In short
If your boat or someone on it is in grave and imminent danger and you need help now, send a Mayday. Press the DSC distress button first if your radio has one. Then on channel 16 say "Mayday" three times, "this is" and your boat's name three times, and your call sign and MMSI. Follow with the Mayday message: your position, what's wrong, the help you need, how many people are on board and anything else useful. End with "over" and listen.
When to use Mayday
Mayday is for grave and imminent danger to a vessel or a person, when you need immediate help. A fire you can't control, a boat that's sinking, someone in the water you can't recover, or a medical emergency where a life is at risk all qualify.
If you need help but nobody is in immediate danger, such as an engine failure with time to anchor, use Pan-Pan instead.
Step by step
- Send a DSC distress alert. Lift the red cover, choose the nature of distress if there's time, then hold the button until the radio confirms the alert has gone. The radio switches to channel 16 ready for your voice call.
- Make the Mayday call on channel 16. “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. This is” your boat's name three times, then your call sign and MMSI.
- Give the Mayday message. “Mayday”, your boat's name, call sign and MMSI, then your position, the nature of distress, the help you need, the number of people on board and any other useful information. End with “over”.
- Listen. The Coastguard will acknowledge and ask questions. Stay on channel 16 and answer clearly.
An example Mayday
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.
This is Serenity, Serenity, Serenity.
Call sign Mike Sierra Romeo November Four, MMSI 235 000 123.
Mayday Serenity, call sign Mike Sierra Romeo November Four, MMSI 235 000 123.
My position one mile north-east of Cowes.
Fire in the engine room, not under control.
Require immediate assistance.
Four persons on board.
Ten-metre white sailing yacht, preparing to abandon to the liferaft.
Over.
Serenity, its call sign and its MMSI are fictional.
MIPDANIO: a way to remember the message
| Letter | Stands for | What you say |
|---|---|---|
| M | Mayday | “Mayday” |
| I | Identity | Boat's name, call sign and MMSI |
| P | Position | Latitude and longitude, or a bearing and distance from a known point |
| D | Distress | What's wrong |
| A | Assistance | The help you need |
| N | Number | How many people are on board |
| I | Information | Anything else that helps rescuers find and help you |
| O | Over | “Over” |
If you send an alert by mistake
Cancel it straight away. Use the radio's cancel function if it has one. Then on channel 16 say “All stations” three times, “this is” your boat's name, call sign and MMSI, and “cancel my distress alert of” the date and time in UTC, then “over”.
Practise it
In HelmHalo's Mayday: engine-room fire scenario you send the DSC alert, make the call and handle the Coastguard's questions. It's included in Monthly and Annual.
Questions
Mayday or Pan-Pan?
Mayday when there's grave and imminent danger and you need help now. Pan-Pan when the situation is urgent but nobody's life is at immediate risk.
What if nobody answers?
Repeat the call. If you still hear nothing, use any other way you have of calling for help, such as a phone: call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
This guide is a training aid. In a real emergency, follow your radio's instructions and the Coastguard's directions.