Digital selective calling radios add new safety dimension to recreational boating         

[JUNE 24, 2006]  A new technology in marine VHF radio now gives recreational boaters with one of the new marine radios a connected global positioning system and a free Maritime Mobile Service Identity number programmed into the radio to identify the vessel in cases of emergency.

The MMSI is a unique nine-digit number that is assigned to a digital selective calling radio station. Boaters who have a valid Federal Communications Commission station license or plan to operate in international waters need to contact the commission to get their identification number. Otherwise, they can register with BoatU.S. by obtaining an MMSI assignment form, available at www.boatus.com/mmsi/ or by calling 1 [phone]. Registration is also available from Sea Tow, www.seatow.com.

Some important points to consider are:

• Each vessel a boater owns needs to have a discrete MMSI to be properly identified.

• Boaters need to keep their MMSI assignment data current.

Digital selective calling technology makes a VHF radio function more like a telephone. It allows boaters to send a digital call directly to another DSC-equipped vessel or shore station.

In an emergency, one push of a button and the DSC radio will send an automated digital distress alert to other DSC-equipped vessels and rescue facilities. The alert consists of the identification number and position, if the radio is connected to a global positioning system or LORAN unit.

As an additional benefit to boaters, it is possible to privately hail another DSC-equipped vessel or shore station if their identification number is known. It is similar to having a VHF phone number that "rings" the radio called and then automatically switches to a predetermined working channel.

Rescue 21 is the Coast Guard system that will provide the mayday response capability described above. For more details on the system and its availability, visit www.uscg.mil/rescue21.

The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System is the international system governing safety radio equipment on commercial ships. For more information on the system, visit http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/faq/gmdssfaq.htm. 

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed, volunteer component of the Coast Guard team. The auxiliary assists the active-duty Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. Men and women of the auxiliary can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing maritime domain awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and redesignated as the auxiliary in 1941. Its over 31,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.

[U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary news release]