<p> VHF COMMUNICATIONS IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS</p><p>MV "LIST", ZBR4, has suffered a major explosion in the engine room. Her position is 37° 15’N, 43° 29’W. The vessel is sinking. The distress alert and message have been sent by GMDSS and VHF. The Master is asking for immediate assistance. The crew must abandon the ship in lifeboats and liferafts. Here is the Initial Distress message:</p><p>MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY. THIS IS MOTOR VESSEL LIST, LIST,LIST, MAYDAY LIST ZBR4, LIST ZBR4, LIST ZBR4. POSITION: LATITUDE: 39° 15’N, LONGITUDE: 24° 29’W FIRE IN THE ENGINE ROOM, SINKING REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE. ABANDONING SHIP IN TWO LIFERAFTS. 23 PERSONS IN THE LIFERAFTS. OVER.</p><p>1 The initial distress message has been received by the MRCC GOTHENBURG and MV DORY which was assigned the duty of On-Scene Coordinator (OSC).</p><p>The MV DORY has received the initial distress message and transmits the distress acknowledgement message, telling MV LIST that she is coming to place of distress:</p><p>MAYDAY. LIST ZBR4, LIST ZBR4, LIST ZBR4 THIS IS MV DORY, YXDW. MAYDAY RECEIVED. PROCEEEDING TO YOUR ASSISTANCE. SPEED: 29 KNOTS. ETA PLACE OF DISTRESS: 16.00 HOURS UTC. OVER</p><p>The initial distress message has also been received by the MRCC GOTHENBURG. The MRCC has allocated the MV DORY the duty of On- Scene Coordinator (OSC) and transmits the following message to the vessel in distress:</p><p>MAYDAY. LIST ZBR4, LIST ZBR4, LIST ZBR4 THIS IS MRCC GOTHENBURG MAYDAY RECEIVED. I AM SENDING A HELICOPTER. MV DORY, YXDW WILL ACT AS ON-SCENE CO-ORDINATOR. MV DORY IS UNDER WAY TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO YOU. ETD: 15.48 UTC THIS IS MRCC GOTHENBURG OVER</p><p>2 Four ships are engaged in the search and rescue operation for MV "LIST", ZBR4 are proceeding to the distress position. M.V. "DORY", YXDW which assumed the duty of OSC, conducts the following distress communications:</p><p>MAYDAY. All stations, all stations (all ships) taking part in SAR for "LIST". This is DORY, On-Scene Co-ordinator.</p><p>Arrived at distress position 051500 UTC. No floating wreckage or life saving appliances observed. Begin search according to pattern 1 MERSAR. Wind NW 4, sea 3, swell W 2, visibility 10 miles. Datum marked by working raft fitted with burning oil drum. Please listen on 2182 kHz for further distress communications. This is OSC DORY. Over.</p><p>Mayday. "DORY"/YXDW. This is Liberian M/V DOLPHIN, 5LBX on 2182 kHz. Received your message. Proceeding to the distress position. We are waiting for your instructions. Over.</p><p>Mayday "DOLPHIN". This is Croatian M/V "Orada". on 2182 kHz. Received your message. Proceeding to the distress position. Over.</p><p>3 Nearly the same distress communications were conducted with the MV "Tuna", 9VAB and the MV "Brancin", 3EAY. </p><p>Shortly thereafter the following instructions were given by the OSC/CSS:</p><p>Mayday to all ships taking part in SAR for "List". This is "DORY" acting as OSC.</p><p>Carry out search pattern 4 according to IAMSAR, starting at 16.45 hours utc. Initial course 135 degrees, search speed 12 knots, beginning 10 miles NW of datum. </p><p>Ships are directed as follows Brancin: Track 3, initial position 39° 15’ N 24° 29’ W Dolphin : Track 1, initial position 39° 17’ N 24° 26’ W Dory : Track 2, initial position 39° 19’ N 24° 23’ W Tuna : Track 4, initial position 39° 22’ N 24° 20’ W</p><p>Please switch to channel 16, repeat track number, initial position, initial course, search speed and time of start. Over.</p><p>4 MV TUNA acknowledges the directions received from CSS "Dory":</p><p>Mayday. OSC "DORY". This is "TUNA" on channel 16. I repeat your directions. Track number 3, initial position 37 degrees 15 minutes N 43 degrees 29 minutes W, initial course 135 degrees, search speed 12 knots, start 16.45 hours UTC. Standing by. Over.</p><p>"Dolphin" and "Brancin" also acknowledge the directions received from CSS "Dory". </p><p>Mayday. OSC "DORY". This is "DOLPHIN" on channel 16. I repeat your directions. Track number 3, initial position 37 degrees 15 minutes N 43 degrees 29 minutes W, initial course 135 degrees, search speed 12 knots, start 16.45 hours UTC. Standing by. Over.</p><p>Mayday. OSC "DORY". This is "BRANCIN" on channel 16. I repeat your directions. Track number 3, initial position 37 degrees 15 minutes N 43 degrees 29 minutes W, initial course 135 degrees, search speed 12 knots, start 16.45 hours UTC. Standing by. Over.</p><p>5 After about 2 hours of intensive search</p><p>MV DOLPHIN reports:</p><p>- Mayday CSS “Dory”. This is "Dolphin". Have sighted lifeboats bearing 170 degrees, distance about 5 miles ahead of me. Over.</p><p>MV BRANCIN reports:</p><p>- Mayday CSS "Dory". This is "Brancin". Have observed two lifeboats and one raft, bearing 270 degrees, distance 5 miles. Over.</p><p>OSC DORY acknowledges the receipt of the reports and gives new instructions:</p><p>Mayday to all SAR ships. This is OSC "Dory". Messages from "Dolphin" and "Brancin" received. Instruction: Proceed to new datum 37 degrees 01 minute N, 43 degrees 11 minute W. Please prepare to pick up the shipwrecked people. Over.</p><p>6 The vessels engaged in SAR operation make further reports on sightings and their actions of picking up survivors:</p><p>Mayday CSS “Dory”. This is "Dolphin". I have sighted the lifeboat 1.5 miles starboard ahead and took 11 survivors and the boat aboard. Over</p><p>Mayday CSS “Dory”. This is "Dolphin". – I have rescued 4 shipwrecked people and salvaged the liferaft. Over </p><p>Mayday CSS “Dory”. This is "Dolphin". We have rescued 8 sailors among them the captain of "List". Took one liferaft on deck by means of shipboard derricks. Over</p><p>7 It was decided that the MV "Brancin" would take over all the survivors on board because she was bound for the nearest port of Gothenburg.</p><p>The search and rescue ended successfully and the OSC terminates the SAR operation:</p><p>Mayday. This is CSS DORY. </p><p>The SAR operation has been successfully completed. All crewmembers have been rescued. Thank you very much for your co-operation. Silence fini . Out.</p><p>8</p>