Sailing know-how / Weather & safety / Distress and radio
Distress and radio
An emergency at sea is rare, but then everyone on board must know where the safety gear is and how to call for help. We go through it on the first day of the trip.
Safety equipment
- Lifejackets for everyone, with harness and light.
- Liferaft at the stern or in a locker, with painter.
- Flares: red hand flares, smoke signal, parachute rocket.
- Fire extinguishers and a fire blanket in the galley.
- Bilge pump (electric and manual), plus wooden bungs for seacocks.
- First-aid kit and seasickness remedies.
Distress call on VHF
Distress calls go out on channel 16 or with the DSC button on the radio, which sends your position automatically. The wording:
- "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY"
- "This is" boat name three times, call sign, MMSI
- "MAYDAY" boat name, position
- Nature of the emergency and help needed
- Number of people on board, any other information
- "Over"
PAN PAN is for urgent situations without immediate danger to life, such as a broken rudder. SÉCURITÉ introduces safety messages such as weather warnings.
Emergency numbers
- Across Europe
- 112
- Croatia
- 195 (MRCC Rijeka)
- France
- 196 (CROSS)
- Spain
- 900 202 202 (Salvamento Marítimo)
- Netherlands
- 112 or the Coastguard on channel 16
Important
To operate a VHF radio you need a licence such as the SRC (Short Range Certificate). In a real emergency, however, anyone may send a distress call.