User's Manual

8 APPENDIX
8.1 Operating procedures
The following operating procedure summary has been pro-
posed by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. It is not
exhaustive and should not be regarded as a replacement for
information provided by the proper two day VHF/DSC train-
ing course required for all VHF license holders.
8.1.1 Sending a distress alert
1. Send a distress alert call (see section 2.7)
2. Wait approx 15 seconds for a DSC acknowledgement from
the Coastguard or a ship station.
3. On receipt of a DSC acknowledgement or after about 15
seconds, transmit the Distress call on channel 16 -
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”
“This is (name of vessel repeated three times)
“Mayday”
MMSI number and name of vessel or callsign, spoken once
Position
Nature of distress
If the vessel is not in “grave and imminent danger”, an All
Ships Urgency call followed by a spoken “Pan Pan” call or a
routine call to the nearest coastguard station may be more
appropriate. It is a prosecutable offense to initiate a Distress
Alert call for any other reason than that the vessel and/or crew
is in imminent danger.
8.1.2 Acknowledging and relaying a
distress alert
When a DSC distress alert is received, an audible alarm will
sound. Immediately cease any transmission that may interfere
with distress traffic and continue a watch on channel 16.
If there is no DSC acknowledgement from a coast station or
ship, after a short interval acknowledge by voice on channel 16 -
“Mayday (MMSI of vessel in distress repeated three times)”
“This is (name of own vessel, repeated three times)”
“Received Mayday”
(State the assistance you can give).
A similar response should be given to a distress relay, using the
words “Mayday Relay” instead of “Mayday”.
Instruction Manual
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Part No. E04297