Procedures - distress, urgency, safety

There are three priority calls available

  • Distress (Station or person) is in grave & imminent danger using the key word MAYDAY
  • Urgency (re safety of vessel or person) using the key word PAN-PAN
  • Safety (weather and navigational warnings) using the key word SÉCURITÉ

 The Distress Signal - Mayday

The Distress Call:

  • should not be addressed to a particular coast radio station or ship; and

  • has absolute priority over all other transmissions and all coast radio stations and ships that hear this call must cease any transmissions that will interfere with it and must listen on the frequency used for this call.

    The Distress Message consists of: ( sent on distress frequencies 2182 kHz and Ch16 )

  1.  the word “MAYDAY” (spoken three times);
  2.  "THIS IS " and the name of the ship in distress (spoken three times);
  3.  the call sign or other identification;
  4.  the ship’s MMSI (if a DSC distress alert has been sent);
  5.  the word “MAYDAY” and the name of the ship in distress;
  6. the position of the ship in distress;
  7.  the nature of the distress;
  8.  the kind of assistance needed;

  9.  any other useful information which might assist the rescue; and the word “OVER”, which is an invitation to acknowledge and reply.

    The DSC Distress Alert Acknowledgement to an “All Stations” DSC Distress Alert shall normally be made by an MCTS Centre.

Ship stations may acknowledge receipt of a DSC Distress Alert by radiotelephony on the associated distress and calling frequency after an MCTS Centre has had time to initiate contact with the vessel in distress.

Urgency Communications

The DSC Urgency Announcement will automatically switch marine radios to the associated distress frequency for the subsequent transmission of the urgency signal, the urgency call and the urgency message.

The Urgency Signal consists of the words “PAN PAN”.

The Urgency Call consists of: ( sent on distress frequencies 2182 kHz and Ch16 )

  1. the words “PAN PAN” (spoken three times);
  2. the words “ALL STATIONS” or station specific call (spoken three times);
  3. the words “THIS IS” followed by;
  4. the name of the station making the call (spoken three times);
  5. the call-sign or other identification; and
  6. the ship's MMSI (if the initial Urgency announcement was sent by DSC).

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.

Safety Communications - SÉCURITÉ

The Safety Call consists of: ( sent on distress frequencies 2182 kHz and Ch16 then a working channel)

  1. the word “SÉCURITÉ” (spoken three times);
  2. the words “ALL STATIONS” (spoken three times);
  3. the words “THIS IS”, followed by;
  4. the name of the station making the call (spoken three times);
  5. the call-sign or other identification;
  6. the station's MMSI (if the initial Safety announcement was sent by DSC);
  7. a brief description of the context of the “Safety Message”;
  8. the channel or frequency for the Safety broadcast; and
  9. the word “OUT”.
  10. All stations hearing the safety signal shall shift to the working frequency indicated in the call and listen to the safety message until satisfied it does not concern them.


The safety signal indicates that the station is about to transmit an important navigational or meteorological warning. The safety message should be sent on a working frequency, which is announced at the end of the call.

The safety call is transmitted on the distress frequencies 2182 kHz and Ch16 (156.800 MHz). If transmission on these frequencies is impossible, any other available frequency on which attention might be attracted shall be used.

A ship station which receives an “All Stations” DSC Safety Announcement shall not acknowledge receipt.

All stations hearing the safety signal shall shift to the working frequency indicated in the call and listen to the safety message until satisfied it does not concern them.

Early Notification of Search and Rescue Authorities of Developing Situations

In the interest of ensuring the highest level of safety, mariners should immediately notify the Canadian Coast Guard, through any MCTS Centre of any situation which is or may be developing into a more serious situation requiring assistance from the Search and Rescue (SAR) System. The need for the earliest possible alerting of SAR Authorities to potential maritime emergencies cannot be over-emphasized.

This notification allows SAR authorities to carry out preliminary and contingency planning that could make a critical difference if the situation worsens. Time lost in the initial stages of a SAR mission may be crucial to its eventual outcome.

It is always best to consider the worst-case scenario and to alert SAR authorities accordingly. This notification places no obligations upon the master except to advise the CCG when the situation has been corrected.

Quick reference booklet

This booklet summarizes the procedures to make mayday, mayday relay, urgency, safety and other calls on the radio.

Download a copy of the QUICK REFERENCE booklet

Below is the Transport Canada poster detailing the procedures to use in a distress or safety situation. This may be posted  as a reminder, and can help anyone not familiar with the procedures to initiate a distress or safety call as needed.

Transport Canada poster detailing the procedures to use in a distress or safety situation