EMERGENCY VHF RADIO PROTOCOLS FOR "MAYDAY" and
"PAN-PAN" CALLS Click here to download a .PDF version of this page. |
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| MAYDAY |
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PAN-PAN |
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Use "May Day" when imminent danger threatens life or property and immediate assistance is required. An example could be a paddler in the water, unable to get back into his kayak, serious injury or illness or a group in serious peril owing to the prevailing conditions. |
Use Pan-Pan ("Pahn Pahn") when the safety of a person or vessel is in jeopardy, but the danger is not life threatening. An example could be an injured paddler on shore, with no immediate danger of the situation worsening. |
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| Check the radio is on - Transmit at high power on Channel 16. Most radios will default to high power for Ch 16. | Check the radio is on - Transmit at high power on Channel 16. Most radios will default to high power for Ch 16. | |
| "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" THIS IS (craft name x 3) MAYDAY (craft name) MY POSITION IS (lat and long OR grid ref AND/OR distance and true bearing from a known location) Nature of Distress Nature of Assistance required Number of people Any other relevant information OVER (remove finger from transmit button)
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"PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN" ALL-SHIPS x 3 OR (name of) Coastguard x 3 THIS IS (craft name x 3) MY POSITION IS (lat and long OR grid ref AND/OR distance and true bearing from a known location) Nature of Distress Nature of Assistance required Number of people Any other relevant information OVER (remove finger from transmit button)
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Example May Day transmission from the sea-kayak group Eskimo, one of whose members has had a suspected heart attack - the group is to the west of the Corryvreckan between Jura and Scarba.
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" This is the sea-kayak group Eskimo, Eskimo, Eskimo MAYDAY - sea-kayak group Eskimo Our position is 3kms, 270 degrees from SW end of Scarba (And/or Grid Reference and/or Lat & Long) We have one paddler with suspected heart attack Request immediate assistance 5 people in the group, in 5 kayaks, 5 kayaks / 2 with red decks, white hulls / 3 with yellow decks, white hulls / all paddlers still in their kayaks / all wearing yellow cags. Ebb starting and in danger of being drawn into the Corryvreckan. OVER (remove finger from transmit button)
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Other Signals Red flare. Orange smoke. Continuous sounding of a fog horn. A mobile telephone call to the emergency services may be useful on inland waters but is not recommended for use at sea. It is not monitored by other vessels or the rescue services and offshore reception is unreliable. Morse code SOS (3 dots, 3 dash, 3 dots) sent by any means may still be recognised. |
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