[Kevin Amos]

It is important for subscribers to determine if their cellular carrier offers this feature to its customers,” stated the Canadian Coast Guard on the website.

The *16 service is free to the cellphone subscribers and no air-time or long distance are charged. The use of the service is “normally” restricted to obtaining assistance or relaying information relating to distress and urgency situations.

https://www.intelligencer.ca/2013/07/29/when-in-marine-distress-dial-16