What is the proper protocol to use when trying to hail when you can't identify their name? I'm planning some night sailing on Chesapeake bay where there is significant traffic and I want to know how to call them if needed. I'm sure one doesn't get on the radio and say "hey big boat", or "calling the boat in the channel". I believe they monitor channel 13, but how do you call a specific ship? Thanks.
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Hey Big Feller
Try " Northbound car carrier near G57 this is the southbound sailboat on your port bow" . Try them on 16 or 13. It's better just to keep well out of their way. In the Chesapeake they stick to the shipping channel and there's lots of water out of the channel for sailboats. Tugs and tows however can be found most anywhere.
Try " Northbound car carrier near G57 this is the southbound sailboat on your port bow" . Try them on 16 or 13. It's better just to keep well out of their way. In the Chesapeake they stick to the shipping channel and there's lots of water out of the channel for sailboats. Tugs and tows however can be found most anywhere.
Unfortunately
Practice dictates for you NOT to hail any business-related large vessel unless you have specific, information for them. They are focused on moving their craft safely through crowded waters... just get out of their way: quickly, deliberately and without fanfare. Protocol would be for you to get on Channel 13 (the bridge to bridge) VHF Channel and say, "Eastbound large tanker approaching Bouy 17, this is sailboat Alure off your port bow." Be clear and sure exactly which boat you are trying to contact. Then switch to a working channel to exchange information, just as you would for a marina or fellow recreational boater. You might try Channel 16 as well, with the same 'greeting', should that not work. My personal experience with freighters and those big gray boats around Norfolk, is that, they don't talk to anybody on the radio, unless the caller is another one of their kind: not your kind. The way they communicate is ONE WAY: long, loud warning horns to get you out of the way! Take care and stay far, far away from the shipping lanes. Joe
Practice dictates for you NOT to hail any business-related large vessel unless you have specific, information for them. They are focused on moving their craft safely through crowded waters... just get out of their way: quickly, deliberately and without fanfare. Protocol would be for you to get on Channel 13 (the bridge to bridge) VHF Channel and say, "Eastbound large tanker approaching Bouy 17, this is sailboat Alure off your port bow." Be clear and sure exactly which boat you are trying to contact. Then switch to a working channel to exchange information, just as you would for a marina or fellow recreational boater. You might try Channel 16 as well, with the same 'greeting', should that not work. My personal experience with freighters and those big gray boats around Norfolk, is that, they don't talk to anybody on the radio, unless the caller is another one of their kind: not your kind. The way they communicate is ONE WAY: long, loud warning horns to get you out of the way! Take care and stay far, far away from the shipping lanes. Joe
Once on the way to Panama, a big gray ship said
"US warship to the sailboat at 'such and such'". I was the only one out there. I answered and the guy asked me a bunch of questions. They were mostly about hailing port and crew size and destination. Finally, it got annoying because we had bad fuel and were dealing with that and had suffered a lightening strike the day before. I said "US warship, we are having a helluva time here and need help!" "We need fuel to get to the Canal". "Please help us." You could hear the mike hangup, not another word as the US warship sailed over the horizon. Just a junior officer trying to find out how important he was. FWIW.
"US warship to the sailboat at 'such and such'". I was the only one out there. I answered and the guy asked me a bunch of questions. They were mostly about hailing port and crew size and destination. Finally, it got annoying because we had bad fuel and were dealing with that and had suffered a lightening strike the day before. I said "US warship, we are having a helluva time here and need help!" "We need fuel to get to the Canal". "Please help us." You could hear the mike hangup, not another word as the US warship sailed over the horizon. Just a junior officer trying to find out how important he was. FWIW.
In Mobile Bay and the ICW they call you
when they are concerned. Something like sailboat approaching ship channel stay clear. Usually all they want is for you to acknowledge that you will stay clear. As a note. My brother once asked a crewman on a ship that just pulled in about a sailboat mast stuck in their bow anchor. The crewman looked over the side and said that he had no idea how the mast got there.
when they are concerned. Something like sailboat approaching ship channel stay clear. Usually all they want is for you to acknowledge that you will stay clear. As a note. My brother once asked a crewman on a ship that just pulled in about a sailboat mast stuck in their bow anchor. The crewman looked over the side and said that he had no idea how the mast got there.
I hailed a Coast Guard...
...buoy tender last year to find out what his plans were. I was motoring beside him after he had slowed down and I didn't know what his intentions were. So I hailed him as "U.S. Coast Guard vessel, Jupiter. This is the sailing sloop on your starboard side. What are your intentions? I plan on keeping my course straight." He acknowledged and said for me to proceed. He let me pass and never told me his intentions.
...buoy tender last year to find out what his plans were. I was motoring beside him after he had slowed down and I didn't know what his intentions were. So I hailed him as "U.S. Coast Guard vessel, Jupiter. This is the sailing sloop on your starboard side. What are your intentions? I plan on keeping my course straight." He acknowledged and said for me to proceed. He let me pass and never told me his intentions.
What we did
Fred is a brave guy, but he was probably correct. We sailed down to Ensenada this past October from San Francisco. We were in foggy conditions for the first two and a half days. When ever we had a radar target inside 5 miles that caused us any concern we just gave a Securite call on 16 with our position calling the ship at their position. 80% of the time they responded that they had us on radar and gave us their crossing distance. The other 20% of the time the ships turned without responding. It seemed to be the normal process going down the coast. We heard at least 20 Securite calls from other ships in the fog those first two nights giving their position, speed and direction of travel, or to call other ships they had on their radars. Seemed to work very well. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Fred is a brave guy, but he was probably correct. We sailed down to Ensenada this past October from San Francisco. We were in foggy conditions for the first two and a half days. When ever we had a radar target inside 5 miles that caused us any concern we just gave a Securite call on 16 with our position calling the ship at their position. 80% of the time they responded that they had us on radar and gave us their crossing distance. The other 20% of the time the ships turned without responding. It seemed to be the normal process going down the coast. We heard at least 20 Securite calls from other ships in the fog those first two nights giving their position, speed and direction of travel, or to call other ships they had on their radars. Seemed to work very well. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
hail them on channel 13
most of the time their intentions are obvious if restricted by their draft. if your' unsure of his intentions, then by all means hail him. believe me he does'nt want to run over you. think of all the paperwork he'd have to do if he did. capn jim sv "Que Pasa"
most of the time their intentions are obvious if restricted by their draft. if your' unsure of his intentions, then by all means hail him. believe me he does'nt want to run over you. think of all the paperwork he'd have to do if he did. capn jim sv "Que Pasa"
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