EPIRB?
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon: a device that uses typically mounted inside the cabin of a vessel. It will automatically activate when it gets wet or it can be manually set off. It will send a signal to District SouthEast telling them the vessel’s position. It has a HEX ID Number which we must confirm for accuracy.
PLB?
Personal Locator Beacon: a small device that is typically attached to a life jacket or on someone’s person. If someone falls overboard with this on it will send a signal to District SOuthEast and provide a position.
DSC?
Digital Selective Calling occurs when a person presses the distress, SOS, or red button on their VHF radio. Most radios have a red button with a red or clear red flap over it. When this button id pressed it sends a signal that bounces over all available antennas to eventually reach the USCG. We receive the alert on the V4 Workstation. Policy states that we must acknowledge the distress signal between 1 and 2.75 minutes. It is important that we confirm the MMSI aka Maritime Mobile Service Indentity, to confirm we have the correct boat. When someone sends a DSC it cause other mariner’s radios to go off and this often causes confusion. The MMSI is an ID number that mitigates this confusion.
SLDMB?
Self Locating Data Marker Buoy: is orange and kind of looks like a torpedo. It is deployed from Aircrafts, and its main purpose is to provide us with data about currents and drifts. However, it can also be used in Search and Rescue. For example, if a USCG plane locates a boat that we are searching for they can throw out a SLDMB and we would then have the boat’s position.
What are the Sector Charleston AIRSTAs?
JZI: Johns Island aka Charleston Executive Airport
HAA: Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah
10 FACTOR?
(These factors are part of the Maritime SAR Assistance Policy (MSAP) designed to prevent the Coast Guard from competing with commercial salvors.)
The 10 Factors for SAR Assessment
- Nature of the situation: The type of emergency (e.g., fire, taking on water, mechanical failure).
- Reported conditions on the vessel: Status of the crew and vessel (e.g., “we are sinking” vs. “we are drifting”).
- Position accuracy: How well the vessel knows its exact location.
- Visibility: Daylight, darkness, fog, or sea spray.
- Tide and current conditions: Whether currents are carrying the vessel toward danger.
- Present and forecasted weather: Current conditions and if they are improving or deteriorating.
- Special considerations (age, health): Presence of children, elderly, or medical emergencies on board.
- Reliable communications: Whether the vessel has working radios or phones to maintain contact.
- Degree of apprehension (Concern): How fearful the people on board are of their situation.
- Potential for situation to worsen: The likelihood of the situation deteriorating if no action is taken.
SECTOR CHARLESTON AOR
Encompasses the entire states of SC and GA.
It’s broken down into 2 Captain of the Port Zones and 4 Station AORs
SECTOR CHARLESTON COP ZONES
SECTOR CHS: NC/SC LINE(D5/D7 LINE) to SAV RIVER Northern Jetty
MSU SAVANNAH: SAV RIVER Northern Jetty to GA/FL line
SECTOR CHARLSTON STATIONs and AOR Boundaries
Station Georgetown: NC/SC Line to Racoon Key
Station Charleston: Racoon Key to St Helena Sound
Station Tybee: St Helena Sound to Sapelo Sound
Station Brunswick: Sapelo Sound to 30*50’ line
CIC phone number?
(National Command Center)
1800 DADE SAFE
1st 4 things you do after you assume the watch?
- Open screens
- Check speakers
- Check broadcasts
- Check COMMS LOG, set up COMMS LOG for your shift
Radio Channels»_space; Frequencies
21A?
22A?
CH16?
21A = 157.05
22A = 157.1
Ch16= 156.8
