3.5 Pan-Pan Urgency Calls & Medical Transmissions (Pan-Pan Medico)

3.5 Pan-Pan Urgency Calls & Medical Transmissions (Pan-Pan Medico)

The Urgency Priority signal is the spoken proword PAN PAN (derived from the French word panne, meaning a breakdown or mechanical failure). In maritime radio operations, urgency traffic covers safety-critical situations that do not meet the strict threshold of grave and imminent danger required for a Mayday distress call.

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Definition & Hierarchy of Urgency Priority

Urgency communications take precedence over all other maritime radio traffic except Distress (Mayday).

+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                   MARITIME PRIORITY HIERARCHY                    |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 1. DISTRESS  : MAYDAY   (Grave & Imminent Danger to Life/Vessel) |
| 2. URGENCY   : PAN PAN  (Urgent Safety Concern; No Imminent Risk)|
| 3. SAFETY    : SECURITE (Navigational & Meteorological Warnings) |
| 4. ROUTINE   : Standard Operational & Public Correspondence     |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Typical Pan-Pan Urgency Scenarios:

• Total engine breakdown in open water, clear of immediate navigational hazards.
• Loss of steering or lost rudder in open sea with space to drift safely.
• Demasting where the rig is secured and the hull remains watertight.
• Urgent medical emergency on board requiring medical advice or evacuation.
• Man Overboard (MOB) where the casualty is sighted and recovery is underway, but urgent assistance from nearby vessels is requested.

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Voice Pan-Pan Call & Message Format

Urgency calls are initiated on VHF Channel 16 (or set up digitally using a DSC Urgency call on Channel 70).

+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                    VOICE PAN-PAN STRUCTURE                       |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 1. URGENCY SIGNAL: PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN                       |
| 2. ADDRESSEE     : ALL STATIONS (x3) or COASTGUARD (x3)          |
| 3. IDENTITY      : THIS IS + Vessel Name (x3) + Call Sign + MMSI |
| 4. POSITION      : Lat/Long or Bearing & Distance                |
| 5. NATURE        : Engine failure, medical emergency, etc.       |
| 6. ASSISTANCE    : Request tow, medical advice, MEDEVAC          |
| 7. POB & EXTRA   : Persons on Board + Vessel description         |
| 8. TERMINATION   : OVER                                          |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Verbatim Voice Script: Breakdown Scenario

PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN
ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS
THIS IS
STARGAZER STARGAZER STARGAZER
CALL SIGN GOLF CHARLIE THREE NINE MMSI TWO THREE FIVE SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN ONE ONE ONE
MY POSITION IS FIVE ZERO DEGREES ONE ZERO MINUTES NORTH ZERO ZERO ONE DEGREE THREE ZERO MINUTES WEST
ENGINE FAILURE AND DRIFTING IN OPEN WATER
REQUIRE TOW ASSISTANCE
THREE PERSONS ON BOARD
OVER

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Medical Transmissions: Pan-Pan Medico & MEDEVAC

When a crew member or passenger suffers severe illness or injury at sea, the operator uses a specialized urgency format known as Pan-Pan Medico to obtain professional medical advice from shore doctors via the Coastguard's Telemedical Assistance Service (TMAS).

Medical Information Required for Pan-Pan Medico:

1. Patient demographics: Age, gender, and language.
2. Symptoms and vital signs: Pulse rate, breathing rate, body temperature, level of consciousness.
3. Medical history and pre-existing conditions.
4. Details of injury or onset of illness.
5. First aid or medications already administered.

Helicopter Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC)

If TMAS doctors determine that the patient requires immediate hospitalization, the Coastguard will coordinate a helicopter MEDEVAC or lifeboat transfer under Pan-Pan urgency priority.

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Transfer to Working Channels

Unlike Mayday transmissions, which generally remain on Channel 16 until silence is lifted, a Coastguard station acknowledging a Pan-Pan call will routinely instruct the vessel to switch to a VHF working channel (e.g., VHF Ch 67, 23, 84, or 86) for detailed medical or towing discussions. This keeps Channel 16 clear for distress monitoring.

Definition & Scope of Pan-Pan Urgency Traffic

In maritime radiotelephony, an Urgency message is designated by the signal PAN PAN (derived from the French word panne, meaning a breakdown or failure). An urgency call takes precedence over all other communications except Distress (Mayday) traffic.

Under ITU and RYA definitions, a Pan-Pan call is transmitted when a vessel or person is in a situation involving safety, but where there is NO immediate or grave danger to life or the vessel.

Common Scenarios Requiring a Pan-Pan Call

Mariners must transmit a Pan-Pan call in situations including:

• Engine Failure in Open Sea: A vessel has lost main propulsion in calm waters away from immediate lee shores or hazard zones.
• Loss of Steering in Traffic Lanes: Rigs or rudders jammed in a busy shipping lane where the vessel cannot maneuver.
• Medical Emergency (Pan-Pan Medico): A crew member has suffered a severe injury or illness (e.g., broken limb, severe burns, heart symptoms) requiring urgent medical advice or evacuations (MEDEVAC), but the vessel itself is not sinking.
• Overdue Vessel Enquiries: A coastguard broadcasting an inquiry for a vessel that has failed to report at its destination.
• Person Overboard (Resolved or Initial Search): When a person has fallen overboard and assistance is requested from nearby shipping to form a search pattern.

Voice Pan-Pan Message Structure & Procedure

An urgency call is announced on VHF Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) at 25 Watts High Power to alert all listening stations. If the detailed message will take extended airtime (such as a medical consultation), the Coast Guard will instruct the vessel to switch to a working channel (e.g., Channel 67, 23, or 86).

"PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN"
"ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS" (or "SOLENT COASTGUARD x3")
"THIS IS SAILING YACHT WILDCAT, WILDCAT, WILDCAT"
"CALL SIGN: TWO GOLF X-RAY THREE (2GXC3)"
"MMSI: TWO THREE FIVE ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX"

"POSITION 3 MILES SOUTH OF NEEDLES LIGHTHOUSE"
"DISMASTED AND PROPELLER FOULED BY RIGGING"
"NO IMMEDIATE DANGER TO LIFE, REQUIRE TOW"
"4 PERSONS ONBOARD"
"OVER"

Pan-Pan Medico & Telemedical Maritime Assistance Services (TMAS)

When a medical condition occurs on board, the master uses PAN PAN MEDICO. HM Coastguard will connect the vessel directly to a hospital doctor via the Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service (TMAS). The doctor evaluates symptoms, prescribes treatment using the vessel's Category C First Aid Kit, or arranges a helicopter evacuation (MEDEVAC).