Urgency ('Pan Pan') Communications
DSC Urgency Calls and the voice signal 'Pan Pan' are used 'when
you have an urgent message to send regarding the safety of a ship or a
person' (Appendix I) - and you are requesting help, to put things right,
from any appropriate source. Situations which might cause you to use
Urgency/Pan Pan might include:
- Cargo shifted, listing, not imminently threatened by capsize - require
a vessel to stand-by you whilst you correct the situation onboard (not
requiring the evacuation of all persons).
Lost engine power, vessel not imminently in danger of foundering -
urgently require a tow from any vessel in the vicinity.
- Taking water - urgently require additional pumps (not requiring the
evacuation of all persons).
Fire onboard - currently contained but require additional fire fighting
equipment (not requiring the evacuation of all persons).
Or, in the case of a person:
- Urgently require Medical Advice, or Medical Assistance.
- 'Man Overboard' where the person concerned is not also 'in grave
and imminent danger' - i.e. you need help with the search, but the
person is not likely to die if not immediately recovered (e.g. sea
conditions good; temperature not too hot/cold; person has a lifejacket
and personal EPIRB; you have a GPS fix on his/her location).
The above are all serious situations regarding the safety of the
vessel or of a person - but the situation is recoverable with the correct
help, which you are able to specify. Depending on the nature of the
problem, your location and the likely density of shipping around you,
you would have to decide whether to:
- Alert shore authorities and other ships, at the same time, using:
• VHF DSC (which would be sensible in an Al Area); or
MF DSC (which would be sensible in an A2 Area).
- Alert Shore Authorities first - then alert other ships, using:
Inmarsat-A, B or C, or HF DSC (to alert shore authorities) -
followed by MF DSC to alert other ships (one option in an A3
Area).
Alert other ships immediately, without first alerting shore authorities,
using:
MF DSC and/or VHF DSC (another A3 area option, particularly
where there is a high density of shipping - depending on the nature
of your problem).
110 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE
