Safety calls
What Is a Sécurité Call? VHF Safety Messages Explained
Published · Last checked October 2026
A Sécurité (pronounced 'say-cure-ee-tay') call is the lowest of the three VHF priority signals. It warns other vessels about a hazard to navigation or important weather information, such as a floating container, a buoy off station or a gale warning. You say 'Sécurité' three times on channel 16 and announce a working channel, then switch to it to give the full message. Coastguards use the same format for Maritime Safety Information broadcasts.
When to send a Sécurité
Use it when other boats need to know something for their safety but no vessel is in trouble. Common reasons:
- A floating hazard: a large log, container, unlit pontoon or lost fishing gear.
- A navigation mark missing, damaged or showing the wrong light.
- Restricted manoeuvrability that others should know about, for example towing a disabled yacht into harbour.
- Poor visibility in a busy channel where you want to announce your position and intentions.
If someone needs help, it is not a Sécurité. Use a Pan-Pan for urgency and a Mayday for distress.
How to make the call
Keep the announcement on channel 16 short, then move to an intership channel such as 6, 8, 72 or 77 for the detail.
- On channel 16: Sécurité, Sécurité, Sécurité. All stations, all stations, all stations. This is yacht *Seabird*, *Seabird*, *Seabird*. For navigational warning, listen channel 72. Out.
- Switch to channel 72.
- Sécurité, Sécurité, Sécurité. All stations (three times). This is *Seabird* (three times).
- Give the message: 'Large floating tree trunk sighted in position 50°45'N 001°18'W, drifting north-east. Out.'
A DSC safety alert can be sent before the voice announcement, but many small-craft skippers do not, and UK coastguards discourage routine DSC safety alerts from leisure craft for minor matters.
Coastguard safety broadcasts
HM Coastguard uses the Sécurité format to broadcast Maritime Safety Information: inshore waters forecasts, gale warnings, strong wind warnings and navigational warnings. They announce on channel 16 (and by DSC) and then read the broadcast on a working channel.
| Announcement | Action |
|---|---|
| 'Sécurité ... for MSI listen channel 62' | Switch to the channel named, note the forecast |
| 'Sécurité ... navigational warning' | Plot the hazard on your chart |
| Gale warning | Review your plan and shelter options |
More on forecasts in how to read the shipping forecast and on procedure in the VHF radio lesson.