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Safety & MAREP


For information not found on this website, email or telephone us - contact details on BRIDGE page.		 NOTICE FROM CANADIAN COAST GUARD with regard to using *16 on a cell phone to contact them.
  • In certain parts of Canada, depending on the service provider, dialing *16 on a cell phone will route a call directly to an MCTS Centre. On the Great Lakes, *16 service is provided by the larger cell service providers but some of the newer and smaller cellular telephone companies don't offer the service. It is highly recommended that boaters in cell phone coverage areas have the full telephone number of the nearest MCTS available in case *16 service is not provided by their service provider. 
  • In the USA, until recently, a similar service was provided but using *CG.  The USCG issued a press release on October 25, 2006 to announce this service will be discontinued except in Alaska.  See details below.
Press Release Oct. 25, 2006
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ASKS CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DISCONTINUE *CG SERVICE
  • WASHINGTON -- The Coast Guard has asked all cell phone service providers in states other then Alaska to remove the specialized keying sequence *CG as a method of requesting maritime emergency assistance.
  • As an interim measure, the Coast Guard has requested that cell phone service providers reroute all *CG calls to the nearest 911 operator. 
  • Boaters should use VHF-FM radio as their primary means of making distress calls on the water.  Cell phone calls to 911 should be used only as a secondary option. 
  • Here is the link to the full press release: https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/786/136330/
This information will be sent out as a broadcast in the very near future with the following statement added
  • "CPS-ECP also recommends that the primary means of making distress calls is the Marine Radio.  Cell phones should be used only as a secondary option."