Vessels that are not in critical trouble but with problems they can survive often call TowBoat US for assistance. The calls are usually made on channel 16, which the Coast Guard monitors.

Listen in as a vessel near Portsmouth, New Hampshsire, gateway to the offshore Isles of Shoals, calls the commercial tow service TowBoat US for assistance. The local Coast Guard breaks in and takes command.

Key to the call are that the skipper is able to both identify his location by navigational aid, the bouy 2KR, and by gps latitude and longitude coordinates.

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From Sea Kayaking Dot Net’s ever increasing collection of vhf radio audio files.

In this  recording, listen in as a powerboat off the New Hampshire Coast, near Rye and about 8 miles from the lovely offshore islands the Isles of Shoals, calls TowBoat US for assistance. He’s taking on water near the local bouy known as 2KR.

Because the call is being made on emergency channel 16, the Coast Guard at nearby Portsmouth breaks in.

What marine VHF radio users can learn from the audio is how the Coast Guard handles emergency and pan-pan calls on vhf radios. They want immediately to know where you are and what’s going on. Once they assess your situation, they’ll either come get you or will offer to call a tow service.

Incidentally, with Boaters World in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, there are some very good deals on submersible vhf radios. Amazon retailers are selling Standard HX600s submersibles for $199.00. There’s also some good deals on Icom M34 Submersibles.

For related content, see Sea Kayaking Dot Net

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