[Psml] Probable Spam: Re: MARYLAND DRN PROMOTES UNSAFE VHF USE

[John & Judy Gill]

Mark,

Sorry but the flier we received was not a "suggestion" but rather a  
command or demand, that reasonable citizens might interpret as "law"  
--  read their copy again:  The  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...."

Simply put (understood by most), stop monitoring Ch16 and use Ch. 09  
instead.  No where is the word "avoid" mentioned - their  command is  
absolute!

Your position terminates the use of Channel 09 for its intended  
purpose of being for:  Ship-to-Ship or Ship to Shore general purpose  
calling by non-commercial vessel boats and private coast stations.   
It makes Ch. 09 the ONLY "Official Hailing Channel" Is that what you  
really want to happen???

Once again, I ask those who oppose my position to state where it says  
that the States and/or USCG has the authority to VACATE the FCC  
regulations or the CFR's and not permit "Hailing another vessel on  
Ch. 16" and then quickly switching to a working channel.

John

======================================================================== 
====

On Dec 5, 2007, at 12:45 PM, mark nolan wrote:

> John,
>
> I do not agree with your interpretation of the DNR message.  They  
> are not telling boaters to  stop monitoring channel 16.  Nor are  
> they asking boaters to monitor channel 9 instead of channel 16.   
> They are asking boaters to avoid calling other boats on channel  
> 16.  You have greatly over reacted to a reasonable suggestion from  
> DNR.
>
> Mark Nolan
> Annapolis Sail and Power Squadron
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John & Judy Gill"  
> <twojscom at quadnet.net>
> To: "mark" <moonriver at ccconline.net>
> Cc: "United States Power Squadrons Mailing List" <psml at usps.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 9:15 PM
> Subject: [Psml] MARYLAND DRN PROMOTES UNSAFE VHF USE
>
>
> 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)
>
>
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