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4.1 Reading Comprehension GMDSS ROUTINE COMMUNICATION WITH DSC CALL

Book 4.1

EXAMPLE 1
A RADIO MESSAGE FOR SOUMENLINNA COAST GUARD STATION
A Russian yacht Marlene is approaching the Finnish coast on its way to spend a holiday party in
Helsinki and partly by sailing in the Finnish archipelago. According to European union laws a
foreign pleasure boat must report for passport control when she has entered the territorial waters of
one of the member states. The Marlene is a luxury yacht and is linked to GMDSS and has DSC. It
is 12.30 at Soumenlinna Coast Guard Station on a fine summer day.

The DSC at Soumenlinna starts signalling and shows the following message:
Format: SELECTIVE (directed to a specific station only)
Party ID: 002300005(the MMSI number of Soumenlinna Coast Guard Station)
Category: ROUTINE
Telecom1: TELEPHONY (F3E/G3E SIMPLEX)
Work channel: NONE
Transmitted: CH 70

The Coast Guard Station sends the following acknowledgement:

Format: SELECTIVE
Party ID: 273678951 (MMSI number of Marlene)
Category: ROUTINE
Telecom1: TELEPHONY (F3E/G3E SIMPLEX)
Work channel: 74 (suggested by the Coast Guard Station)
Transmitted: Ch 70

After this Marlene CONTINUES BY VOICE COMMUNICATION on channel 74:

Calling Finnish Coast Guard Soumenlinna, Finnish Coast Guard Soumenlinna,
This is Russian vessel Marlene, JAAA,
Russian vessel Marlene, JAAA,
On VHF channel 74.
Over.

Russian vessel Marlene JAAA,

This is Finnish Coast Guard Station Soumenlinna,
Over.

Finnish Coast Guard Station,

This is Russian yacht Marlene,
My position is: Latitude: 59 degr. 56.9’ N Longitude: 024degr 56.3’E.
I am in the approach channel passing Helsinki Lighthouse. I am proceeding to the Coast Guard
Station for passport control REQUEST: Please give instructions to reach Soumenlinna Coast Guard
Station. Over.

Marlene,
This is Finnish Coast Guard.
INSTRUCTION: Proceed along the fairway. Pass Harmaja Lighthouse and proceed along the fairway
distance 1.6 miles. Take fairway depth 9.6, steering course 328 degr. Proceed distance 0.8 miles
ahead. You can see information sign on your starboard side.

I repeat: Proceed along the fairway. Pass Harmaja Lighthouse and proceed along the fairway distance
1.6 miles. Take fairway depth 9.6 course 328 degr. Proceed distance 0.8 miles ahead. You can see
information on your starboard side. Over.

UNDERSTOOD. I will proceed along the fairway distance 1.6 miles. I will take fairway depth 9.6,
steering course 328 degr.I will proceed distance 0.8 miles ahead. I can see information sign on
starboard side. OUT.