Logging on and off
Find out about making emergency contact when boating-making your trip details known and how to log on and log off.
Please choose step from following:
Step 1:Make your trip details known

Let someone know before you go, this is vital
Giving trip details to a responsible person puts duties on two people:
- You.
- The responsible person to actually do something if you do not contact them by the nominated time.
You must:
- Make that contact when you return.
- Stick with the trip plan unless you are able to make contact during the day and advise of any change.
Some people choose to notify a neighbour or relative. If you do, you must:
- Accept that this person may not have much marine understanding.
- Write the plan down, and go through it with them.
- Write down that they must ring the police if you don't make contact at the agreed time.
A fridge magnet is available from the Department of Transport for you to fill out your trip details on and give to a responsible person.
The most common responsible person, though, is the duty officer at your local sea rescue group, contacted by radio.
Step 2:Logging on via radio
Select the calling frequency of the sea rescue group, wait until you are sure you are not interrupting anyone, and then say:
"Sea Rescue, this is (vessel name and/or call sign) over."
Wait for the reply.
When Sea Rescue acknowledges your call say:
"Sea Rescue, this is (vessel name and/or call sign) departing ... to fish at the FADs. ETA at FADs 0930. Estimated return time 1430. Two persons on board, 120 litres of fuel, over."
When Sea Rescue acknowledges say:
"Thank you Sea Rescue, out."
Step 3:Logging off via radio
This is as important as logging on.
If you do not log off, scarce and expensive resources may be consumed in a futile search for you.
The radio frequency and procedure is the same as for the log on.