How to call the Coastguard for assistance at sea

For an emergency at sea, you can contact the Coastguard on the freephone number 1530, which is available 24 hours a day throughout the country. Provide your precise position, the nature of the danger, the people involved and your contact details; do not end the call without being told to do so.

Call immediately and provide useful information

If there is a danger to people or the vessel at sea, contact the Coastguard on the blue number 1530. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) states that the service is free of charge, available from both landlines and mobile phones, and operates 24 hours a day, all year round. The call is forwarded to the relevant Harbour Master’s Office or to the Operations Centre, which gathers the information and initiates the rescue operation. If the emergency is immediate and you are unable to use 1530, call the single emergency number 112.

When the operator answers, speak calmly and start by stating your location. Use GPS coordinates if you have them, specifying latitude and longitude, or describe the last visible coastal landmark, your course and estimated distance. Then explain what is happening, how many people are on board, whether there are any injured or people in the water, what type of vessel you are in and how you can be contacted. Indicate wind, sea conditions and any other hazards you have observed.

Do not hang up until the operator tells you to. If conditions change, call back or update the agreed communication channel, keeping the line free for instructions. If you are on a vessel with a VHF radio, also use the prescribed rescue channels and procedures, in accordance with your training; do not make up distress messages or signals unless you are certain of the procedure.

• Call 1530 for emergencies at sea; the service is free of charge and operates all year round.
• Provide your position or coordinates, the nature of the problem, the number of people on board and the current conditions.
• Listen to the instructions and keep your telephone or radio ready.
• If someone is in immediate danger and you cannot contact 1530, call 112.

Be prepared before you need help

Before setting off, save 1530 in your contacts, check that your phone is fully charged and protect it from water. If the boat has a VHF radio, check the equipment and ensure that everyone on board knows how to use it. Keep the vessel’s name and details, coordinates or chartplotter and the required equipment to hand. Notify someone ashore of your route and estimated time of return, so that someone can promptly report you if you fail to arrive.

In an emergency, prioritise the safety of those on board: put on lifejackets, move away from the immediate danger and follow the Coastguard’s instructions. Do not endanger other occupants with improvised manoeuvres or unnecessary dives.

To study the theoretical chapters on nautical safety,Quiz Patente Ufficiale offers quizzes and a review of common mistakes; in an emergency, call 1530 and follow the Coastguard’s instructions.