are prone to prosecute offenders to the
fullest extent of the law.
• VHF radios are not toys. Children should
never be allowed to operate or play with
a VHF radio. You should monitor the
activities of children on your boat to
assure they are not doing unsafe things
including playing with the radio.
Emergency Calls
There are three types of emergency calls.
• Mayday
• Pan-Pan
• Sécurité
These calls have priority over all other calls,
especially on Channel 16, and if you hear
one you should immediately terminate
your use of that channel (Table 12-4).
1. MAYDAY —the distress signal. This is a
call to ask for assistance if there is immediate
danger to life or property.
• It has priority over all other radio calls.
• Use a Mayday call for life-threatening
medical emergencies or if your boat is
sinking or on fire.
• You will need the following information
if you make a Mayday call (see the Distress
Communications Form, Figure 12-6 and
the Vessel Information Data Sheet, Figure
12-7; fill in as much information as possible
before you leave port):
• An accurate location of your boat
• A good description of your boat
• The number of people on board and
their condition
• Description of the problem
2. PAN-PAN (pronounced pahn-pahn)
—the urgency signal. This signal is used
when there is a threat to the safety of a
person or boat but not a clear immediate
threat to life or property. Examples are:
• Loss of a person overboard
• Running out of fuel
• Losing your way in a fog
• Getting entangled in fishing gear
• Unable to control or operate your
vessel
• Use the Distress Communications Form,
Figure 12-6, substituting “PAN-PAN” for
“MAYDAY.”
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Table 12-4. Distress Call Types & Procedures
DISTRESS SIGNAL—MAYDAY (Not using DSC)
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
This is Sailboat WINDSONG, WINDSONG, WINDSONG
MAYDAY WINDSONG: OVER
VESSEL CALLING MAYDAY—THIS IS COAST GUARD: OVER
This is Sailboat WINDSONG
My position approximately 5 miles off EGMONT KEY
Compass bearing 120
We are slowly SINKING
Estimated Float time ONE hour
FOUR persons aboard, ONE injured, fractured leg
We are 25 foot sailboat, COLOR white with blue trim
WINDSONG: OVER.
COAST GUARD REPLIES: (appropriate rescue action such as
cutter en route)
URGENCY—PAN-PAN
Takes Precedent Over All Calls Except Distress
Used When There Is No Life Threatening Condition But Assistance
Is Required Relative to Safety of the Vessel or Personnel
Format of the Call same as Distress Call
WARNING—SÉCURITÉ
Warning to All Stations,conditions that may affect operation of
vessels in your vicinity
Call Is Made on Channel 16 Followed by Directions to Switch to
a Working Channel for Safety Message
Sécurité, Sécurité, Securité this Is Reel Time
Go to Channel 6 for Safety Message. Out.
Switch to Channel 6, repeat Sécurité Call
Then Provide Safety Message