Emergency Procedure

Preparation Before Departure

• Locate the radio channels and phone numbers of emergency services in the sailing area and keep them accessible in case of need
• Conduct a short briefing for the crew on emergency situations and operating procedures
• Consider ordering the Raise Your Hand service from My First Mate, intended to provide assistance in case of problems, distress, or dilemmas.

When things go wrong at sea, your survival depends on clear, structured, and rapid communication. A well-maintained yacht can turn into a survival situation within minutes due to fire, collision, or rapid water ingress. The global rescue network relies on you transmitting the correct information using the proper tools.

All communication must be in English

In radio calls, priority order is critical:

• Distress – Mayday: The vessel or a person is in grave and immediate danger and requires immediate rescue assistance. (Examples: sinking, uncontrolled fire, abandoning ship)

• Urgency – PanPan: There is an emergency concerning the safety of the vessel or a person, but no immediate danger to life or risk of sinking. (Examples: total engine failure while drifting toward rocks, broken mast with intact hull and no water ingress)

• The distress message must be transmitted clearly and slowly. A distress call has priority over all other communications.

• Anyone who receives a distress call is obligated to acknowledge it.

• Any vessel acknowledging a distress call shall state its estimated time of arrival.

In cases of unclear communication (e.g., language), use phonetic spelling

(Alpha, Bravo, Charley, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankees, Zulu) (Zero, Wun, Too, Three, Fo-wer, Five, Six, Sev-en, Ait, Nin-er)

Sequence of actions in an emergency

Step 1: Activate EPIRB

1. Remove the EPIRB (emergency beacon) from its bracket
2. Manually switch it to ON (ensure the flashing light is active)
3. Ensure the antenna is pointing straight up with a clear line of sight to the sky
4. If abandonment is required:
   • Critical: tie the EPIRB safety line (lanyard) to the life raft or to yourselves – never to the sinking boat
   • Order all crew to wear life jackets. Launch the life raft into the water and immediately load onto it the grab bag and the pyrotechnics container (rockets and flares)

Step 2: Send a digital distress alert (DSC, the red button on the VHF)

1. Ensure the VHF radio is on
2. Lift the spring-loaded red cover (usually marked “Distress”)
3. Press Distress and select the nature of distress (in emergency you may skip and send a general distress alert)
4. Press and hold the red button continuously for 5 seconds
5. The device will beep and count down. Wait for the continuous tone confirming the alert was sent (this action immediately transmits your exact GPS position and MMSI number to all vessels and coast stations within ~30 nautical miles)

Step 3: Transmit a voice Mayday (VHF Channel 16)

The radio will automatically switch to Channel 16. Press the talk button (PTT) and speak slowly, loudly, and clearly, in English:

Mayday Mayday Mayday

This is [your boat name, repeat three times]

MMSI: [MMSI number, check it before departure, you can skip it if you don’t know the MMSI]

Mayday [your boat name]

GPS position (Lat and Long that appears on the GPS screen, or bearing and distance from known landmark)

State the nature of distress

Number of people and state the condition of anybody injured

Required immediate assistance

Additional info [if required]

Over

Release the talk button and listen. If no response after 1–2 minutes, repeat the entire message from the beginning. If there is no response, try another communication method if available (satellite phone, mobile phone)

• Any party that hears a distress call is obligated to respond and act
• The sender of the distress signal manages the incident unless they authorize an official authority to take over
• Entities receiving the distress call will send an acknowledgment (Acknowledge):

Mayday

[your vessel name]

This is [receiving vessel name]

Received Mayday [acknowledge]

Over

To any entity that acknowledged, you may request position sharing and understand who can assist you and their location. Based on their details and position, you may request the appropriate party [one or more] to proceed toward you. Others will proceed toward you and remain on standby.

Mayday

[receiving vessel name]

This is [your vessel name, repeat twice]

Your position and ETA

Over

Expected responses will include position and estimated time of arrival

Mayday

[your vessel name]

This is [receiving vessel name, repeat twice]

Position details, speed and ETA

Over

If you selected a specific assisting party, others will be instructed to remain on standby (while proceeding toward you)

Mayday

[receiving vessel name]

This is [your vessel name, repeat twice]

Proceed and standby on channel one six

Over

Confirmation from assisting parties will be:

Mayday

[your vessel name]

This is [receiving vessel name, repeat twice]

Proceeding at full speed to your position and standing by on channel one six

Over

An entity that received your distress call and is the only responder, in addition to communicating with you, will act as a relay station and broadcast the Mayday on your behalf to expand coverage The message will be:

Mayday Relay, Mayday Relay, Mayday Relay

[receiving vessel name]

Mayday Relay [your vessel name]

[your position]

[information about your distress nature and requiring assistance]

