United States Power Squadrons

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United States Power Squadrons America's Boating
Club
If youre in BIG trouble out on the water, your
radio is the most important piece of safety
equipment on your boat! Digital Selective
Calling What Do We Do With This New
Technology? 18 August 2006 Lt. Wayne Rogers
JN Patuxent River Sail and Power Squadron
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Where Are We Today?

• Coast Guard Deployment of Rescue 21
• Proliferation of Partially Installed Radios
• no MMSIs
• lack of GPS connection
• Technology Issues
• new technology
• non-technical users
• Void in operator knowledge and confidence

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What Are We Doing?

• Waiting for the next shoe to drop!
• Or procrastinating - Ill push that little red
  button when I need it!
• Avoidance Behavior - Ill hook up my radio when I
  see that there will be some benefit!
• For years radio operation and protocol training
  amongst boaters has taken a back seat.
• On the positive side
• USPS is working with the GMDSS Work Group
• Training course development

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So Whats Important to USPS?

• Education help boaters understand DSC
• Safety Emphasize the benefit
• Leadership on-the-water usage

And what is USPS good at?
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Education

• Update our educational materials
• ABC
• Seamanship
• Electronics
• Promote the use of DSC Radios as a significantly
  enhanced safety feature
• Posters, handouts
• Offer to assist boaters with radio hookup and
  operational instruction
• Squadron Technical Officer
• VSC

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Safety

• Update safety materials - should be included in
  the Youre in Command message
• - Wear a life jacket
• - Never boat under the influence
• - Take a boating safety course
• - Get a free Vessel Safety Check
• We need to add Install a DSC radio

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Leadership

• Build it, and they will come
• Not quite so with DSC Radios
• Someone needs to show the way
• Squadrons ideal for on-the-water demonstration
• Proper radio protocol
• Group calling (requires new protocols)
• Get out the word to local community
• Include MMSIs in our rosters

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Conclusion - Questions