Mayday procedure form

[WayneS]

Anybody know where I can get an electronic copy of the Mayday procedure form that is given out at the Radio Ops courses.

I would like to prepare something decent that I can laminate up and keep next to the VHF.

Have searched RYA and MCGA sites with no joy.

Thanks in advance

W

 

[duncan]

why not just type one out specifically for your vessel and reference your call sign and mmsi numbers on the flip side for reference too?

If you are concerned over the accuracy of the message format try it here first and I will bet the thread runs over 100 (despite there being only 1 'right' answer!)

Of the top of my head it's something like

M M M
this is yacht X (include MMSI number and callsign if appropriate)
M X
we are at position.......(give lat long and a general indication)
we require immediate assistance
.........persons on board
any other info on problem or relevant to problem
over

but I expect I have it in the wrong order and have missed something!

 

[Colin_S]

Google this - mayday call procedure - then take your pick.
Duncan, you missed 3x your callsign.

 

[fisherman]

Yes, that's what I did, but it won't download. I made a word document with the exact mayday script, but with instructions for someone as if using radio for the first time, so basic stuff like turn to 16, press transmit button, let go transmit button etc.

 

[tcm]

I hope people are aware that the official procedure comes down to us from big ships and tap-tap-tappity days and where the ship's radio operator is a full time job. I mean, in a real live emergency on a small boat one might easily have 6 things to do that are urgent, some involving saving lives immediately and if a boat is sinking under you there is precious little time. Loud and clear on Ch16 "Mayday just west of the Needles" is all they need and they *will* come, say the CG guys.

In other words, if your boat is called "Sultry Temptress of St Peter Port" then saying that three times might take up rather a lot of time in some emergencies when you neeed as many hands/eyes as possible.

But of course, good to have a proper laminated sheet.

I'm not saying it should be done badly but I was just making the point that (contrary to what it feels like on some courses) they DON'T say "Aha! Wrong actually - you only repeated it all TWO times! But how many times does it say in the almanac or on a course, hm? That's right, three times. Not two like you just did. Haven't you got a laminated sheet to read it from, hm? Very poor. Now, if you'd had laminated sheet well then you KNOW what the correct procedure is and be able to do it properly, see, and helicopter could be on it's way already, couldn't it, hm? But it isn't, and all because you haven't said it right, or forgotten it, and no nice laminated sheet either, tsk. So, let's have it again, and THIS time saying the boat name THREE times AND with the bearing bit as well so you should say Needles Lighthouse 270 degrees quarter of a mile, for example, cos "just west of the Needles" isn't the correct syntax and procedure either is it, see? Oh and also i will need you to phonetic spell Sultry Temptress Of St Peter Port, *IF* it's not too much trouble... Over. "

 

[Malcb]

[ QUOTE ]
if your boat is called "Sultry Temptress of St Peter Port"

[/ QUOTE ]
and good luck if the CG ask you to spell it.

 

[Gin]

If you register a CG66, with the MCA you will receive a pack of literature amongst which is a plasticised self adhesive pre-printed Distress procedure aide memoire with provision to add your own call-sign and MMSI- all free!

 

[Vara]

Couldn't agree more.
I've always thought the order of the Mayday is a bit odd,and that the words mayday and posn of vessel should be the first bits of info passed,that gives them something concrete to work on,the rest of the information could be filled in later if possible.

 

[Guest]

Any old PBO Almanac cover had it inside ... in thick card cover form as well .... I threw away most dated bits of my last almanac ... kept the tidal streams, and other data that is not year dependent along with Mayday card, lights etc. They then had clear sticky plastic over and hole punched in corner ... ready for chinagraph pencil.

 

[Solitaire]

[ QUOTE ]
Duncan, you missed 3x your callsign.

[/ QUOTE ]

No he didn't. It's not required to repeat call sign 3 times. If you send distress alert by DSC it's not necessary to even use the call sign, but use the MMSI number as this is what will have been tx'd.

Base call:

Mayday Mayday Mayday
Vessel name x 3
Mayday - vessel name
MMSI number or call sign if not DSC
Position
Nature of distress
I REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
Number of persons on board
Other information - eg. size and colour of vessel
OVER

 

[Vulcan]

The Mayday format can be remembered by the acronym MIRPDANIO (not the easiest!) and is for emergency assistance. TRANSMIT on Channel 16

Mayday x3
Identity
Repeat
Position
Distress type
Assistance
Number of people
Information extra
Over

For Example

• Mayday, Mayday, Mayday

• This is motor cruiser xxxx, xxxx, xxxx

• Mayday, motor cruiser xxxx

• Position: use GPS (for example: 43° 07.321’ North, 006° 21.809’ East)
or compass and approximate (for example: 1km South of Cap Negre)

• I have an uncontrollable engine fire

• I require immediate assistance

• I have 4 persons onboard

• We are abandoning to lifejackets

• Over

Wait for ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and REPEAT as necessary

Hey, hope you never need to use it!

