Many of us who are regulars on 14,300 khz find ourselves asked to
assist in the location of a ham radio operator aboard a vessel, or
for assistance in locating an overdue vessel.

Oftentimes we're given sketchy information with which to work.
Here are some hints to help you get the help you want from us.

If you're looking for a ham operator at sea, get the operator's
amateur callsign. Many of us keep good records of our activities
on 14,300 khz and often a little asking around can turn up somebody
who has heard your query. This writer even keeps a log of vessel
radio operators he hears on frequency.

Get the vessel's last known location. This will tell us who on
frequency will have the best chance of making contact with your
party. We have some operators with good directional antenna
systems located all over the western hemisphere. They can be
utilized to better advantage for you if we know where we should
look.

For those of you seeking help from us to locate or contact an
overdue vessel the following pieces of information are essential.
You may not be able to acquire all of them, but try to obtain as
many as possible.

First of course, the name of the vessel. This is of course where
to start, but there may be other vessels with the same name or
similar. Hence we ask that you obtain as much of the following as
you can.

The vessel's description: This includes colors of decks hull and
trimwork. Any distinguishing features will help here. Include in
this description serial numbers which may be painted on the hull
and national flags the vessel may fly.

Last known location. As with the above this will help us target
the right area to search.

Date of departure from last port of call and intended destination.
With this please provide the estimated or intended arrival date.

Also endeavor to provide us information on what type of
communications equipment may be aboard the vessel. If not amateur
radio it's helpful to know if the vessel carries marine high
frequency equipment or just vhf communications equipment, satellitephone etcetera.

If an urgent message is to be conveyed to somebody aboard please
obtain contact information for the party sending the message,
including daytime and evening phone numbers as well as email.

If you have been asked by somebody else to assist in the location
of a ham mariner or vessel endeavor , acquire as much of this
information as possible. Armed with all these data points we will have
a much better chance of locating your query.

Richard Webb,
NF5B,
Eads Tn.

Richard Webb, NF5B, is a long time ham with many years experience in traffic handling and emergency communications. Most recently, Richard was recognized for his assistance at Charity Hospital in New Orleans during and the days following Hurricane Katrina.