Mayday Maday Francais

When we are anywhere near a French Island out here we often wonder what would happen if an emergency situation developed.  Maritime Safety Announcements are in French and are not repeated in English.

Well, we left Portsmouth, Dominica this morning on our way to the Saintes.  About half way over we heard a Matitime Safety Announcement from Martinique (nothing from Guadeloupe about 20 miles away) and then it was repeated in fairly good English.  A Mayday reported NW of Dominica with a sunken (or sinking) boat and three people in the water.  I noted the position and we were already well North and had seen a Patrol Boat moving in the right general direction.  A native English speaker came on CH-16 and asked for a repeat of the position and the person who answered (think it was also Martinique) did not speak English.

We have no idea what the outcome of the search was but the call on 16 was repeated every 30 minutes until we turned the VHF off at 1230.

Makes you wonder?

Found this on the internet today (24 Jan 2013)

"

HYDROLANT 203/2013 (25)

EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA. LESSER ANTILLES. DOMINICA-NORTHWEST COAST. VESSEL CAPSIZED AND ADRIFT IN 15-37.65N 061-31.48W AT 201600Z JAN. THREE PERSONS MISSING. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS TO MRCC FORT DE FRANCE, INMARSAT-C: 422799024, TELEX: 42912008, PHONE: 59 659 670 9292, FAX: 59 659 663 2450, E-MAIL: ANTILLES@MRCCFR.EU.

( 230457Z JAN 2013 )