Getting Help is Easy... Just use any one of these procedures
- Hail “TowBoatUS” or “VESSEL ASSIST” on VHF Channel 16 – for Towing Assistance key your VHF mic and say “TowBoatUS, TowBoatUS, this is vessel (your boat’s name here) hailing TowBoatUS”. Wait two minutes, if there is no response, try again. Mariners on the West Coast will first hail “Vessel Assist, Vessel Assist” and then follow the same procedure.
- Contact TowBoatUS or VESSEL ASSIST directly by cell phone – Use your cell phone to call the closest TowBoatUS/VESSEL ASSIST Company listed in our on line Service Locator.
- Call the BoatUS 24-Hour National Dispatch Center: 800-391-4869 – Via wireless phone or Coast Guard VHF relay. Be prepared to give your cell phone number to the Dispatcher so our Tower can contact you. Our Dispatch crew will conference call you to the closest resource and make sure you are taken care of.
- Use your SPOT Assist Maritime - Summoning BoatUS Towing is as easy as pressing a button. If you dont already have a SPOT click here for more information.
BoatU.S. has the largest documented coast-to-coast commercial towing network. With over 300 ports and over 600 vessels standing by, help is never far away.
Hailing the Coast Guard
In any life threatening or emergency situation, hail the Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.
Listen to sample VHF dispatch call:
Listen to sample dispatch call:
