Marine Radio in Tasmania

Distress, Urgency and Safety

Radio Distress Procedure

MAYDAY – When the vessel or those aboard are in grave and imminent danger. (For an injured or sick person or a person overboard use the Urgency call by substituting the word Mayday for PAN PAN).

• Ensure that the VHF is on channel 16 and set at 25 watts high power or if using a MF/HF radio select 2182 kHz or other appropriate distress frequency.

The Distress call is:

• MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
• THIS IS (Repeat the vessel’s name three times)
• MAYDAY (Vessel name spoken once)
  
• MY POSITION IS (Latitude and Longitude or True bearing and Distance from a charted feature)
• NATURE OF DISTRESS e.g. sinking, on fire, etc
• I REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
• NUMBER OF PERSONS ON BOARD and
• OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
• OVER

Release the transmit button and wait for acknowledgement.
Keep listening on channel 16 for instructions.
If an acknowledgement is not received repeat the distress call.

Other Useful Information

To assist a search and rescue provide any other information that could be useful. The information might include the following:

• Give your immediate plans
• Description of vessel
• What safety equipment is on board
• Sea state and wind conditions
• If underway give boat speed and course heading (true)
• Planned destination.

MF/HF Radio Distress Frequencies

•   2182 kHz
•   4125 kHz
•   6215 kHz
•   8291 kHz
• 12290 kHz
• 16420 kHz