Evaluate the situation. Understand that you are to make a Mayday call only if you are in a serious distress situation where there is an immediate or imminent threat to life or loss of property. This includes fire, injury, the vessel taking on water, or people fallen overboard, etc. If your vessel is sinking, if you’re in a life-threatening situation such as a fire or explosion, if pirates are seeking to board your boat, or if everyone on the boat suddenly succumbs to a strange illness that prevents crewing of the vessel, the Mayday call is appropriate. If your mast or other rigging breaks, or if one person falls ill but it’s not life-threatening, send a Pan-Pan call instead.
Push the red “DSC” button, if there is one. Newer radios have a button labeled “DSC” (Digital Select Calling), which transmits the GPS coordinates to the coastguard along with a Mayday beacon. Older radios do not have this, also, if the radio is not connected to a GPS unit, it will have no coordinates to transmit (although the Mayday beacon will still go through). Remember though, that even if the radio has a DSC button, don’t let the digital mayday transmission do all the work. You have some needed information that the transmitter doesn’t, such as the urgency of the situation, and a description of what is happening. Listen to the channel. Ensure there are no other emergency transmissions, or other chatter that will cut you off. Although it is absolutely OK to cut off non-emergency chatter when you are in a Distress Situation, they may come back and cut you off afterward. If you don’t have time to consider this, just get on with sending out your distress signal.
Push the red “DSC” button, if there is one. Newer radios have a button labeled “DSC” (Digital Select Calling), which transmits the GPS coordinates to the coastguard along with a Mayday beacon. Older radios do not have this, also, if the radio is not connected to a GPS unit, it will have no coordinates to transmit (although the Mayday beacon will still go through). Remember though, that even if the radio has a DSC button, don’t let the digital mayday transmission do all the work. You have some needed information that the transmitter doesn’t, such as the urgency of the situation, and a description of what is happening. Listen to the channel. Ensure there are no other emergency transmissions, or other chatter that will cut you off. Although it is absolutely OK to cut off non-emergency chatter when you are in a Distress Situation, they may come back and cut you off afterward. If you don’t have time to consider this, just get on with sending out your distress signal.
Mayday is always stated three times in a row, to ensure that it is heard accurately, and to distinguish it from radio talk about receipt of a Mayday call. It is essential to speak clearly, slowly, and split numbers. For example, say One-Five instead of Fifteen. If you know the phonetic alphabet - Use it! (i. e. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie etc. ) Hold the microphone about a half-inch away from your mouth. Stay calm, rushing through the transmission is not going to help you get help any faster.
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. This is [your name] on the [vessel name x 3]. Callsign [state your callsign]. (If you’re using a VHF-DSC radio, provide your Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)). BREAK. Release the microphone button momentarily to ensure the channel is clear. Press again. Mayday. The vessel [“vessel name”] is located [current position, speed and bearing]. (For example, Position 54 25 North 016 33 West, drifting at one knot with a bearing of 228 degrees). We are a [sailboat, motorboat, etc. ] experiencing [distress situation] and are in need of immediate assistance. There are [number of people on board] with [injuries/other additional information]. Length, color, rig of boat can be helpful, as well as any intention to deploy life boats, etc. This is [vessel name], [callsign/MMSI]. Over. If you don’t have all of this information, it’s okay. Give the information that you DO have.
While waiting, prepare flares, life rafts, life jackets, gather emergency supplies, call orders to others to prepare, etc. Stay calm and set an example for everyone else to follow. [5] X Research source If you still have no reply and don’t have to leave your boat yet, listen on another channel and break in with your distress call. It may be that your transmitter is too weak or not responding well, so ask other vessels to transmit your distress call to shore. [6] X Research source
In the event that you need to leave immediately after making a Mayday call, inform authorities of what you’re doing as part of the additional information in the Mayday message, for example, “We are taking to lifeboat/deploying a life raft”. If you’re able to maintain radio contact, follow all the radio operator’s instructions. They are trained professionals and it is their job to help you
Say “Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan. " Provide your vessel’s name and callsign. State your position. Give the nature of the problem (for example, “Engines have ceased to work”, “mast has snapped, storm coming” etc. ) State intended action. Over.
