How to make an Emergency Call

Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) is the international calling and distress channel. All emergencies should be made on Channel 16 or any community based channel that is being monitored in your area.

PAN-PAN vs MAYDAY

Pan-Pan: derived from "Possible Assistance Needed"

Mayday: derived from the French "venez m'aider" which means "Come Help Me"

Pan-pan is used to signify that there is urgency on board a boat, ship, aircraft or other vehicle but that is for the time being at least.  It means that there is no immediate danger to anyone's life or to the vessel itself. This is referred to as a state of urgency.

A Mayday situation is one in which a vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or person is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. It is used to signal any life-threatening emergency to and by groups, such as pilots, police forces, fire-fighters, and transportation organizations. 

Pan-pan informs potential rescuers (including emergency services and other crafts in the area) that a safety problem exists whereas Mayday will call upon them to drop all other activities and immediately initiate a rescue attempt.

Examples of Pan-Pan and Mayday

Examples of "grave and imminent danger" in which a Mayday call would be appropriate include fire, explosion, or sinking.

Examples of a Pan-Pan call would be medical assistance, unsure of position, or engine failure / out of fuel, provided of course that the skipper or master remains confident that they can handle the situation and that there is no current danger to the life of any person or to the safety of the vessel itself.

Correct Usage of Pan-Pan and Mayday

Pan-Pan: The correct usage is "Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan", followed by the intended recipient of the message, either "All Stations, All Stations, All Stations" or a specific station, "Auckland Coast Guard Radio, Auckland Coast Guard Radio, Auckland Coast Guard Radio", the identification of the craft, its position, the nature of the problem and the type of assistance or advice required, if any.

Mayday: The recommended distress call format includes the word MAYDAY spoken three times "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday", followed by the vessel's name or call sign, also spoken three times, then MAYDAY and the name or call sign again. Vital information, including the position, nature of the emergency, assistance required and the number of people on board should follow.

Read about VHF Marine Radio Call Signs...