comdtinst m2400.1f - US Coast Guard Response Boat-Medium

. Urgency Calls. Transmit urgency and safety signals
and urgency messages. (Safety messages should be
transmitted on an authorized working frequency wherever
possible after preliminary announcement on 156.8 MHz).
2.B.5. c. Radio Station. Call radio stations other than Coast
Guard when other means of communication are not
available or are not desired.
d. Working Frequencies. Call Coast Guard units for the
purpose of establishing communications and then shift to
an appropriate working frequency for the passing of
traffic. In districts where a guard is maintained on a
working frequency, units should call and work on those
channels.
e. MSIB. Announce Maritime Safety Information
Broadcast when required.
6. 406.025 MHz. 406.025 MHz is used exclusively by satellite
EPIRB's and ELT's for transmission of distress alerting,
locating and identifying information to COSPAS-SARSAT
satellites. Category I EPRIB's are automatically activated,
float free devices. Category II EPIRB's are manually
activated devices. Category III devices are similar to
Category II, except they are designed to work in a warmer
climate and for a shorter duration. All of these EPIRB's also
transmit a low power 121.5 MHz signal for homing purposes.
C. Emergency and Safety Frequencies.
1. 8364 kHz: The frequency 8364 kHz, is designated for use by
Survival Craft Stations and except as explained below its use
shall be confined to this primary function. This frequency
will not be used for this purpose upon full implementation of
the GMDSS in 1999.
a. 8364 kHz. Coast Guard units, other than aircraft,
shall not transmit on 8364 kHz except in cases involving
distress. A unit in distress may call a Coast Guard
station on 8364 kHz and request a reply on 8364 kHz.
Since the unit in distress is in control of traffic on the
frequency used for distress, the Coast Guard unit should
comply with the request by answering on 8364 kHz if
possible to do so. After replying to the call on 8364
kHz, and if it is within the capability of the unit in
distress to receive on another appropriate Coast Guard
working frequency, the Coast Guard station shall shift to
this frequency as soon as practicable, care being taken
that positive communications are not disrupted with the
unit in distress.
D. Search and Rescue Control Frequencies. Search and Rescue (SAR)
control frequencies are for use between the Rescue Coordination
Center ashore and the On-Scene-Commander. In addition to the
frequencies listed in Annex J for this purpose, the appropriate
Coast Guard common, District working, ship/shore and air/ground
frequencies may be used for SAR control.
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