[Milsurplus] U.S. Coast Guard Traditions

[Hubert Miller]

I just heard on VHF 16 the Coast Guard requesting boaters to keep a lookout for a small craft 
having lost power and in danger. My first guess is, another hoax perpetrated by tourists, which
is a regular thing each year. The Coast Guard call was preceded by "Panpan, panpan, panpan...
at 12:45 hours the Coast Guard has received report...."  This is a city of 10,000 and possibly there
are maybe 4 people who understand French. There are maybe 2500 who speak or understand 
Spanish. If any of the latter group are listening, I wonder what they think of "Bread bread, bread
bread..."  "Does this announcement relate to feeding seagulls Mexican sweet bread?"  No, but it 
does relate to some 1930s "International Convention on Safety at Sea" or some such thing. The
USCG VHF broadcast goes maybe 40 miles. It's important to adhere to tradition, right? Like when 
the CG announces that the bar - crossing report follows on 157.1 MHz, channel 22. The boaters 
are all turning their dials, searching for 157.1 frequency. Right? "We have always done it this way."
-Hue Miller