The three priorities
| Prefix | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| MAYDAY | Distress | Grave and imminent danger; immediate assistance needed |
| PAN-PAN | Urgency | An urgent message about the safety of a vessel or person, no immediate danger to life |
| SECURITE | Safety | A navigational or weather safety message |
| The priority of maritime communications. |
Sending a VHF MAYDAY (after the DSC alert)
- Press the red DSC distress button (lift the cover) to send the alert.
- On Channel 16, say 'MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY' and the vessel's name three times.
- Give: MAYDAY, the vessel name, the MMSI/callsign, the position, the nature of the distress, the assistance required, and the number of people on board.
- Release to listen for an acknowledgement, and keep the radio on to update the rescue services.
WARNING — Match the call to the situation MAYDAY is only for grave and imminent danger to life; PAN-PAN is for an urgent but not life-threatening situation. Using MAYDAY when you mean PAN-PAN, or vice versa, misdirects the rescue response.
TIP — Position, nature, number The three things rescuers most need are where you are, what is wrong, and how many people are aboard. Give those clearly even if you can say nothing else.