Keep this page handy aboard your boat for use in obtaining prompt assistance.

If not in immediate danger: If the situation is not life threatening, the Coast Guard may switch you to Ch 22-A or CH 12 to obtain assistance for you. Communications on any "A" channel requires that your radio be in "united States" mode, not "International."

Procedures if not in immediate danger: If you are not in immediate danger, you can call for a commercial towing firm directly or deal with the Coast Guard process.

The Coast Guard will ask: name and description of your vessel; boat location, nature of difficulty; your name, address, and home telephone number; and the number of persons on board. They may quiz you for details of saftety equipment aboard. Once data collection is finished, they will ask if you have a friend or commercial tower you want contacted to come to your aid. If you do not have anyone specific to be contacted they will issue a Marine Assistance

Request Broadcast (MARB) to solict aid. Following the MARB, the

commercial towing firm closest to your location will reply by radio to offer prompt assistance with a high speed response towboat. The Coast Guard process to issue a MARB can take between 15 minutes to 45 minutes. Calling for a towing firm directly on CH 16 saves this time and hassle and avoids involving the Coast Guard in a non distress case. If the Coast Guard were to respond to assist, they normally do a boarding and safety inspection.

A: On VHF channel 16 call for the commercial towing firm of your choice or call "I need a tow." Towing firms monitoring the radio will reply. Since Federal law changed in 1983 the U.S. Coast Guard focusses its resources on emergency situations. In any situation where life or property is not in immediate danger the Coast Guard will not send a vessel to you. A commercial tower on the other hand stands ready to assist you 24 hours a day 365 days a year. At most times a fast response vessel can be underway to your location within minutes of receiving your call. Professional towing firms monitor VHF Ch 16 for most daylight hours and many for 24 hours daily. If you can not reach them directly via radio, through the marine operator, or by cellular telephone, call the Coast Guard. They will be happy to call the tower you specify. If you do not know the name of a tower in the area call the Marine Operator and request that they place a call to a "Marine Tower" for you.

A: Yes, but be cautious! Although it is in the best tradition of the sea for boaters to render help whenever possible in an emergency situation, inept assistance can be dangerous even in the best of circumstances. It may be foolish to act as or accept help from a "Good Samaritan" when professional help is readily available. An unlicensed "Good Sam" accepting payment for a tow subjects them to a fine under Coast Guard regulations. Some insurance companies recommend that you not offer to be a Good Samaritan and that you use a commercial tower. Commercial towers must be Coast Guard licenced for towing and under a random drug testing program. They are fully insured with highly trained captains and crews and are equipped to handle most situations that might arise.

A: At costs exceeding $100 per hour, portal to portal, the cost of towing may seem high at first, bu the next time you see acommercial tow vessel note that it looks like an "antenna farm." These towboats are equipped with VHF direction finders, radar, loran or GPS and the CG public safety light that allow them to locate your vessel quickly whether at night or in fog, even if you are unsure of your position. They also carry pumps, flotation gear, pollution control devices, and specialized salvage and towing gear most of which are not required for a normal tow. The vessels have been specially modified and strenghthened to withstand the rigors of towing and salvage and are maintained in a state of readiness that enables them to get underway at a moments notice. But even with well equipped vessels and professionally skilled personnel, insurance costs are high because of the associated risks. If the commercial towers were making several assists a day on a year round basis, the per incident overhead would be much less and rates would be much lower. The high overhead is spread over a few assists during a limited season even though they are on call 24 hours a day.