Do You Know How to Make a Distress Call?

It’s essential to understand safety protocols in the event of an emergency on the water.

Knowing how to make a ‘Mayday’ or distress call is as important as any other safety training or skill. In the event of a serious on-water emergency, it’s critical to keep a cool head and ensure that you and your crew are rescued as quickly as possible, according to Norm Dyck, the former Chair of the Canadian Power Squadrons - Maritime Radio Course - and a long-standing member of the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM–SAR).

According to Dyck, who is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and a former member of Transport Canada's Pacific Regional Recreational Boating Advisory Council, it’s important to know how to make a distress call in an emergency and understand boating safety.

“I’m fortunate that I have never needed to make a distress call in more than 70 years on the water,” says Dyck. “If vessel maintenance is a high priority and you enroll in boating safety courses and take necessary precautions, it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself in a serious situation on the water.”

Before Leaving the Dock

Reviewing safety and emergency procedures with everyone on board is important before departing for any boating trip and it’s pertinent to:

  • Show passengers where to find flares and other safety equipment. All gear should be easily accessible and everyone should wear a life jacket while on the water, especially during adverse weather.
  • Explain to your crew how to make a radio distress call. Step-by-step instructions should also be posted near the VHF radio.
  • Check your supply of flares and ensure there is the correct amount and they are up to date. You should have both red and smoke (visible in daylight) flares.

If an emergency arises on the water remember to:

  • Stay calm
  • Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket.
  • Assess the situation to determine the nature of the distress call.
  • Pump or bail if your boat is taking on water.

Making a Distress Call

When you need to make a distress call, it will transmit to all of the vessels in the area including the Canadian Coast Guard, which will respond and rebroadcast the call to dispatch other boaters in the area to help.

When using VHF/DSC radios (Very High Frequency/Digital Select Calling) push the automatic red “DISTRESS” button or manually transmit the call on channel 16. If your radio is connected to a GPS, it will automatically transmit the position of your vessel. All boats equipped with a VHF/DSC radio will receive an alarm signal.

MAYDAY

If you experience a dire emergency including a fire or explosion, an immediate or imminent life-threatening injury, a serious illness, man overboard or you feel you may lose your vessel, be sure to adhere to the following procedures:

  • Call Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
  • Report the name of the boat three times and Ship Station License call sign.
  • Repeat Mayday and the name of the vessel.
  • Explain your latitude and longitude or the distance and bearing from a landmark.
  • Describe the emergency.
  • Outline the nature of assistance needed.
  • Report the number of people on board, age and condition -  if relevant.
  • Repeat your vessel’s name, its length, model type (sail or power), boat design, and hull/trim colour.
  • Repeat, if there is no response after a few moments.
  • If you are calling for another vessel in distress, say ‘Mayday Relay’ and provide the name of the vessel and its position.

For urgent, non-life-threatening situations such as an injury or damage to your vessel announce Pan Pan! Pan Pan! Pan Pan! over the VHF and repeat the above steps as needed.

If you receive a safety or hazard message for other vessels such as a navigation concern or extreme weather warning, say Sécurité (Say-cure-i-TAY) three times and repeat the format as needed.

When you no longer require emergency assistance for your vessel, cancel the May Day call by:

  • Announcing May Day
  • All Stations, All Stations, All Stations.
  • Relay the name of your boat and call sign
  • Explain the time.
  • Announce ‘Seelonce Feenee’ (Silence Fini) to cancel the May Day call.
  • Out

It’s also important to remember:

  • Not to rely on a cell phone to make a distress call since it will not be heard by other vessels.
  • When you hear a distress call, keep Channel 16 clear until the incident is resolved.
  • A Radio Operator’s Certificate (ROC-M) is available after taking an Industry Canada-designated course from Canadian Power and Sails Squadron, which is mandatory to operate a marine radio.

What to do When you Hear a Mayday call

A distress call triggers an alarm on your VHF/DSC radio and automatically switches to Channel 16. It displays the calling station’s MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity number), latitude, longitude and time of the call. When you hear a distress call be sure to:

  • Write down all the information to ensure you have all of the details.
  • Call the Coast Guard with a ‘Mayday Relay’ (only if you don’t hear a response from Coast Guard within two minutes).
  • Stand by and follow any Canadian Coast Guard instructions and assist if possible.

Knowing how to make a distress call and understanding boating safety procedures will help you and your crew overcome a serious emergency on the water. Recreational boating is a wonderful pastime, and being extra diligent will just ensure enjoyment throughout the boating season.

Facts About Distress Calls

  • ‘Mayday’ is used internationally to signal life-threatening distress situations and comes from the French term ‘Venez m'aider,’ which means ‘come help me.’
  • ‘Pan’ comes from the French term ‘panne,’ which translates to mechanical breakdown and is a backronym for ‘possible assistance needed’ or ‘pay attention now.’
  • The CPS and the CCG offer free, voluntary boat safety inspections that take as little as 15 minutes.

Article courtesy of the Boating BC Association. For more details on boating safety be sure to visit www.boatingbc.ca or www.cps-ecp.ca