Changes to Mayday call

[Solent Ranger]

From April this year the Mayday call procedure has changed. You are now required to say both your MMSI number and your call sign twice. Most find it difficult to remember all the elements so you can download a copy of the new call procedure in A5 format. Better to know that not to know!

VHF Radio Course | VHF Operators Licence | Southampton | Hampshire

[GJ0KYZ]

That seems to be asking a lot of the caller; I doubt I would remain suffiently composed for such a detailed over.

[Max...]

Presuming you have DSC and therfore an MMSI number that is...

I did the VHF course a year ago and I'm sure we were told to quote the MMSI then.

[thomas]

If I ever need to make a mayday call the only important thing to me will be my position and happy to get a good ticking off afterwards for using the wrong practice.

[tim griffin]

Originally Posted by Max...

Presuming you have DSC and therfore an MMSI number that is...

I did the VHF course a year ago and I'm sure we were told to quote the MMSI then.

If you dont have a MMSI then quote your International Call sign it comes with your licence .
If you do have a MMSI you now insert your International Call sign as well as your MMSI .

Tim

[Solent Ranger]

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

That seems to be asking a lot of the caller; I doubt I would remain suffiently composed for such a detailed over.

As it happens I agree with you, but that is not the point. It is why I I produced the card. I suggest you download it (or make up your own version) and laminate it to put on the console or by the radio. All those who do a VHF course with us get a laminated card copy and are encouraged to fill in their details. It is much easier when in a stress situation of you can simply read something that is right by the radio and know the details are correct and what the right format should be.

The MCA produce a version that is on sticky backed paper, but in my experience the stuff comes away after a while and also the Mayday call itself is very small and when the proverbial hits the fan, trying to read small wording is not ideal in my opinion. I can do the call without reference, but that is only because I teach it.

I ran this passed a senior radio instructor - one who actually teaches the VHF instructor courses for the MCA/RYA - and he said it was much better than the MCA version.

I don't expect anybody to be able to remember the correct call protocol after the course or for that matter in it, so having something that ca ease the stress is worthwhile and you hope you never have to use it. Same as yiu hope the only time you ever hit the red button (if you have a DSC set!) is during your course.

[boristhebold]

Ive printed my MMSI Number and Call Sign onto a sticky label strip and stuck it onto my console, as I would not remember them in an emergency.

[Solent Ranger]

Originally Posted by boristhebold

Ive printed my MMSI Number and Call Sign onto a sticky label strip and stuck it onto my console, as I would not remember them in an emergency.

I have done the same, but I'm having laminated cards printed which will go on the console. The old MCA one is a) now out of date and b) all faded due to wind, rain and sun!

Every student who does a course with me will get a copy to take away as part of the course.

[tim griffin]

Originally Posted by Solent Ranger

The old MCA one is now out of date

As are most of the books on the subject .

Its a good idea to have laminated copies of the following calls
Mayday
Pan Pan
Mayday Relay
Safety
In your Navbag or to hand so that , if a worse case scenario occurs then you or your crew can make the appropriate call.
Something we and I am sure other schools do.
Tim

[jyasaki]

If you've got a DSC capable VHF (and an MMSI number to go along with it), why not just hit the distress button and save yourself a couple of minutes of trying to speak everything clearly into the mic? Responders will contact you on the working channel, they'll have your MMSI, vessel name and registration info (and position, if connected to the GPS), and you can get on with dealing with the emergency at hand.

Or am I missing something in the discussion?

jky

[SPR]

The red button is digital only! why restrict yourself to DSC equipped vessels , they could be a boat with handheld VHF 2 mins away....

But press the Red button is a good start, followed up with voice call to re enforce the message and for non-DSC vessels...

if you get it wrong, the Coastguard will guide you through any thing you missed...

Proper voice procedures ensure, message is understood by a non-English speaker.

once our local station closes - I will need to deal with aberdeen coasties - where English is second language!

