Anyone monitoring channel 16 on a VHF marine radio will quickly become aware that many transmissions are prefaced words like pan pan (pronounced pahn pahn), and securité (pronounced see-cure-eh-TAY). Channel 16 is universally used around the world for hailing other vessels and shore based stations, making distress calls, and broadcasting safety information.
Mayday
Due to many dramatic movie scenes, most people are familiar with the international Mayday call and its meaning. This call is reserved for dire circumstances when death, serious injury or the loss of a vessel is imminent. Mayday calls are initiated by repeating the word "mayday" three times, and giving the same information as that listed under the pan pan call. Any boater hearing a Mayday call should take it very seriously, and do whatever possible to render assistance to those in distress. At the very least, boaters should keep channel 16 free during the emergency so potential rescuers can communicate with those in distress without disruptions.
Pan Pan
This call is used to announce an urgent, but not life-threatening, situation that poses a serious threat to a vessel or the vessel’s crew. Pan Pan calls are made in the same format as a mayday call, substituting the words” pan pan” for mayday. After repeating pan pan three times, the caller should give the following information:
- The vessel’s name, and description
- The number of people on board and their condition
- The vessel’s location
- A brief description of the emergency and the help being requested
Securité
A broadcast prefaced with “Securité, Securité, Securité,” is safety announcement. Any vessel can initiate a Securité broadcast to report intended movements or observations. For example, a boat entering a narrow passage or crowded harbor may broadcast a Securité announcement to alert other boats of its intended course. Boaters can also report observations of navigational hazards such as a disabled vessel or a damaged or missing navigational marker. Coastal radio stations around the world also broadcast Securité announcements to give information about hazards to navigation and impending bad weather.
Over and Out
These words are frequently heard on VHF radio transmissions, but they are incorrect. The word “over” is used during a broadcast to alert the receiving party that the broadcaster has finished speaking and is expecting the receiving party to respond. The word “out” is used to announce that the broadcast is over. It is the equivalent of saying, “good-bye.” Therefore saying “over and out” is contradictory. When concluding a broadcast, simply say, “out.”
Standard Words Help Convey Meaning
Using procedural words like Mayday, Pan Pan, and Securité standardize and condense VHF radio communications. This helps convey information clearly and quickly to everyone monitoring Channel 16.
Read More About VHF Marine Radios:
Marine Radio Channels Available for Recreational Boats
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