
Coast GuardPort Stephens
Coastal PatrolNewcastle
Coastal PatrolLake Macquarie
Coastal PatrolTuggerah Lakes
VMRSwansea
VRANorah Head
Coastal PatrolTerrigal
Coastal PatrolBroken Bay
Coastal PatrolPort Jackson
Coast GuardSydney
Coast GuardSolander (Kurnell)
Coastal PatrolBotany Bay
Coast GuardBirkenhead
Coastal PatrolSydney (Terrey Hills)
Coast GuardCottage Point
VRAHawkesbury
Coastal PatrolHawkesbury
Coastal PatrolGosford
VMRPort Kembla
VMRShoalhaven
VMRUlladulla
Coastal PatrolKioloa
VMRBatemans Bay
VMRNarooma
Coastal PatrolBermagui
Coastal PatrolMerimbula
VMREden
Coastal PatrolJervis Bay
Coastal PatrolSussex Inlet
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2122
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2425
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2728
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NEWCASTLE
GOSFORD
SYDNEY
WOLLONGONG
NOWRA
NAROOMA
EDEN
Coast GuardPort Stephens
Coastal PatrolNewcastle
Coastal PatrolLake Macquarie
Coastal PatrolTuggerah Lakes
VMRSwansea
VRANorah Head
Coastal PatrolTerrigal
Coastal PatrolBroken Bay
Coastal PatrolPort Jackson
Coast GuardSydney
Coast GuardSolander (Kurnell)
Coastal PatrolBotany Bay
Coast GuardBirkenhead
Coastal PatrolSydney (Terrey Hills)
Coast GuardCottage Point
VRAHawkesbury
Coastal PatrolHawkesbury
Coastal PatrolGosford
VMRPort Kembla
VMRShoalhaven
VMRUlladulla
Coastal PatrolKioloa
VMRBatemans Bay
VMRNarooma
Coastal PatrolBermagui
Coastal PatrolMerimbula
VMREden
Coastal PatrolJervis Bay
Coastal PatrolSussex Inlet
SARCC are open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
VRA – Volunteer Rescue Association
VMR – Generic identifier for 24hr Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (SARCC), regardless of volunteer organisation name.
NSW Volunteer Marine Rescue Group Index Map
Mid and North Coasts
July 2009
NSW Volunteer Marine Rescue Group Index Map
Central and South Coasts
July 2009
BASE IDENTIFIER Call Sign Telephone 27 MHz VHF MF/HF
1 VMR POINT DANGER (VRA) SARCC VMR 460 07 5536 9333 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182 / 4215
2 VMR KINGSCLIFF (COAST GUARD) SARCC VMR 251 02 6674 2451 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 22 2182 / 4125 / 6215.
3 VMR BRUNSWICK (VRA) VMR 274 02 6685 0148 88 / 90 16 / 22 / 73
4 COASTAL PATROL CAPE BYRON VMR 224 02 6680 8417 88 / 86 16 / 73 / 22 2182
5 VMR BALLINA (COAST GUARD) SARCC VMR 250 02 6681 4700 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 21 / 22 2182 / 4125 / 6215 / 8291 / 2524
6 COAST GUARD EVANS HEAD VMR 259 02 6682 4888 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
7 VMR ILUKA/YAMBA (COAST GUARD) SARCC VMR 257 02 6646 6311 88 / 86 16/ 67 / 21 2182
8 VMR WOOLI (VRA) VMR 273 0437 423 797 88 / 86 / 91 16 / 67 / 77
9 VMR WOOLGOOLGA (VRA) VMR 272 0417 403 520 88 / 86 16 / 67
10 VMR COFFS HARBOUR (COASTAL PATROL) SARCC VMR 223 02 6652 3155 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
11 VMR TRIAL BAY (COASTAL PATROL) SARCC VMR 221 02 6566 5240 88 / 86 16 / 67
12 VMR PORT MACQUARIE (VRA) SARCC VMR 271 02 6584 1966 88 / 86 16 /67 / 73 2032 / 2182 / 4125 / 4215
13 VRA CAMDEN HAVEN VMR 279 02 6559 7356 88 / 86 16 / 67
14 COASTAL PATROL CROWDY-HARRINGTON VMR 219 02 6556 1564 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
15 VMR FORSTER-TUNCURRY (COASTAL PATROL) SARCC VMR 218 02 6554 5458 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
16 VMR PORT STEPHENS (COASTAL PATROL) SARCC VMR 217 02 4981 3585 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 80 2182 / 2542
17 COAST GUARD PORT STEPHENS VMR 265 02 4982 4981 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 80 2182
18 COASTAL PATROL NEWCASTLE VMR 220 02 4927 8237 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 80
19 COASTAL PATROL LAKE MACQUARIE VMR 216 02 4971 3723 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 80 2182
20 VMR SWANSEA (COAST GUARD) SARCC VMR 264 02 4971 3498 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 80 / 21 2182 / 4125
21 COASTAL PATROL TUGGERAH LAKES VMR 226 02 4392 4994 88 / 86 16 / 67
22 VRA NORAH HEAD VH 2 ATH 02 4396 6162 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
23 COASTAL PATROL GOSFORD VMR 215 02 4325 7929 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 21 2182
24 COASTAL PATROL TERRIGAL VMR 253 02 4384 5577 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
25 COASTAL PATROL HAWKESBURY VMR 214 02 9985 9012 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
26 VRA HAWKESBURY VMR 280 02 9985 1111 88 / 86 16 / 67
27 COAST GUARD COTTAGE POINT VMR 263 02 9456 3055 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 81 2182 / 2524
28 COASTAL PATROL BROKEN BAY VMR 213 02 9999 3554 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
29 COASTAL PATROL SYDNEY (TERREY HILLS) VMR 225 02 9450 2468 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 21 / 22 2182
30 COAST GUARD SYDNEY VMR 261 02 9337 5033 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
31 COASTAL PATROL PORT JACKSON VMR 212 02 9969 3270 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 22 2182
32 COAST GUARD BIRKENHEAD VMR 262 02 9719 8609 88 / 86 16 / 67
33 COASTAL PATROL BOTANY BAY VMR 211 02 9567 7113 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
34 COAST GUARD SOLANDER (KURNELL) VMR 275 02 9668 9888 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
35 VMR PORT KEMBLA (COAST GUARD) SARCC VMR 267 02 4274 4455 88 / 86 16 / 67 / 72 / 73 / 77 2182
36 VMR SHOALHAVEN (VRA) SARCC VMR 277 02 4447 4466 88 / 90 16 / 73 2182
37 COASTAL PATROL JERVIS BAY VMR 209 02 4441 5433 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
38 COASTAL PATROL SUSSEX INLET VMR 208 02 4441 1444 88 / 86 16 / 67
39 VMR ULLADULLA (COASTAL PATROL) SARCC VMR 207 02 4455 3403 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
40 COASTAL PATROL KIOLOA VMR 206 02 4457 1109 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
41 VMR BATEMANS BAY (COASTAL PATROL) SARCC VMR 205 02 4472 3060 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
42 VMR NAROOMA (COASTAL PATROL) SARCC VMR 203 02 4476 1443 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
43 COASTAL PATROL BERMAGUI VMR 289 02 6493 4506 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
44 COASTAL PATROL MERIMBULA VMR 202 02 6495 3331 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
45 VMR EDEN (COASTAL PATROL) SARCC VMR 201 02 6496 2167 88 / 86 16 / 67 2182
In this transition period during the establishment of Marine Rescue NSW, existing base names remain unchanged. They are expected to become uniform in the near future.
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