Mayday & Pan-Pan card cheat sheet

1. DSC distress alert

1. Lift the cover over the red DISTRESS button.
2. If there is time, choose the nature of distress (sinking, fire, man overboard…).
3. Press and hold the button for about 5 seconds until the alert is sent.
4. Wait about 15 seconds for an acknowledgement, then make the voice call on channel 16.

2. MAYDAY voice call, channel 16, high power

1. MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
2. THIS IS [boat name × 3], [call sign], [MMSI]
3. MAYDAY [boat name], [call sign], [MMSI]
4. MY POSITION IS [lat/long, or bearing and distance from a charted point]
5. [Nature of distress: sinking, on fire, man overboard…]
6. I REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
7. [Number] PERSONS ON BOARD
8. [Other useful information: abandoning to liferaft, EPIRB activated…]
9. OVER

Mayday = grave and imminent danger to a vessel or person. If no reply, repeat. Leave the radio on channel 16.

PAN-PAN (urgency)

PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, ALL STATIONS × 3, THIS IS [boat name × 3], [call sign], [MMSI], MY POSITION IS…, [nature of the problem], [assistance required], [number] PERSONS ON BOARD, OVER

Pan-Pan = urgent, but not grave and imminent danger: e.g. engine failure near rocks, a crew member needing medical advice.