When most people think of marine electronics, the "VHF Marine Radio" is probably one of the first things that come to mind. It should also be the first item you invest in when outfitting a boat or upgrading your electronics.
You will find Marine VHF radios on board most all vessels throughout the world. From 1100’ Super Carriers to the 20’ fishing boat, the marine VHF is the work horse of marine communications. Typical uses range from getting help when you need it to getting a slip reservation at your local marina and just about everything in between.
The marine VHF is a combined transmitter and receiver, operating on standard international frequencies between 156 and 163 MHz. Each frequency or pair of frequencies is assigned to a channel so that all VHF’s have the ability to communicate easily anywhere in the world.
Safety is the primary function of the VHF Marine Radio aboard any vessel. Proper and efficient marine communications is vital to that safety and affects everyone.
Keep in mind, that if you own or use a boat, the VHF marine radio is an essential piece of safety equipment for all who venture away from the dock.
This is not the place to buy cheap, you should get the best radio available that will fit within your budget. Your life may someday depend on it.
Emergency situations are broken down into three categories; distress, urgency and safety. Any of these calls should be made on channel 16 since the the USCG as well as many other coast stations guard this frequency 24/7.
If you hear a distress call, cease all transmission. Unless you are involved in the rescue or providing assistance, no one else is allowed to transmit on the frequency. You should, however, listen and follow the situation until it is evident that assistance is being provided. Normal transmissions may resume after the Rescue Coordinator has released the frequency to routine traffic ("Silence Fini").
The recognized communications types including the three internationally recognized emergency signals used for voice communications are:
There seems to have always been some contentious discussions on the use of the MAYDAY distress signal and when its use is appropriate. To further stir up the debate, I offer the following citations from the United States Code of Federal Regulations:
The FCC states:
47 CFR 80.314 Distress signals.
(a) The international radiotelephone distress signal consists of the word MAYDAY, pronounced as the French expression ``m'aider''.
(b) These distress signals indicate that a mobile station is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requests immediate assistance. (Emphasis mine)
47 CFR 80.327 Urgency signals and messages.
(a) The urgency signal indicates that the calling station has a very urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, or the safety of a person. The urgency signal must be sent only on the authority of the master or person responsible for the mobile station. (Emphasis mine)
The Coast Guard states:
46 CFR 121.510 Recommended emergency broadcast instructions.
(a) Emergency Broadcast Instructions.
(1) Make sure your radiotelephone is on.
(2) Select 156.8 MHz (channel 16 VHF) or 2182 kHz. (Channel 16 VHF and 2182 kHz on SSB are for emergency and calling purposes only.)
(3) Press microphone button and, speaking slowly—clearly—calmly, say:
(i) “MAYDAY—MAYDAY—MAYDAY” for situations involving Immediate Danger to Life and Property; (Emphasis mine)
(ii) “PAN—PAN—PAN” for urgent situations where there is No Immediate Danger to Life or Property.
As you can see there is some conflict between the two. Since the FCC regulates the use of radios in the U.S. and the USCG regulates which vessels are required to carry them, I will side with the FCC in this argument.
The Bottom Line.... If you have lost someone over the side, no one is going to make an issue out of whether you use the correct emergency signal. Obviously the most important thing is to get the help you need to deal with the situation. And believe me, either one of these emergency calls, MAYDAY or PAN-PAN, will get you all the help that you need.
So once you have selected, purchased, and installed your radio, you need to learn how to use it properly. Read the manual, learn the controls and their functions, and practice proper radio procedure.