Broadcast on VHF CH 70 by a person or vehicle in grave and imminent danger, requiring immediate assistance.

A Distress alert transmits the following information on VHF CH 70:

• The vessel’s MMSI
• The vessel’s position (either from an interfaced GPS or manually entered by the operator)
• The UTC time indicating the time when the latest position was updated
• The nature of Distress (it remains undesignated in case of Undesignated Distress Alert)

The vessel's position and UTC time indicating the time when the latest position was updated that are transmitted within a Distress Alert is very important information for the rescue operation. So, if VHF radio is not interfaced with GPS or automatic GPS entered position is not valid, position and time should be updated manually. The recommended minimum time period between updates is no more than 4 hours.

Practice on VHF radio simulator

1. Press Menu softkey
2. Press Posn softkey
   
3. Press Posn softkey
   
4. Enter Latitude and Longitude using keypad and N,S,E,W softkeys when available
   
5. Press E key
6. Enter UTC time (24-hour format) using keypad
   
7. Press E key

Normally broadcast to ALL STATIONS and received by all within VHF range of the station transmitting the alert.

Normally, it is expected that only a CRS will acknowledge the DSC Distress Alert by DSC and will act as the coordinator for the rescue, which would probably include other vessels in the vicinity.

Following on from the DSC Distress Alert, the station in distress will broadcast by voice on VHF CH 16 a Distress Message.

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY THIS IS (Name of the vessel in distress spoken 3 times) CALL SIGN and/or MMSI MAYDAY Name of the vessel, CALL SIGN and /or MMSI of the vessel in distress, POSITION (Vessel's position) AT (Time of vessel's position in UTC) (Type of accident) IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE REQUIRED (Number of people onboard - Other information that could help SAR services such as weather conditions, activated EPIRB etc.) OVER

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY THIS IS Sailboat Spinaker, Spinaker, Spinaker MY CALL SIGN and/or MMSI IS..... MAYDAY THIS IS Spinaker, my call sign is Sierra 5 Lima 1 2 and my MMSI IS.... POSITION 450 36' North 0130 32' East AT 0545 UTC The mast has broken and the engine is not strong enough to prevent us from grounding on a rocky shore IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE REQUIRED 5 persons on board and due to strong winds we can only remain on board for approximately two zero minutes OVER

Distress message must not begin from MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, if a Distress Call and Message were already sent. Distress message has to begin from MAYDAY in this situation.

There are three types of Distress Alert.

Undesignated Distress Alert

This is enabled by either pressing a single push button or pair of push buttons, normally covered by a protective flap, for a short period of time, usually 5 seconds.

To be used only when there is no time to compose an alert because:

• the position and time that will be transmitted is not checked and corrected to be up to date,
• the alert will not include information relating to the nature of distress (string "Undesignated" is sent).

Practice on VHF radio simulator

1. The DISTRESS button is located under a protective cover that must be slid back before the button can be pressed.
   
2. To send the call, press and hold the DISTRESS key for 5 seconds. A countdown to the transmission will be displayed. Release the key at any time during this countdown to abort the transmission.
   

Designated Distress Alert

This is enabled by programming the DSC Controller to include further information relating to the nature of distress and to update the time and position manually if necessary. The Designated Distress Alert is then broadcast by either pressing a single push button or pair of push buttons for 5 seconds after programming.

The following are internationally recognized Natures of Distress:

• Fire/Explosion
• Flooding
• Collision
• Grounding
• Listing/Capsizing
• Sinking
• Disabled & Adrift
• Abandoning
• Man overboard
• Undesignated (same as an unprepared Undesignated Distress Alert)

Practice on VHF radio simulator

1. If the position and time displayed are not up to date, you should change them following the procedure already explained above. Then you can follow with setting up a Distress Alert
2. The DISTRESS button is located under a protective cover that must be slid back before the button can be pressed
   
3. Press the DISTRESS button to access the Distress Alert screen
4. If position indicated on the display is not up to date:
   
1. press a softkey indicating position
   
1. Enter Latitude and Longitude using keypad and N,S,E,W softkeys when available
   
2. Press E key
5. If time indicated on the display is not up to date:
1. Press a softkey indicating time
   
2. Enter UTC time (24-hour format) using keypad
   
3. Press E key
6. Press the most lower softkey to scroll through natures of distress and select the most appropriate one
   
7. To send the call, press and hold the DISTRESS key for 5 seconds. A countdown to the transmission will be displayed. Release the key at any time during this countdown to abort the transmission.
   

Distress Relay

This is only broadcast when a station learns that:

• Another person/vehicle is in Distress and is unable to transmit the Distress Alert itself, for example red flares sighted at night or
  
• The person/vehicle in Distress is beyond the VHF range of a CRS, for example in GMDSS Sea Area A2, A3 or A4, and you have acknowledged his DSC Distress Alert or subsequent Distress Call and Message by voice.
  

MAYDAY RELAY, MAYDAY RELAY, MAYDAY RELAY THIS IS (MMSI of the vessel), (Name of the vessel spoken 3 times), (Call sign of the vessel) RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MAYDAY FROM (MMSI of the vessel in distress), (Name of the vessel in distress), (Call sign of the vessel in distress) MESSAGE BEGINS (message received from vessel in distress or details of the distress) MESSAGE ENDS OVER

MAYDAY RELAY, MAYDAY RELAY, MAYDAY RELAY THIS IS Ferryboat Cathrine, Cathrine, Cathrine MAYDAY 278054321, Spinaker, call sign Sierra 5 Lima 1 2 POSITION 450 36' North 0130 32' East AT 0545 UTC The mast has broken and the engine is not strong enough to prevent us from grounding on a rocky shore IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE REQUIRED 5 persons on board and due to strong winds we can only remain on board for approximately two zero minutes OVER

Reception of a Distress Alert

After the reception of a Distress Alert on VHF CH 70 a Distress Message on VHF CH 16 must be listened. Then wait for a CRS to acknowledge the call and for following voice communication on VHF CH 16. If your own vessel is able to assist, acknowledge the call by RT on VHF CH 16.

If a Distress Alert is not followed by an RT broadcast on VHF CH 16 or acknowledgment by any other station, acknowledge the call by RT on VHF CH 16 and proceed with voice communication on VHF CH 16 and try to notify the shore authorities by any means.

MAYDAY (MMSI of the vessel in distress), (Name of the vessel in distress 3 times), (Call sign of the vessel in distress) THIS IS (MMSI of the vessel), (Name of the vessel spoken 3 times), (Call sign of the vessel) RECEIVED MAYDAY

Practice on VHF radio simulator

After the reception of a Distress Alert press softkey OK to cancel ringing and to clear the display. Press softkey and for more information about Distress Alert.