7.2 Emergency Communications Priority: Distress (MAYDAY/SOS) & Urgency (PAN PAN)

Recognise the signal and priority

The international maritime distress and safety procedures are in ITU Radio Regulations Articles 30–34. In the GMDSS setting, Article 32 gives distress absolute priority, and Article 33 covers urgency and safety. ACMA’s amateur operating guidance gives the equivalent practical priorities for distress heard in amateur operation. A distress call can be heard on any frequency.

For a voice distress call, ACMA guidance uses MAYDAY three times, this is, and the station identification three times. Follow with the position, nature of distress, the assistance required and useful details. In Morse, the international distress signal is sent as one continuous group, ...---.... In voice urgency, say the whole PAN PAN group three times before the call.

Receive and relay distress

1. Stop transmitting and listen on the frequency. Copy the station identification, position, nature of distress, help needed and any other reliable detail. Note the time and frequency so the report can be checked.
2. Wait briefly for acknowledgement by a station better placed to help. If nobody acknowledges within a reasonable time, respond. Confirm uncertain details if you can without obstructing the exchange.
3. Promptly forward the details to the appropriate authority. ACMA lists police via 000 for land-based distress, the rescue coordination centre at 1800 815 257 for aviation and 1800 641 792 for maritime. Use the same authority contacts when reporting an urgency message. Continue listening and pass along material updates as needed. Use the available communications path that reaches help without delaying the response.

Worked example. An amateur hears a lone walker transmit MAYDAY, give a track junction and report uncontrolled bleeding. Pause routine traffic, write down the position and injury, and listen for an acknowledgement. If nobody better placed responds in a reasonable time, acknowledge and pass the details to police through 000. Preserve any uncertainty about the position in the report. For a yacht drifting safely after steering failure, an urgent request for assistance can begin with PAN PAN. If the yacht subsequently faces grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance, use MAYDAY.

Apply Australian emergency provisions

Radiocommunications Act section 49 provides that operation or possession does not contravene sections 46 or 47 where the person reasonably believes it necessary for a listed purpose. These include securing a vessel, aircraft or space object in danger, a serious environmental threat, a risk of death or injury, a risk of substantial property loss or damage, or dealing with the emergency covered by a national emergency declaration in force. Section 196 applies a corresponding test to sections 192–195. These provisions address specific contraventions and require the stated reasonable belief of necessity. Consider available means of communication in applying that test. Section 198 separately prohibits specified intentionally false transmissions.

At international level, Nos. 30.2 and 30.3 address the means available to a mobile station in distress and exceptional assistance to such a station. Keep that setting distinct from a routine club exercise and from the particular Australian provisions above. On the amateur bands, coordinate international disaster support with the administration of the affected country, as ACMA advises.

Class Licence section 14 gives the identification arrangements for emergency services operations and training, as explained in sections 4.3 and 7.3. An exercise remains subject to its applicable licence conditions. The IARU Region 3 plan identifies voluntary emergency centres of activity, including 3.600 MHz, 7.110 MHz and 14.300 MHz. The WIA plan also identifies 3.610 MHz for Australian emergency communications. Give active emergency traffic room and check your Australian operating privileges. A centre of activity helps stations find traffic. It does not create a separate statutory allocation.

ACMA distress and safety procedures · Radiocommunications Act · ITU Radio Regulations · ITU International Morse code · IARU Region 3 band plans · WIA Australian band plan