Why signal Mayday Mayday Mayday?
This of course is the international signal for distress, and it’s used in many situations to signal the need for help.
It’s used when planes are in distress, when boats and ships are having an emergency, it was used during 9/11.
Derived from a French phrase “venez m’aider” it literally means “come help me”.
In 1923, Frederick Stanley Mockford, a senior radio officer at the Croydon Airport in London was asked to think of a verbal signal of distress that would be recognized and easily understood as an emergency call.
Because a large portion of the air traffic at Croydon went to Paris, France, Mockford came up with the mayday phrase.
How to make a mayday call:
Hopefully, you or anyone you may know never needs to use the mayday mayday mayday distress call, but if you do, you should know how to do it correctly:
- Always say the word mayday 3 times, which will eliminate the possibility of mistaking it for a similar but different phrase and will actually distinguish it as a distress call.
- This should be followed by repeating either the boat’s name or call sign, also repeated 3 times.
- Then repeat the word mayday once more, followed once again by the boat’s name or call sign.
- Give your location if possible.
- State the type of emergency you are having.
- State the number of people on board and status. (3 people on board, 1 injured)
- Any information that might help in the rescue.
- Then repeat mayday, boat’s name or call sign and “over”.
If at all possible, remain on the radio to assist the Coast Guard or other boat or aircraft coming to your aid.
There have been 3 VHF marine radio channels established that are recognized worldwide for calls such as these.
- Channel 16 – 156.800 MHz
- Channel 13 – 156.650 MHz
- Channel 70 – 156.525 MHz
Channel 9 has also been established for emergencies.
It’s not funny!
Using this distress call is a serious thing, people’s lives are usually at stake, so it is understandable that it is a Federal Crime if you use it as a joke…. realize that it’s not funny. It is a Federal offense to knowingly use the distress signal as a hoax, and is subject to prosecution and a penalty of $5000 plus any costs the Coast Guard might incur.
Again, I hope you never have a need to signal mayday, but if you do, at least you know the proper way to do it.
I hope you will follow my sailing posts and like my Facebook Page.
Once I complete the licensing requirements, I will be offering sailing lessons through the local sailing schools. I would be honored to have you in one of my classes. Watch for updates!