Fit likely Min, over!

S.

[chris.moody]

Originally Posted by Solent Ranger

From April this year the Mayday call procedure has changed. You are now required to say both your MMSI number and your call sign twice. Most find it difficult to remember all the elements so you can download a copy of the new call procedure in A5 format. Better to know that not to know!

VHF Radio Course | VHF Operators Licence | Southampton | Hampshire

Solent Ranger - Thanks for the crib sheet. I am going to laminate it and fix it next to our radio.

[SeaSkills]

Originally Posted by thomas

If I ever need to make a mayday call the only important thing to me will be my position and happy to get a good ticking off afterwards for using the wrong practice.

Sorry, but that's just sloppy.

If you're ever in a position when you need to make a Mayday call (ie grave and imminent danger), I suggest you should do everything you can to help people rescue you.

It isn't hard. There is plenty of good advice coming out of this thread. If your life is at stake (and the lives of other people who are out in the boat with you) - why wouldn't you want to give them the best chance of survival?

[captnjack]

Originally Posted by SeaSkills

Sorry, but that's just sloppy.

If you're ever in a position when you need to make a Mayday call (ie grave and imminent danger), I suggest you should do everything you can to help people rescue you.

It isn't hard. There is plenty of good advice coming out of this thread. If your life is at stake (and the lives of other people who are out in the boat with you) - why wouldn't you want to give them the best chance of survival?

You are getting this backwards. The most important element to summon help by any means possible as the ship is on fire or sinking. (Otherwise it should have been a Pan-pan)

The MMSI is gravy. Nice to add if you can in ideal circumstances but in many cases not likely to add much to the efforts to find and extract you and your passengers. The MMSI is a string of numbers which could with iffy communications be misunderstood as position information. When in doubt Lat/long takes precedence over MMSI.

In this country our own Coast Guard only got universal digital capacity in the past couple years. In many countries it doesn't yet exist on the ground. So emphasizing the MMSI is misplaced IMHO. I would also add that most recreational vessels in this country don't even have call signs either. The requirement to get one for domestic voyages was relaxed many years ago.

[ashbypower]

Ok so mayday is ONLY for fire or sinking!! I think NOT sorry but you are very wrong there

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by boristhebold

Ive printed my MMSI Number and Call Sign onto a sticky label strip and stuck it onto my console, as I would not remember them in an emergency.

I also have an engraved plastic lable stuck to my consol right underneath my VHF

[Steve_B]

There is a very good pre-preparedMayday/Pan Pan sticker that can be completed with the vessel information, inside the Safety at Sea booklet, which can normally be picked up for free at Chandlers, RNLI stations and boat clubs.
It is best to laminate it to help it last

[chris.moody]

I would do an immediate mayday for MOB with the current sea temperature if on my sailing yacht BEFORE going back to pick up the casualty. If on a rib where recovery from the water is easier I would still consider issuing the mayday call.

Mayday is not just for sinking or fire.

[Solent Ranger]

Originally Posted by chris.moody

Solent Ranger - Thanks for the crib sheet. I am going to laminate it and fix it next to our radio.

Thanks for the comment, if you wait a bit I'm having the pdf adapted so you can type in your own details and then laminate it. This follows requests from some other people. I'll advise when it is up and running.

[captnjack]

Nope

MOB is not necessarily a Mayday as there is no presumption of "grave and imminent danger". It might be, but fire, explosion, or sinking are de facto mayday calls. These are listed as examples in the radio rules.

Pan Pan is used for urgency which MOB clearly is, even if it may or may not be grave and imminently dangerous. Pan Pan examples cited in radio rules include medical emergencies and such. MOB would be more typically characterized in this category, although sometimes a Mayday when you can't get them aboard or they are out of sight. Remember a Pan Pan is an urgent call for assistance afterall too.

I have a "MOB" every time I go out since 99% of the time we're going scuba diving.