Boating Tip #3: Mayday & Other Distress Calls

Download Boating Tip #3: Mayday & Other Distress Calls (PDF format, 33KB)

Mayday

  • Don’t send a “mayday” distress call unless it is a life and death situation or unless you are in imminent danger
  • Switch the VHF to high power
  • Tune to Channel 16
  • Press the alarm signal for 30 seconds
  • Press the button and say “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”
  • This is the sailing yacht ___________ – repeat the vessel name 3 times
  • Say “Mayday: (vessel name) ____________”
  • Our location is _____ (give latitude and longitude, distance from a well-known landmark, course, speed, destination)
  • We are (nature of distress)
  • We require (nature of assistance)
  • We have _____ persons on board
  • The injured person is (condition)
  • We are a _____ – foot, ____________ (make) ____________ (model), ____________ (length), ____________ (type of boat)
  • Our hull color is ____________ with a ____________ stripe
  • Our sail color is ____________
  • I will be listening on Channel 16. This is ____________ (vessel name)
  • Say “Over”, and take your finger off the button
  • Listen for a response
  • Repeat as many times as necessary until someone responds

Pan

  • Pronounced “pahn”
  • If you need medical assistance, but not medical evacuation, start your distress call on channel 16 by saying “Pan, Pan, Pan”
  • This is the sailing yacht ____________ –– repeat the vessel name 3 times
  • Say “Pan: : (vessel name) ____________”
  • Our location is _____ (give latitude and longitude, distance from a well-known landmark, course, speed, destination)
  • We require (nature of assistance)
  • We have _____ persons on board
  • The injured person is (condition)
  • We are a _____ – foot, ____________ (make), ____________ (model), ____________ (length), ____________ (type of boat)
  • Our hull color is ____________ with a ____________ stripe
  • Our sail color is ____________
  • I will be listening on Channel 16. This is ____________ (vessel name)
  • Say “Over”, and take your finger off the button
  • Listen for a response
  • Repeat as many times as necessary until someone responds

Private Towing Companies

  • If it is not an emergency, but you need assistance, call a private towing company instead of the U.S. Coast Guard
  • You can call the towing company on the cell phone or use the VHF radio channel 16

    Vessel Assist (800) 391-4869
    Sea Tow (888) 473-2869

  • Private towing companies are like AAA for boaters. You join annually for a reasonable fee and are covered while aboard your boat or someone else’s vessel.
  • Start a VHF call on channel 16 and say, for example, “Vessel Assist, Vessel Assist, Vessel Assist (nearest location), this is MERMAID, MERMAID, MERMAID calling on channel 16
  • The Vessel Assist dispatcher will answer and ask you if it is an emergency, ask you to identify yourself, then will most likely tell you to move to a working channel (probably 68, 69, 71, 72, or 78A)
  • Go to the VHF channel as directed and again identify yourself
  • Explain why you need assistance and answer any questions asked by the dispatcher
  • Provide your Vessel Assist number

Distress Signals

  • Shoot red shells into the air using the flare gun. Do not point the gun at anyone. Aim down wind and away from the boat when shooting.
  • Fog horn (manual)
  • Horn on the VHF
  • Hoist the orange distress flag with black ball and square
  • Wave your arms up and down
  • Hail the other vessel on the VHF radio
  • Light a hand held flare or orange smoke. Hold the flare over the water on the lee side of the boat.