It wasn’t a distress call. It was a call for non-emergency assistance. Like the difference between calling for a tow truck and calling for an ambulance. It wasn’t on the emergency frequency. The story is a nothingburger.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard and the Marine Exchange of Alaska, which monitors ship traffic in Alaska, there was no distress call — just a general request for assistance.
Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Shannon Shepard said by email that the Coast Guard heard the call for help just after 9:30 p.m. Monday night.
“At approximately 9:56 p.m., the Coast Guard determined they were not in distress and issued a marine assistance request broadcast on their behalf,” she said.
From my understanding you are required to use a specific international standard radio channel and be listening for distress callls while on the water.
So if they were on the wrong channel that seems like a fineable offense.
It wasn’t a distress call. It was a call for non-emergency assistance. Like the difference between calling for a tow truck and calling for an ambulance. It wasn’t on the emergency frequency. The story is a nothingburger.
Source for that?
Alaska Beacon
Article also points out that as a frequent visitor to the area, the cruise ship would be more familiar with the frequencies used locally.
Thank-you