Marine Radio Distress Procedures — MAYDAY, PAN PAN, and SECURITE
Knowing the correct distress procedures on a marine VHF radio could save your life or someone else's. Here's exactly what to say and when to say it.
Three Levels of Maritime Radio Urgency
Marine radio distress communications use three internationally recognized signal words, each indicating a different level of urgency. Using the correct signal ensures that other vessels and the Coast Guard understand exactly what type of situation you are dealing with.
MAYDAY — Distress
MAYDAY is the highest priority communication in the maritime radio service. It indicates that a vessel or person is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.
Use MAYDAY when: - Your vessel is sinking - There is an uncontrolled fire aboard - A person is seriously injured and requires immediate medical evacuation - Any situation where lives are in immediate danger
How to Send a MAYDAY Call
Before transmitting, activate your DSC distress alert if your radio has this capability — it automatically sends your position to the Coast Guard. Then follow up with a voice MAYDAY on Channel 16:
1. Select Channel 16 on your VHF radio 2. Transmit the following:
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*MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY* *This is [vessel name] [vessel name] [vessel name]* *MAYDAY [vessel name]* *My position is [latitude and longitude OR bearing and distance from a known point]* *[Nature of distress — e.g., "We are sinking" / "We have a fire aboard"]* *[Number of persons on board]* *[Any other relevant information — vessel description, color, length]* *[Vessel name] OVER*
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The vessel name and MAYDAY are repeated three times each at the beginning to ensure they are heard and understood even if reception is poor.
After Sending MAYDAY
Release the transmit button and listen for a response on Channel 16. The Coast Guard or another vessel should acknowledge your call. If you receive no response within a few minutes, repeat the call.
Once contact is established, follow the instructions given by the responding station.
PAN PAN — Urgency
PAN PAN (pronounced "pahn pahn") indicates an urgent situation that does not yet rise to the level of grave and imminent danger but requires priority handling.
Use PAN PAN when: - A person is ill or injured but the situation is not immediately life-threatening - Your vessel has a mechanical failure and is not in immediate danger but needs assistance - You have a person overboard who has been recovered but needs medical attention - Any situation that is serious but not immediately life-threatening
How to Send a PAN PAN Call
Transmit on Channel 16:
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*PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN* *All stations all stations all stations* *This is [vessel name] [vessel name] [vessel name]* *[Nature of urgency]* *[Position]* *[Assistance required]* *[Vessel name] OVER*
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SECURITE — Safety
SECURITE (pronounced "say-cur-ee-TAY") is used to broadcast important navigational or meteorological warnings that could affect the safety of other vessels. It is not a distress or urgency call — it is an information broadcast.
Use SECURITE when: - You have encountered a hazard to navigation (debris, unmarked obstruction, unlit vessel) - You want to broadcast a severe weather warning - You are a large vessel announcing your departure from a dock or passage through a narrow channel
How to Send a SECURITE Call
Transmit on Channel 16:
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*SECURITE SECURITE SECURITE* *All stations all stations all stations* *This is [vessel name]* *[Nature of the navigational or safety information]* *[Position or area affected]* *[Vessel name] OUT*
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Priority Order
Maritime radio communications follow a strict priority order:
1. Distress (MAYDAY) — absolute highest priority 2. Urgency (PAN PAN) — second priority 3. Safety (SECURITE) — third priority 4. All other communications
No routine communication may ever interfere with a higher-priority transmission.
Canceling a False Distress Alert
If you accidentally activate your DSC distress button or transmit a false MAYDAY, you must immediately notify the Coast Guard. Transmit on Channel 16:
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*MAYDAY ALL STATIONS* *This is [vessel name], MMSI [number]* *Cancel my distress alert of [time]* *[Vessel name] OUT*
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Then contact the nearest Coast Guard station directly to confirm the cancellation. Do not simply ignore an accidental activation — unnecessary search and rescue operations put rescue personnel at risk and consume significant resources.
Channel 16 Watch
All vessels equipped with VHF radio are required to monitor Channel 16 at all times while underway. This ensures that distress calls are heard by nearby vessels even if the Coast Guard is not immediately in range.
Learn the Procedures Before You Need Them
The time to learn distress procedures is not during an emergency. Familiarize yourself with your radio's DSC distress button, practice the MAYDAY format, and make sure your MMSI is programmed and your radio is connected to GPS.
The FCC MROP exam tests knowledge of distress procedures, channel assignments, and GMDSS requirements. Hangar Academy's MROP course covers all of these topics with detailed study material and practice questions.