VHF with a Listing Bulk Carrier: 'Not Sinking' and 'Do Not Evacuate'
At 04:30, 12 nautical miles east of Ulleungdo, the 180-metre bulk carrier MV Blue Meridian reports flooding in hold No. 2, a 12-degree list, and 22 crew. Seas are 6 metres, wind 35 knots, and the vessel has lost steering. Her master, speaking rapid English with a strong accent, says: 'We are not sinking. We are not under command. We require a tug, but my owner has not authorized salvage. Do not evacuate.' A nearby tug offers to tow for a signed salvage agreement; a 30-ton fishing vessel offers to take off non-essential crew. The Coast Guard patrol vessel is 40 minutes away, and a helicopter is grounded by icing. The officer must respond on VHF and later write an incident report.
1. Draft the first VHF reply (about 60–90 words) and justify each element.
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Reply: 'MV Blue Meridian, MV Blue Meridian, this is Korea Coast Guard patrol vessel 3001. Received MAYDAY. I understand: flooding in hold No. 2, list 12 degrees, not under command, 22 persons on board. Question: are you in immediate danger of sinking? Question: do you require immediate evacuation? Over.' Why: the distress is acknowledged first; the officer reads back the key facts so the master can correct errors; the questions are closed, because 'Do you need help?' can be answered 'yes' to a tug and 'no' to evacuation in the same breath. 'Not sinking' is a prediction, not a condition; ask about the rate of flooding and stability. 'Not under command' has a COLREG meaning (two red lights, inability to manoeuvre as required), so it must be confirmed, not assumed. Ask for the number of persons, injuries, water depth, and whether the vessel is drifting toward the islands. Use 'I say again' and require read-back.
2. The master says 'do not evacuate' but the owner has not authorized salvage. How should the officer treat this?
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Separate safety from commerce. The owner's lack of salvage authorization does not authorize drowning. The master remains in command, and his 'do not evacuate' is a decision the Coast Guard should respect only while it is informed and rational. The officer should ask: what is the flooding rate, is there a free surface, are pumps working, what is the list trend, and how many persons are essential to keep the ship afloat? If the answers show progressive flooding, the SAR coordinator should recommend evacuation and, if the danger is imminent, remove persons under the Coast Guard's rescue authority; document the master's objection. On the tug: a master may accept salvage in an emergency to save ship and life, and a salvage agreement does not require the owner's prior approval; the officer can tell the master that and ask the tug to stand by. Do not let a commercial dispute delay the tow.
3. Rewrite the report sentence 'The master refused rescue because he said the hold was under control' and explain the ambiguities.
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Rewrite: 'The master stated that the flooding was contained and declined the offer to evacuate the crew; he requested a tug and said the owner had not authorized salvage.' Ambiguities: 'refused rescue' implies he rejected being saved; the record shows he declined an evacuation offer. 'Under control' is the master's opinion, not a fact; report what he said and the observable data (list, flooding rate). 'Because' asserts causation that the officer cannot know. 'Said' is vague; 'stated' is neutral and precise. Keep the master's words in quotation marks if they matter, and separate observation from inference.