Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District

Date: December 11,2006
Contact: PA3 David R. Marin

(206) 220-7237

SEATTLE - The Boat U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has launched  www.BoatUS.com/MMSI, a new on-line tutorial available for anyone interested in learning about the latest advances in marine radio communication.

Funded by the U.S. Coast Guard, the tutorial "Can You Hear Me?" is designed to educate boaters on all of the basics of Digital Selective Calling VHF radios.

The 35 minute program allows viewers to try various radio buttons and sounds on their computers to simulate how a DSC VHF radio would operate.  Topics covered include emergency signaling, how to install a DSC VHF radio and an overview of the U.S. Coast Guard's "Rescue 21" program.

No special computer program is needed to view the seven part tutorial, and it is compatible with both PC and Mac formats.  The program also allows viewers to stop the tutorial at any point and return to the same point at any time.

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