There are three messages for saving human life at sea, ranked in order of priority. Each has its own different alarm signal:
- Top priority: Distress - MAYDAY (repeat 3 times)
- Priority 2: Emergency - PAN PAN (repeat 3 times)
- Priority 3: Security - SECURITY (repeat 3 times)
Distress (MAYDAY - MAYDAY - MAYDAY)
This message is used in case of danger to human life.
For example
- A man in the sea
- A fire on board
- A waterway
- A capsize
- A dangerous grounding
- A serious medical problem
- ?
Emergency (PAN PAN - PAN PAN - PAN PAN)
The emergency message is used if a human life is not in danger, but there is a serious problem on board.
For example:
- An engine problem that prevents the boat from returning to port under its own power
- A dismasting
- A saffron casse
- ?
Security (SECURITY - SECURITY - SECURITY)
This message is there to inform marine traffic of a danger.
For example:
- Declaration of a UFO (Unidentified Floating Object)
- A drifting buoy or raft
- A hazard to navigation
- ...
Mnemonic
To know whether to trigger a MAYDAY or a PAN PAN, there is a simple way.
- MAYDAY is pronounced "help me" which means you need help.
- PAN PAN pronounced "panne panne" means that you have a breakdown and are asking for help but are not in danger.
