MAkING A
MAYDAY CALL
If your boat or any person onboard is in traditional distress calling procedure is
distress and requires immediate assistance, changing. Modern VHF sets are capable
make a mayday broadcast. of non-voice digital selective calling (DSC),
Please see the emergency procedures stickers
which automates calls by using a special
with this booklet and keep them next to your
channel to send and receive information
radio onboard.
digitally. Make sure each crew member knows
how to operate the DSC distress button.
VHF radio allows you to call the Coastguard
and alert other vessels to the nature of your
In an emergency the most important thing to
problem and where you are. State your
do is to raise the alarm. It is possible to use a
position as either latitude and longitude or
mobile phone but this is a poor substitute for
a distance and bearing from a known feature.
a VHF radio because:
With the introduction of the global maritime
• mobile phone networks may offer poor
distress and safety system (GMDSS), the
coverage at sea
• you can only ring one number on a mobile.
With a radio everyone hears your call for
help. There could be a vessel a few miles
away that hears you on the radio and could
reach you in minutes
• lifeboats and helicopters cannot home in to
the signal of a mobile phone. With a radio
they can, and will, find you more quickly.
know your drills for survival at sea Orange smoke flares are for Making a mayday call
daytime use
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