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

Appendix I

I Distress, Urgency and Safety definitions and explanations APPENDICES

DISTRESS definition:

'A mobile unit, or a person, is in grave and imminent danger and

requires immediate assistance'

Author's explanation

'mobile unit' means a shiP, aircraft or other vehicle (hovercraft, exploration

rig etc.); 'grave and imminent danger' means that, in the case of a ship or other

'mobile unit', the situation is already serious and not likely to be recoverable -

and that you want passengers and crew evacuated (if still onboard) or rescued (if

already abandoned); 'require immediate assistance' means that you don't care

what form the rescue takes - a militarylcivilian vessel, volunteer lifeboat, helicopter,

or a breeches buoy from the shore - you'll take help from whatever source; the

sooner the better.

In the case of a 'man overboard' - if conditions are such that the person is

likely to die if you don't get immediate assistance, then this, in the GMDSS, is a

distress situation.

DSC Distress Alerts and the voice distress Signal {the word MAYDAY;

may only be used on the authority of the master, or other person responsible for the

vessel at the time of the problem.

URGENCY definition:
Is where you have 'an urgent message to send concerning the safety
of a mobile unit, or a person'

Author's explanation

Like distress, this is also a serious problem but, if the problem is recoverable

with the right kind of assistance - and you can specifj the particular type of

assistance that will put things right (prevent the loss of the vessel or the death!

serious injury of a person) - then that may be classed as 'urgency' rather than

'distress'

Examples include:

(i) vessel disabled and urgently requires a tow (circumstances not desperate

enough to require immediate rescue of persons onboard);

(ii) fire onboard, which is being contained, is not immediately life threatening,

and can be extinguished with timely assistance; and

(iii) taking water - but the situation can be reversed with the help of additional

pumps (and rescue of those onboard is not yet required).

MARINE COMMUNICATIONS 217