"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...

On Sep 4, 10:50?am, "Eisboch" wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

oups.com...



When monitoring Channel 16, its normal to hear the Coast Guard "ask"
whether there are vessels in the vicinity of a situation that might be
willing to help...."any vessels in the vicinity willing to render
assistance or provide additional information......". If there were
some law requiring compliance, I think we would hear "all vessels in
the vicinity are directed to proceed to the scene....."

I've never heard such a thing.

I *have* heard, "boaters are requested to keep a sharp lookout and to
provide assistance ...".

Must be a different Coast Guard out on the west coast.

Eisboch

Over the years in this group we have observed that radio and
communications practices do vary tremendously from one USCG district
to another. Heck, the districts don't even all use the same frequency-
some are on 16 and others are on 9.

Our district's "script" for "marine assistance broadcasts" neither
states nor implies that boaters are obligated to assist. In fact,
there seems to be a great emphasis placed on getting stranded boats
hooked up with Sea Tow, etc. I suspect that's one reason that the USCG
tries to get stranded boaters (not those in a life threatening
situation) off the radio and onto a cell phone when possible- too many
cases of "good sams" showing up to provide a free tow 5 minutes before
Sea Tow finishes burning $40 in fuel to arrive at the scene.


I don't disagree with most of the above, except it would surprise me if, as
a Federal Government Agency, that the Coast Guard had different scripts in
the training programs.
I've never heard a Coast Guard Pan Pan call in your area, so I can't judge.

However, in some distress call circumstances, I believe you have a legal
obligation to assist if you can without endangering you or your passengers.
I will provide a cite when I get a chance to look it up.

Eisboch