Mayday Procedures

This information is available on board near the VHF. To know this will give peace of mind to all the crew with you, not least yourself.

Prepare your message, Position, Nature of Distress, Number of persons, Type of assistance, Helpful details.
Ensure Channel 16 is selected.
Ensure 25 Watt power is selected.
Press the key on the mic to speak. Release to listen.
Speak clearly and carefully.

MAYDAY	= Grave and imminent danger to ship or person and requests immediate assistance.
PANPAN	= Very urgent message concerning safety of ship or person.
SECURITÉ	= Before message concerning safety of navigation or important meteorological warnings.

“MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY”	“PANPAN PANPAN PANPAN”	“SECURITÉ SECURITÉ SECURITÉ”
“This is Yacht Blue Fin, Yacht Blue Fin, Yacht Blue Fin. Mayday Yacht Blue Fin. Position 54 degrees, 25.55 North. 004 degrees 33.25 West. Nature of distress. (We are taking water after collision) There are 4 persons on board. We require immediate assistance. OVER”.	“All Ships, All Ships, All Ships, This is Yacht Blue Fin, Yacht Blue Fin, Yacht Blue Fin. Position is 175 degrees True from Bishop Rock light, Range niner miles. Total engine failure, dismasted and drifting. I require urgent assistance to clear shipping. There are 3 persons on board. Colour of hull dark, upperwork white. OVER”.	“All Stations, All Stations, All Stations, This is Yacht Blue Fin, Yacht Blue Fin, Yacht Blue Fin. Large drifting container submerged. Position 51 degrees 40 minutes North, 001 degees 10 minutes West. At time 13.25 UT. Considered danger to shipping. OUT”.

MEDICAL ADVICE VIA THE HM COASTGUARD

To receive medical advice from a doctor, the skipper should first contact HM Coastguard on VHF Channel 16.
User should avoid using mobile phones, because of poor reception and the Coastguard can find your position from your VHF signal. Also the Doctor will be patched through on a duplex channel that the CG can listen in on).
Really urgent calls use the URGENCY prefix of PANPAN 3 times as below.
The CG will then transmit the necessary link call to a hospital, and make available a VHF Duplex channel to talk directly with a doctor.
The CG will ask the following. Have the information ready:

Name of vessel.
Type of vessel.
Details of patient. (Name, Gender, Nationality.)
Whether conscious and/or not talking.
Position of vessel in Longitude and Latitude.

The Doctor will ask the following:

Nearest port at which the casualty could be landed.
Weather conditions in general terms. ie. Good, Poor, or Very poor.
Might also ask for the First Aid kit list of contents.

The Doctor will brief the CG and decide whether or not the patient should be treated on board or evacuated.

Call on Channel 16 speaking clearly and carefully, say:

“PANPAN, PANPAN, PANPAN
All ships, All ships, All ships.
This is Yacht Blue Fin, Yacht Blue Fin, Yacht Blue Fin.
I require medical assistance.
OVER”.