pwport
Member
Now, this being my first thread that I am writing, means I am a bit perturbed and/or confused with the reasons and ways someone should or could respond to a pan-pan vhf call.
Here's the situation today on Channel 16 out in Barkley Sound.
1. A boat calls "pan-pan and says their boat name, location (1/2 a mile off of Kirby Pt) and they are taking on water and their main motor won't start." (brief description from what I can remember). They call the Tofino Coast Guard and are in communication with them.
2. The conversation continues for the next few minutes as the 2 passengers try to get the water out, and are methodically asked questions (ie. location, lifejackets being worn, gps coordinates) by the Coast Guard.
Now, here's where I am a bit confused....(now yes, I will admit I haven't taken the vhf course, so I don't have a license & will be taking one shortly), so maybe this is all covered in the course....
My question is, at approx. 9am at Kirby there are about 20 boats fishing & as the Coast Guard starts asking if anyone can hear, we try to respond. No answer. One boat responds....from where - Swale Rock....now here's where I am confused & yes a bit upset,
a. Do the rest of the boats around Kirby not have their vhf radios on?
b. Do the rest of the boats around Kirby not have radios?
c. (as one boat said) Do the other boats, think "The person didn't sound like they needed help so we haven't responded." (Sorry, if you were listening, the Coast Guard asked who was close - about 20 boats were close & the boat at Swale Rock was about 15 minutes away).
Now, when we figured out which boat it was (as it's tough to tell which boat is taking on water when everyone is fishing), yes, they were happy to see us. Did the boat sink? No. By the time we got there, they had pumped the water out and were able to restart their big motor and were going to go to Bamfield to check out if they had a hole in the bottom.
Back to the question, when do you grab the radio and respond to a "Pan-Pan" (ie. especially when you are fishing in the same 1/2 mile area?!)? When do you pull up your gear and pull up to another boat who has called "Pan-Pan" and say, "Is everything ok?" or "Any way we can help?"
Just wondering, as I am always learning....and yes, maybe am a bit more cautious out on the water (blame it on having 2 amazing kids & an incredible wife who wants me home again).
Paul
Here's the situation today on Channel 16 out in Barkley Sound.
1. A boat calls "pan-pan and says their boat name, location (1/2 a mile off of Kirby Pt) and they are taking on water and their main motor won't start." (brief description from what I can remember). They call the Tofino Coast Guard and are in communication with them.
2. The conversation continues for the next few minutes as the 2 passengers try to get the water out, and are methodically asked questions (ie. location, lifejackets being worn, gps coordinates) by the Coast Guard.
Now, here's where I am a bit confused....(now yes, I will admit I haven't taken the vhf course, so I don't have a license & will be taking one shortly), so maybe this is all covered in the course....
My question is, at approx. 9am at Kirby there are about 20 boats fishing & as the Coast Guard starts asking if anyone can hear, we try to respond. No answer. One boat responds....from where - Swale Rock....now here's where I am confused & yes a bit upset,
a. Do the rest of the boats around Kirby not have their vhf radios on?
b. Do the rest of the boats around Kirby not have radios?
c. (as one boat said) Do the other boats, think "The person didn't sound like they needed help so we haven't responded." (Sorry, if you were listening, the Coast Guard asked who was close - about 20 boats were close & the boat at Swale Rock was about 15 minutes away).
Now, when we figured out which boat it was (as it's tough to tell which boat is taking on water when everyone is fishing), yes, they were happy to see us. Did the boat sink? No. By the time we got there, they had pumped the water out and were able to restart their big motor and were going to go to Bamfield to check out if they had a hole in the bottom.
Back to the question, when do you grab the radio and respond to a "Pan-Pan" (ie. especially when you are fishing in the same 1/2 mile area?!)? When do you pull up your gear and pull up to another boat who has called "Pan-Pan" and say, "Is everything ok?" or "Any way we can help?"
Just wondering, as I am always learning....and yes, maybe am a bit more cautious out on the water (blame it on having 2 amazing kids & an incredible wife who wants me home again).
Paul