Dealing with Emergencies: A Guide to Mayday Calls and Distress Signals at Sea

Being out on the water is one of life’s great pleasures, but it can quickly turn serious when things go awry. Whether you’re cruising the Solent, fishing off the Cornish coast, or sailing across the Channel, knowing how to respond in an emergency is essential. This guide explores Mayday Calls and Distress Signals and explains how to make a proper call, the importance of distress signals, and the gear every boater should carry to ensure the best chance of rescue.

What Is a Mayday Call?

A Mayday call is the most urgent distress message in marine radio communication. It’s used only in life-threatening situations when you or your vessel are in grave and imminent danger, such as:

• Your boat is sinking or has capsized
• There’s a fire aboard
• Someone has gone overboard
• A serious injury or medical emergency has occurred
• You’ve collided or run aground in hazardous conditions

Misusing a Mayday is not only irresponsible, but also a criminal offence under maritime law, as it can delay real rescues. Always be certain that lives are truly at risk before making the call.

How to Make a Mayday Call

Use your VHF marine radio on Channel 16, which is monitored continuously by HM Coastguard and other vessels in your vicinity.

Format for a Mayday Call:

1. Say “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”
2. State the name of your vessel three times
3. Give your position (preferably latitude/longitude or a bearing from a known point)
4. State the nature of the emergency
5. Say how many people are on board
6. Include any other vital details, such as injuries or description of the vessel
7. End the call with “Over”, then stand by for a response

Recognized Distress Signals

If your radio fails or you need to reinforce your call for help, there are several internationally recognised distress signals that can be used, both visual and audible.

Visual Distress Signals:

Daylight:

• Distress flag (orange with a black square over a black circle)
• Orange smoke flares
• Signal mirror to reflect sunlight

Night-time:

• Electronic Visual Distress Signal Devices (eVDSD)
• Red rocket flares or parachute flares
• Red handheld flares

Audible & Other Signals:

• Repeatedly waving your arms slowly up and down
• Sound signals: prolonged blasts on a foghorn or bell
• SOS in Morse code: … — … via light or sound
• Dye markers in the water (visible from the air)

Modern technology has significantly increased the chances of swift rescue in an emergency. A comprehensive listing of emergency technology that every boater should consider is as follows:

EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons)

• Sends a distress signal and GPS location via satellite to search and rescue authorities.
• Required for certain offshore voyages and highly recommended for longer passages.

AIS MOB Devices

Personal beacons that activate automatically or semi-automatically if a crew member goes overboard, transmitting their position to nearby AIS-equipped vessels.

DSC VHF Radios

Radios with Digital Selective Calling can send a distress alert at the touch of a button (if connected to a GPS). This transmits your position and vessel information to the Coastguard and nearby vessels.

PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons)

Similar to EPIRBs, but registered to an individual, not a boat. Excellent for solo sailors or crew members working at height or on deck.

No one ever sets out thinking they necessarily need to be well versed on the topic of mayday calls and distress signals, but if you’re prepared, equipped, and know the correct procedures, you’ll vastly improve your chances of a positive outcome in an emergency. Whether you’re venturing just offshore or crossing the North Sea, ensuring a thorough understanding of mayday calls and distress signals, and thereby having the ability to communicate distress properly, is part of being a responsible skipper or crew member. Safety at sea begins with preparation and ends with communication. So keep your radio close and your wits about you.