With that in mind, I wanted to publish the correct procedure for sending a MAYDAY call over the radio. This procedure keeps the transmission short but contains all the pertinent information necessary to facilitate emergency assistance afloat. Pay attention; this could save your life.
First of all, a MAYDAY call is only used when grave and imminent danger threatens life or property and immediate help is required. Any non-life threatening situation is handled with a PAN-PAN call. I'll cover that procedure in a later post. In the meantime, here is the procedure for a correct MAYDAY call. Speaking slowly, clearly, and calmly, use your marine radio tuned to Channel 16 to communicate the following information:
- "MAYDAY....MAYDAY....MAYDAY"
- "THIS IS (boat name)....(boat name)....(boat name)."
- "MAYDAY (boat name) POSITION IS (vessel position in degrees and minutes of latitude NORTH or SOUTH and longitude EAST or WEST, or as a distance and magnetic or true bearing from a well-known navigation landmark)."
- "WE (nature of your emergency)."
- "WE REQUIRE (type of assistance required)."
- "ON BOARD ARE (number of adults and children on board) AND (safety equipment aboard). (State conditions of any injured)."
- "(Boat name) IS A (boat length in feet) FOOT (type: sloop, sportfisherman, etc.) WITH A (hull color) HULL AND (trim color) TRIM."
- "I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL (16 or 2182)."
- "THIS IS (boat name). OVER"
Hopefully, you'll never have to use this procedure, but now at least you'll know what to do if the situation arises. Remember: its always better to be in a boat with a drink on the rocks, than in the drink with a boat on the rocks!
Be safe out there.
No comments:
Post a Comment