MAYDAY
PAN
SECURITE
10 English
Radiotelephone Calls
Emergency Messages
And Distress Procedure
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra
®
11
Emergency Messages And Distress Procedure
•
The ability to summon assistance in an emergency is the primary reason
to have a VHF marine radio . The marine environment can be unforgiving,
and what may initially be a minor problem can rapidly develop into a
situation beyond your control .
The Coast Guard monitors Channel 16, responds to all distress calls, and coordinates
all search and rescue efforts . Depending on the availability of
other capable vessels or commercial assistance operators in your vicinity,
Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary craft may be dispatched .
In any event, do communicate with the Coast Guard as soon as you experience
difficulties and before your situation becomes an emergency . Use the emergency
message procedures only after your situation has become grave or you are faced with
a sudden danger threatening life or property and requiring immediate help .
Use channel 16 to communicate your emergency message . Make sure you transmit on
high power . If you are merely out of gas, do not send an emergency message . Drop
your anchor and call a friend or marine to bring the fuel you need or to give you a tow .
Marine Emergency Signals
The three (3) spoken international emergency signals are:
The distress signal
MAYDAY
is used to indicate that a station is threatened
by grave and imminent danger and requests immediate assistance .
The urgency signal
PAN
is used when the safety of the vessel or person
is in jeopardy . (This signal is properly pronounced pahn .)
The safety signal
SECURITE
is used for messages about the safety of navigation or
important weather warnings . (This signal is properly pronounced see-cure-it-tay .)
When using an international emergency signal, the appropriate
signal is to be spoken three (3) times prior to the message .
If You Hear A Distress Call
You must give any message beginning with one (1) of these signals priority
over any other messages .
ALL
stations
MUST
remain silent on Channel 16
for the duration of the emergency unless the message relates directly to
the emergency .
If you hear a distress message from a vessel, stand by your radio . If it is
not answered,
YOU
should answer . If the distressed vessel is not nearby,
wait a short time for others who may be closer to acknowledge . Even if
you cannot render direct assistance, you may be in a position to relay
the message .
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
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