Cruise Confident
How to Make a Mayday Call
In an event of imminent, life-threatening danger to your vessel, yourself, or anyone on board, immediately call in a Mayday for U.S. Coast Guard assistance. Please note that Mayday calls are exclusively permitted for situations in which there is immediate and grave danger. This may include a fire onboard, a capsized vessel, rapidly taking on water, or a medical emergency.
Mayday calls must be transmitted via marine-band VHF-FM radio Channel 16 or 156.8 MHz.
Mayday Procedure:
1. After tuning to the above radio channel, press and hold the transmit button.
2. Clearly say "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. This is vessel [your boat's name]." Repeat this 3 times.
3. After doing the above, provide a description of:
- Your vessel;
- Your exact location (use GPS coordinates if available);
- The nature of your emergency;
- The assistance you require;
- The amount of people on the board.
4. Before releasing the transmit button, clearly say "over" to indicate the end of your message.
5. Wait 30-60 seconds; If you do not receive a response, repeat your call until it is received.
6. If you are unable to signal a Mayday call using your radio or do not hear back after doing so, refer to the following alternative instructions.
How to Make a Pan-Pan Call
Pan-Pan calls may be used to indicate a vessel in an urgent but non life-threatening situation. These situations may include slow leaks or disabled engines, in which there is no immediate danger to life, but potential for the situation to worsen. Making a Pan-Pan call will prompt rescuers to begin their operations with the intent of preventing a Mayday call.
Pan-Pan calls must be transmitted via marine-band VHF-FM radio Channel 16 or 156.8 MHz.
Pan-Pan Procedure:
1. After tuning to the above radio channel, press and hold the transmit button.
2. Clearly say "Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan. This is vessel [your boat's name]." Repeat this 3 times.
3. After doing the above, provide a description of:
- Your vessel;
- Your exact location (use GPS coordinates if available);
- The nature of your situation;
- The assistance you require;
- The amount of people on the board.
4. Before releasing the transmit button, clearly say "over" to indicate the end of your message.
5. Wait 30-60 seconds; If you do not receive a response, repeat your call until it is received.
6. If you are unable to signal a Pan-Pan call using your radio or do not hear back after doing so, refer to the following alternative instructions.
Alternative Methods to Call for Assistance
If you are unable to signal a Mayday or Pan-Pan via marine-band radio, refer to the following alternative methods of signaling a vessel in distress.
By Cell Phone:
1. To signal an emergency via cell phone, refer to the appropriate Coast Guard Command Center phone number. In California, the number is (510) 437-3701. For locations outside of California, refer here.
2. Provide the Coast Guard with a description of your vessel, your exact location, the nature of your emergency, the assistance you require, and how many people are on board.