Over Christmas, utility listeners heard a couple of incidents that should make it onto this show.
The first one started on December 23, when the tanker Maersk Scotland went dead in the water off Cape Hatteras, NC. The ship was carrying 8300 tons of liquid butane, and its breakup would have posed a major hazard to say the least.
Here's the first automated distress call, as copied on 2187.5 kHz DSC:
UTC Date 12/23/06
UTC Time 23:43:32
RX Station gs3660001-0
Radio # 2
Tag # 03433
Frequency 02.187.5
FS 1 Distress call
FS 2 Distress call
Address All Stations
Self ID 775065000
Msg 1 Disabled and adrift
Msg 2 LAT 34 57 N
LON 074 06 W
Msg 3 23:42
Msg 4 TC1: J3E TP
EOS EOS
ECC OK
This was acknowledged by US Coast Guard:
UTC Date 12/23/06
UTC Time 23:44:35
RX Station 003660003-0
Radio # 2
Tag # 13871
Frequency 08.414.5
FS 1 All ships call
FS 2 All ships call
Address All Stations
Category Distress
Self ID 003669991
USCG BOSTON
TC1 Distress acknowledge
Vessel 775065000
Msg 1 Disabled and adrift
Msg 2 LAT 34 57 N
LON 074 06 W
Msg 3 23:42
Msg 4 TC1: J3E TP
EOS EOS
ECC OK
It was also followed by voice communication on the international distress frequency of 2182 kHz USB. On 12/24, Christmas Eve, the Maersk Scotland called MAYDAY on 2182, getting several responses. They reported broken steering gear and hydraulic failure.
On Christmas Eve, the world could hear the Maersk Scotland working US Coast Guard CAMSLANT on 4125 kHz USB. The ship was in the gulf stream, and drifting northeast at one knot. A seagoing tug, the Katie McAlister, was dispatched for a tow, and also came up on frequency.
On Christmas Day, the Maersk Scotland reported she was under tow to Virginia in rising seas from a bad storm which created tornadoes in Florida. Fortunately, the tow was successful under these worsening conditions, and we were spared a tragedy and/or release of explosive gas.
The next day, the annual Sydney-Hobart yacht race had one of its notorious storms come up. The HF race net on 4483.0 and 6516.0 USB got busy, with the police launch Alert picking up crew from at least two racing yachts in serious trouble. Another boat dismasted, injuring several, and several others requested aid.
Hope everyone else had a far less eventful holiday. Happy New Year from Utility World!