 

[Freebee]

There is someone offering to laminate you one up on ebay!!

 

[jonathankent]

Sounds like a good idea for MCA/CG to provide the correct procedure - as they want it I suppose. I registered CG66, but didn't receive the literature though, and was going to put my own homemade sheet by the radio, that way hopefully a novice would just simply be able to read most of it, names, MMSI, etc, of course exact position would require some knowledge but as the skipper that would be your responsibility to make sure the crew would know what to do (safety brief).

 

[Swagman]

[ QUOTE ]
I hope people are aware that the official procedure comes down to us from big ships and tap-tap-tappity days and where the ship's radio operator is a full time job. I mean, in a real live emergency on a small boat one might easily have 6 things to do that are urgent, some involving saving lives immediately and if a boat is sinking under you there is precious little time. Loud and clear on Ch16 "Mayday just west of the Needles" is all they need and they *will* come, say the CG guys.

In other words, if your boat is called "Sultry Temptress of St Peter Port" then saying that three times might take up rather a lot of time in some emergencies when you neeed as many hands/eyes as possible.

But of course, good to have a proper laminated sheet.

I'm not saying it should be done badly but I was just making the point that (contrary to what it feels like on some courses) they DON'T say "Aha! Wrong actually - you only repeated it all TWO times! But how many times does it say in the almanac or on a course, hm? That's right, three times. Not two like you just did. Haven't you got a laminated sheet to read it from, hm? Very poor. Now, if you'd had laminated sheet well then you KNOW what the correct procedure is and be able to do it properly, see, and helicopter could be on it's way already, couldn't it, hm? But it isn't, and all because you haven't said it right, or forgotten it, and no nice laminated sheet either, tsk. So, let's have it again, and THIS time saying the boat name THREE times AND with the bearing bit as well so you should say Needles Lighthouse 270 degrees quarter of a mile, for example, cos "just west of the Needles" isn't the correct syntax and procedure either is it, see? Oh and also i will need you to phonetic spell Sultry Temptress Of St Peter Port, *IF* it's not too much trouble... Over. "

[/ QUOTE ]

With respect - I think this advice above is not just wrong - it is positively dangerous.

Don't you think if giving a one line non repeated message is best - then that is what the authorities would ask us to do?

The fact is they don't and for a couple of really good reasons you've failed to grasp.

1. Neither HF and VHF radio reception is guaranteed. By repeating each line three times, it maximises the chance of the message getting through to someone.

2. The message may only be heard by one person who just maybe doing something other than listening with pen poised. By repeating each line three times it allows a recipient to collect the message accurately.

Follow the daft advice given above and you just imagine what the recipient possibly said when you rushed back on deck after your one liner about the Needles.........

'Eh Bert - did you 'ere that?' 'Did 'e say Mayday or maybe?' 'Was it just west of the Needles, or were the Needles just west of him?'
'Aw - anyway it can't have been urgent - he's gorn now and hung up - so let's get back to to the fishing!'

Joking apart - when we are talking safety messages I'd suggest it's best to follow the correct procedures and not listen to alternative advice - however well meant it is.

If its wrong - it could get you killed.

JOHN

 

[boguing]

[ QUOTE ]
'Was it just west of the Needles, or were the Needles just west of him?'

[/ QUOTE ]

Wouldn't be on Channel 16 if he was East of the Needles - would be on an aircraft frequency surely?

 

[bilbobaggins]

The 'Emergency Radio Procedures' are structured deliberately, and for very good reasons, into the format that international opinion agrees is best suited to clarity of reception - and to effective response from the organisations resourced to be of assistance. It is arrogant, imprudent, and potentially life-shortening for know-it-alls to cobble together a DIY version.

The procedures give consideration to the reality that someone receiving/hearing a Distress Message may not have English as his first language ( Malay, Korean, Spanish... ) and depends on a known protocol for comprehension. It also allows for the multiple distortions of a received/heard message - including the howling of wind, the shrieking of crew, the rattle and roar of an engine, the thrash of sails and rigging - all of which your microphone will pick up and transmit. Those are primary reasons for the repetition.

As for content, if it is appropriate to rank the sections, the most vital parts are:

Mayday, mayday, mayday
My position is "true bearing FROM a prominent point"
I require immediate assistance

The format of the position info is *critical* to swift and effective assistance. Note the word 'FROM'..........
It is all too easy for the untrained and unthinking to give a reciprocal, which could ( and frequently does ) have the despatched lifeboat and S&R helo searching 20-30 miles away from the scene.

