COMMUNICATE EFFICIENTLY Marine Radio Communications Regulated marine radio communication equipment includes : * Marine VHF radios (with the new Digital Selective Calling (DSC) option on channel 70); * Marine MF/HF - DSC radios; * Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs); * NAVTEX; and * Inmarsat. These products and services work together to form the international system known as the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). They quickly relay distress alerts to the Canadian Coast Guard and other vessels in your area. Pleasure craft are not required to carry GMDSS-compatible equipment, but it is a good idea. If you have it, connect it to a Global Positioning System receiver to make sure that your exact location is automatically sent in a digital distress alert in case of an emergency. This way, rescuers will immediately know exactly where you are and will arrive sooner. Marine VHF Radio and the Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) Marine VHF radio is generally the best way to send a distress alert. If you have a VHF radio, keep it tuned to channel 16. Know where you are at all times and be prepared to describe your specific location. All VHF marine radio operators must have a Restricted Operator Certificate - Maritime - (ROC-M). Industry Canada has delegated the ROC-M to the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS). Contact the CPS for information about courses available in your area. If you are buying a new VHF radio, make sure it has the new Digital Selective Calling (DSC) feature on channel 70. This provides automatic digital distress alerts. The Canadian Coast Guard provides DSC channel 70 service on the east and west coasts, as well as on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. REMEMBER: VHF radio channel 16 is used for emergency and calling purposes only. Once you contact another vessel on channel 16, switch to another working frequency. VHF channel 70 is used only for DSC (digital) communication - not voice. Use your VHF radio as described in the VHF Radiotelephone Practices and Procedures Regulations. Your owner's manual will explain how to make a DSC call to another vessel or to a shore station with DSC. To make a digital call, each radio must have a nine-digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number. Industry Canada assigns these numbers free of charge. Visit their website (see CONTACT INFORMATION AND REFERENCES section of this guide) to learn more. 60http://www.cps-ecp.ca http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/eng/CCG/SAR_Gmdss http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-81-364/ http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-81-364/ http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01032.html http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01032.html http://www.ic.gc.ca