Commonly Used Terms

CONTACT

This means that you have heard a station you are trying to reach and you wish to talk to him.  The NCS will acknowledge contacts and allow you to move your station off frequency.

RECHECK

If you have moved off frequency and you were unable to contact your station, return to the net frequency and say " recheck ".  The NCS will give you an opportunity to recall your lost station.

LIST

If you have traffic for a particular station or geographical area, you 'list' the traffic with the NCS.  The NCS will then periodically call your station and will give you the opportunity to call your station as time permits.  Under normal circumstances, the list of traffic is reviewed by the NCS every 10 - 15 minutes.

RE-ENTRY

If you have left the net and wish to re-enter it, simply announce your call sign followed by the word " re-entry ". Again, please wait until NCS calls for check-ins.

TWO-WAY & TOLL-FREE USA/CANADA

The term "two way" is used to indicate a telephone patch.  You may list traffic as "two-way New York City", if you want a telephone patch to New York City.  It is also used to indicate that a station has phone patch capability.

You may also hear a station offer toll-free.  This indicates that the station is offering a phone patch to anywhere in the USA and/or Canada without calling collect.  With the deregulation of the phones systems, this is very common.

LONG HAUL / SHORT HAUL

Refers to the type of phone patch desired by the station.  Many times a maritime mobile station will ask for a long haul into a particular location.  This means that they are willing to take the call from any station with good copy and from anywhere, usually continental North America.  Obviously, the call would be placed collect.

A short haul would be a phone patch from within the local calling area of the particular location sought or involving a small toll.

Explanation of Vessels

MOTOR VESSEL

Generally used to describe a commercial or private vessel with no sails; as in a converted trawler.  Abbreviated MV.

SAILING VESSEL

Generally used to describe a private sailing vessel.  Abbreviated SV.

MARITIME MOBILE

Describes either a motor vessel or a sailing vessel that is at sea.

MARINE PORTABLE

Describes either a motor vessel or a sailing vessel that is in port or is anchored within the port authority.

Explanation of Watches and Warnings

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY

This advisory is issued to alert mariners to sustained weather (more than two hours) or sea conditions, either present or forecast, that might be hazardous to small boats.  Decision as to the degree of hazard will be left to the boatman based on his experience and size and type of boat.  The threshold conditions for small craft advisory are usually 18 knots of wind or hazardous wave conditions.

GALE WARNING

This warning indicates that winds within the range of 34 to 47 knots are forecast for the area.

TROPICAL STORM WARNING

This warning is issued when forecast winds are within the range of 48 to 63 knots.

HURRICANE WARNING

This warning is issued when forecast winds will be in excess of 64 knots.

WATCHES

The above listed warnings may be issued in the form of a watch.  A watch indicates that the area covered in the watch announcement may be affected by a storm.  Interests in the watch area should listen for additional advisories and be prepared to take precautionary action should a warning be issued.

WARNINGS

A warning indicates that a storm is imminent or no more then 24 hours away.  Persons in the warning area should take precautionary actions immediately.