As for the laminated card, the MCA produce exactly what you require, and are only too happy to post you one or more. Phone 'em up - or visit them at any boat show - or ask the RNLI, who also are keen to distribute these. Ask for the 'Safety On The Sea - GMDSS Guidelines' booklet, with the Emergency Radio Procedures card tucked into the back.

 

[tsmyth]

It strikes me as rather sperfluous to include "I require immediate assistance". Presumably if the vessel is sinking, on fire, etc., I do.

Ray

 

[boguing]

But I think you've confirmed tcm's point. name of vessel, call sign/imsi etc.. are not desparately important in a genuine 'oh sh*t' situation.

Clear spoken English is tantamount (in UK waters).

Mayday repeated, position are the critical elements. The rest can go later when and if communication is established.

The important point is that a clear dialogue is established. When I did my (pre dsc) VHF exam I couldn't believe how many people on the course couldn't hold a conversation when told it was a Mayday.

I think that when these 'prescribed' dialogues were written vhf was pretty much in it's infancy.

 

[tcm]

WRONG, Swagman

No, my info is direct from CG. And you seem inexp in these matters in real life, i think?

The info i gave was from CG aftermath of the Fairview yacht chrtered by Met Police in 1997 ish which did actually make a call and said "is any one there? No?" but no positon and all died in the wreck off IOW. The cg went up and tried to find scan for them, but no use.

I specifically gave caveats regarding my wrong procedure, but you decided to make a tsk tsk style post. Fair enough, but you could have thought more.

I say again - CG WILL respond to "MAYDAY at the needles" . But fuller info better, of course, as i said.

CG offered the advice that they WOULD respond with the briefest of info, to safety course delegates.

Swagman, i bleive you have never been in a real MOB, or a real near-sinking.
I've been in both, shorthanded, and in my exp I and everyone wd rather try pick up kids etc than ponce about with repeating vhf thingys.

Or, someones effort is needed trying to stop a leak with water a foot deep in the saloon instead of extended blathering on vhf, right now. NOW!

If an abbreviated version is an option and i can continue later with portable vhf to hand - i and anyone would most defintely do the same. Remebr ,they know that a real emrgency is not like on the course - evveryoe else might be dead already and you under the fallen mast. Fancy your mayday three time now, hm?

It's an emergency, so pick the emergency you'd like. Someone is dying on you. Praps you. Your wife. Your kids. Go on - say that full procedure. Time yourself. Could have done something there to help them perhaps instead of the final "mayday Yacht temptress of St peter port" - and not even given out your damn position yet? I bet you could've.

My info was useful and your silly whingeing an example of trying to look good when my post made clear it was not "best practise" but expedient in a real-world situation.

CG incidentally is not at all alone in this: pick up the phone, hit 999 and just leave the hanset and the cops will arrive. Do not try this cos a large amount of cops arrive and i only know it cos toddler kids hit these numbers at 5am 10 years ago.

It's not "dangerous" to give abbreviated mayday. Shorthanded with two or three, if one was in the water, i'd have eyes and helm working to get you out. I would then be forced to try mayday on portable, not downstairs with the laminated wassername. The pratting about with fenders over the side on a course is a zillion miles from a real scenario.

Soonish, after initial quick mayday, as others say, i would expand and say yep, no joke, boatname, three on board etc. I have heard a few maydays and nearly none follow utterly correct format.

Solent CG don't do fishing btw. And i'd guess that more than one other boat would relay the message too if no reponse from CG. Again, way out at sea, different matter.

Think about it - with flames swishing through the engineroom - exactly how long dya reckon yer batteries and hence vhf will last, hm? Or if there's a fire - are you totally happy down below in the wooden, fabric-loaded saloon, hm?

Contentious, praps, but I say that if you are calm enuf to get out a full mayday with full details first time (laughably almost - including from another poster "uncontrollable engine fire" yeah - and he's on the blimmin saloon vhf above the fuel tank?!!) then you are a radio operator on a ship, or with big 12+ offshore probably pro crew with experince of people dying too.

It's a real proper emergency, ok? Someone's child is over the side praps. Now, try telling Mum or Dad to go and do a nice mayday like on that course, remember? Bollx! In real life you are in fact all on to scream No and hopefully prevent him/her or even both from jumping in after them as well.

All in my actual experience. Apologies if this read badly. Tho not for the content.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: WRONG, Swagman

I've heard a mayday from someone that was probably reading from a script. very professional and cool, after a Sunsail yacht t-boned them and sinking.

He did it by book, and was very clear and easy to understand, as you knew which bit was coming next. Would probably help coastguards if you did follow format.
However, as you say, they will still turn up regardless if they managed to understand enough of your message even though not in requisite format.