NYC Hams Provide Maritime Safety Communications on the Hudson

[KI4GGU]

On June 23, 2012 the New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service (NYC-ARECS) provided maritime communication support for the Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge on the rivers of New York Harbor in the middle of the Port of New York and New Jersey.

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Photos: http://nyc-arecs.org/liberty_challenge2012.html

Radio operators were at this Public Service event for 12 hours from 0630-1830 stationed both on rescue and safety boats, as well as on the shore with race officials. The mission of the operators was to be an additional set of eyes and ears on the rescue and safety boats, and to ensure that reliable communications were expediently available in case an emergency condition arose on the water.

Team members utilized both UHF and VHF repeaters, simplex, and VHF Marine radios to communicate with each other, to pass messages in regard to race setup, race operations, other safety boats, boats in-transit in the harbor, the Staten Island Ferry and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

[N2RJ]

Hawaiian airlines is sponsoring the race now? Good going. I helped out at that event about 10 years ago.

[KI4GGU]

Yes, the event got quite large. Come back and join us again anytime.

very best.

[KC5SAS]

Great report. Thanks for posting it.

[KD8DEY]

Isn't the Hudson the river that catches fire on occasion or am I confusing it with the one near Cleveland?

[KD6SBR]

you re kidding right, you have to be.