[Psml] MARYLAND DRN PROMOTES UNSAFE VHF USE

[John & Judy Gill]

MARYLAND DRN PROMOTES UNSAFE VHF USE

We recently received a 2008 Boating Tips 2 page flier with our dinghy  
registration and noted on page 2 under VHF FM MARINE CHANNEL 16 the  
following:  “The primary marine distress frequency is monitored  
continuously by the U.S. Coast Guard.  Please keep Channel 16 clear  
-- someone's life may depend on it!  Use Channel 9 for non-emergency  
hailing and then switch to another working channel for routine  
conversation.”

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (marine police) is  
apparently advocating that mariners Only monitor Channel 9 and use it  
for hailing purposes.  And, use Channel 16 ONLY for May Day, Pan Pan  
and Security calls.  Not monitor Channel 16 or use it for "Hailing"  
purposes.  This means that Maryland Natural Resources Marine Police  
is effectively eliminating the Federal Communications Commission  
requirement for mariners to Monitor Channel 16 when their radios are on.

This means that May Day, Pan Pan and Security calls on Channel 16 to  
the Coast Guard only (only ones listening) may not be rebroadcast on  
Channel 9 (there is no requirement for the USCG to do so).  This in  
turn means that pleasure craft and watermen may not hear a call for  
assistance by other vessels and they will have to wait for the Coast  
Guard to come, or send commercial assistance?  This seems like a very  
dangerous recommendation or law and could delay a good samaritans’  
help or rescue, particularly those of USCGAux or USPS.  It is also  
doubtful whether the MD. DNR Marine Police or USCG has the authority  
to negate FCC CFR's.

This same practice was tried on Lake Michigan back in 2003 and  
resulted in several “serious incidents” and from what I later  
learned, caused the Coast Guard to recind non monitoring of Channel  
16 vs Channel 9 there.

Yours in Safe Boating,
D/Lt John Gill, AP (Pennsway, D/5)