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Yes. On a GMDSS-equipped VHF, depress the red DSC distress button (held under the cover, typically 5 seconds). The DSC alert auto-transmits your MMSI and last GPS position to all DSC stations and triggers their distress alarms. Then read the formatted Mayday on Channel 16.
GPS lat/long in DDD°MM.M' (degrees and decimal minutes) is preferred. If you don't have GPS, use bearing and distance from a charted point: 'TWO ZERO FIVE DEGREES TRUE, FOUR POINT FIVE NAUTICAL MILES FROM CAPE EXAMPLE LIGHT'. Always read each digit individually: 'three four point seven', not 'thirty-four point seven'.
Three times in succession (MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY) at the start of the call. After delivering the full message ending OVER, listen for 30 seconds for an acknowledgement from a coast station or vessel. If no acknowledgement, repeat the entire Mayday.
Cancel immediately on Channel 16: 'ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, THIS IS [vessel name and callsign], MAYDAY [vessel name], TIME [UTC], PLEASE CANCEL DISTRESS, OUT.' Do not just go silent — that prolongs the search-and-rescue response. Coast guard authorities require the cancellation to log and stand down resources.
Fill in the five fields below. The page formats your details as a correctly-structured Mayday call following the GMDSS / SOLAS Ch IV procedure (see distress procedures). Use the "Print" button for a paper copy to keep at the radio. Nothing is sent anywhere — this runs entirely in your browser.
For a real distress, depress the DSC distress button on the VHF first, then read this Mayday on Channel 16. If you have time, transmit the Mayday three times and listen between for an acknowledgement from a coast station.
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY THIS IS [VESSEL NAME] [VESSEL NAME] [VESSEL NAME] MAYDAY [VESSEL NAME] CALLSIGN [CALLSIGN] MMSI [9-DIGIT] POSITION [LAT/LON OR BEARING+DISTANCE FROM A CHARTED POINT] NATURE OF DISTRESS — [NATURE OF DISTRESS] ASSISTANCE REQUIRED — [ASSISTANCE REQUIRED] [NUMBER OF PERSONS ONBOARD] PERSONS ONBOARD OVER
Read at a steady pace. Speak each word clearly. Repeat if no acknowledgement within ~15 seconds.
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