Ian Waugh - A Mariner\'s Guide to Marine Communications

Voice 'Mayday Relay' procedures
Example 1 - voice Mayday Relay call/message on Ch 16121B2kHz,
following a DSC 'All Stations' Distress Relay on Ch7012187.5kHz:
'Mayday Relay, Mayday Relay, Mayday Relay
This is Wizard, Wizard, Wizard, call sign Golf Whiskey India Zulu, MMSI 232xxxxxx
Mayday ... juslina Position Abandoning ship Requires Immediate
Assistance Wizard on-scene - liferafts and persons in the water visibility
poor require additional assistance with rescue Over'
Saying 'Mayday Relay' three times automatically makes your voice
call an 'All Stations' call (unless you address a specific station) - you do
not have to say 'Mayday Relay All Stations' The Distress Message which
follows the call (beginning 'Mayday Identity of vessel in distress
Position ' takes exactly the same form as would be used by the vessel
in distress, had she been able to send her own distress message.

Example 2 - voice Mayday Relay eaU/message on Ch 1612182kHz,
following a DSC 'Individual' Distress Relay, to Clyde Coastguard (MMSI
002320022 - from ALRS Vol 5) on Ch7012187.5kHz:

'Mayday Relay (x3) - Clyde Coastguard, Clyde Coastguard, Clyde Coastguard

This is Wizard, Wizard, Wizard, callsign GWIZ, MM SI 232xxxxxx

Mayday Unknown Vessel Position On fire and listing badly

Wjzard one mile away and proceeding to assist - unable to make radio contact

with the casualty Over'

Summary of Distress Acknowledgement/Distress Relay (VHF /

MF) Rules

Do not send a DSC Distress Ackllowledgement unless you have:

• Listened on the paired voice distress frequency for a period of 5
  minutes and have not heard any voice distress working.


• Received the DSC Distress Alert more than once.


• Consulted the Coast Station/MRCC controlling the SAR operation,
  and they have agreed that you should send a DSC Distress
  Acknowledgement

Only send an ~ll Stations' DSC Distress Relay, and voice Mayday

Relay call/message, if:

• You are actively involved in the SAR operation.


• The vessel in distress is unable to send her own DSC Distress Alert!
  message.


• The master of your vessel decides that further assistance is required
  to effect rescue.

100 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE