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Emergency Messages
And Distress Procedure
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
Marine Distress Procedure
Speak slowly — clearly — calmly .
1. Make sure your radio is On .
2. Select VHF Channel 16 .
3. Press Talk button and say:
"MAYDAY — MAYDAY — MAYDAY ."
(Or "PAN — PAN — PAN,"
or "SECURITE — SECURITE — SECURITE .")
4. Say:
"THIS IS [your vessel name or call sign] ." Repeat three (3) times .
5. Say:
"MAYDAY (or "PAN" or "SECURITE")
[your vessel name or call sign] .
6. Tell where you are:
(what navigational aids or landmarks are near) .
7. State the nature of your distress .
8. State the kind of assistance needed .
9. Give number of persons aboard and conditions of any injured .
10. Estimate present seaworthiness of your vessel .
11. Briefly describe your vessel (length, type, color, hull) .
12. Say:
"I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16 ."
13. End message by saying:
"THIS IS [your vessel name or call sign] OVER ."
14. Release Talk button and listen . Someone should answer .
If not, repeat the call, beginning at item 3 above .
12 English
Emergency Messages
and Distress Procedure
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
Keep the radio nearby . Even after your message has been received, the Coast Guard can
find you more quickly if you can transmit a signal for a rescue boat to hone in on .
For Example
"Mayday — Mayday — Mayday"
"This is Corsair — Corsair — Corsair" [or "Illinois 1234 AB" three (3) times]
"Mayday Corsair (or Illinois 1234 AB)"
"Navy Pier bears 220 degrees magnetic — distance 5 miles"
"Struck submerged object and flooding — need pump and tow"
"Four adults, three children aboard — no one injured"
"Estimate we will remain afloat one-half (
⁄
) hour"
1
2
"Corsair (or Illinois 1234 AB) is 26 foot sloop with blue hull and tan deck house"
"I will be listening on Channel 16"
"This is Corsair (or Illinois 1234 AB)"
"Over"
NOTE
It is a good idea to write out a script of the message form and post it where you and
others on your vessel can see it when an emergency message needs to be sent .
Marine Distress Procedure – DSC
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is a semi-automated system that will allow you to press the
Distress button from any routine to make a distress call . When the distress button is pressed,
all other channels go to Standby mode and allow the digitally encoded "pre-programmed"
message to take precedence . Important information such as your MMSI number, position and
name will be transmitted on Channel 16 . The distress alarm will sound for two minutes or
until the alarm is cleared .
The DSC system allows you to choose a "pre-programmed" distress call such as: "Man
Overboard, Sinking, Collision ." There are many pre-programmed choices to choose from . If a
GPS is connected to your radio, your coordinates will also be sent to the Coast Guard as well
as to other vessels that are within range of the transmission . DSC calling also allows the
user to initiate and receive distress, urgent, safety, routine, position request, position send
and group calls between vessels equipped with DSC capable radios .
WARNING
This radio will generate a digital maritime distress and safety signal to help facilitate
search and rescue . This radio must be used within communication range of a shore
based VHF station with a distress and safety watch system . The range of the signal
may vary, however, under normal conditions should be approximately 20 nautical
miles .
•
13
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra
®
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