Ships in vicinity report and assist

Over

Note that if you are not the distressed party but hear a distress call, you must respond as described above

Example full dialogue

Mayday Mayday Mayday

This is My First Mate, My First Mate, My First mate

428000567

Mayday My First Mate

Three three degrees four four minutes north

Zero three two degrees five two minutes east

Fire on board in danger of sinking

Required immediate assistance

Five people on board

Over

---

Mayday

My First Mate, My First Mate, My First Mate

This is Freedom, Freedom, Freedom

Received mayday

Over

---

Mayday

Freedom

This is My First Mate, My First Mate

Your position and ETA

Over

---

Mayday

My First Mate

This is Freedom, Freedom

I am ten miles north from you speed ten knots, ETA six zero minutes from now

Over

---

Mayday

Freedom

This is My First Mate, My First Mate

Proceed and standby on channel one six

Over

---

Mayday

My First Mate

This is Freedom, Freedom

Proceeding at full speed to your position and standing by on channel six one

Over

Cancelling a false DSC alarm (pressed by mistake)

Pressed the red button accidentally? Do not just turn off the radio and ignore it! You will trigger a massive unnecessary search

1. Turn the device OFF and immediately ON to stop continuous distress transmission
2. Switch to Channel 16 and broadcast:

All Stations, All Stations, All Station

This is [boat name]

MMSI [your number]

Please cancel my distress alert of [time]

False alarm

OVER

Step 4: Use of pyrotechnics (rockets and flares) – only when you see a target on the horizon!

• Never fire rockets toward an empty horizon. Your supply is very limited
• Wait until you see a vessel, lights, or hear an aircraft approaching
• Target far away? Launch a red parachute rocket straight into the sky
• Target nearby? Light a red handheld flare or throw an orange smoke canister into the water. Hold/throw only on the leeward side, outside the raft and over the sea

Expansion

Detailed operation and examples (for refresh before going to sea)

Review this section carefully before sailing to develop “muscle memory” and understand your “survival arsenal”

VHF Radio and DSC

VHF operates on a “line of sight” basis (typically 20–30 nautical miles).

The DSC function is essentially a digital “pager”.

Pressing the red button sends a compressed data packet on Channel 70 (a dedicated data channel).

This triggers a loud, unavoidable alarm on the bridge of every commercial vessel and at coast stations within range

Critical check: your VHF must be connected to the boat’s GPS. A distress alert without coordinates tells authorities someone is in trouble, but not where...

EPIRB Beacon

The EPIRB is your global lifeline and last resort. It transmits on 406 MHz directly to space, alerting international rescue centers to your exact location anywhere in the world, far beyond VHF range

Pyrotechnics (visual signaling devices)

Electronic devices (EPIRB/DSC) provide coordinates remotely, but pyrotechnics guide rescuers’ eyes to your exact physical location among the waves in the final stages of rescue. Rockets and flares are effectively explosives held in hand, burning at extreme temperatures (over 1,500°C) and must be handled with strict discipline

Golden rules for pyrotechnics:

• Never waste: supply is strictly limited. Do not fire into empty horizon
• Only leeward: always operate on the side the wind is blowing toward (away from boat/raft) to prevent toxic smoke, sparks, and hot debris from hitting you or damaging the raft
• Eyes away: never look directly into the burning flame to preserve night vision

Red Parachute Rocket (long-range alert)

Day or night, when a vessel is seen far away or an aircraft is heard approaching but not yet visible. Visible up to 25–30 miles at night.

• Launches to ~300 meters (1,000 ft), deploys a parachute, and burns bright red for ~40 seconds while descending slowly
• Hold firmly with both hands. Aim upward but slightly downwind (~15° tilt) so the burning cartridge does not fall back onto your raft. Brace for recoil. Warning: never fire when a rescue helicopter is directly overhead

Red Handheld Flare (precise marking)

When rescue vessel or aircraft is in visual contact and approaching your area

• Burns bright red for ~60 seconds
• Remove cap and ignite (like a match).
• Critical: hold extended forward, firm grip at the base, outside the raft and over water on the leeward side. Molten slag may drip and can instantly melt a raft or burn skin

Buoyant Orange Smoke (daytime only)

Daytime only. Highly effective for attracting attention of low-flying aircraft

• Emits a dense bright orange smoke cloud for ~3 minutes
• Pull activation ring and immediately throw into the water on the leeward side
• Smoke trail shows wind direction and strength to pilots for safe approach

Support devices SART and PLB

SART (radar/AIS transponder)

taken into the life raft. Does not alert authorities remotely but helps them locate you once nearby by showing your position as radar echoes or AIS marker. Mount as high as possible

PLB (personal beacon)

Mini EPIRB carried on a person. Ideal for man overboard (MOB). Usually manually activated and antenna must be kept above water

How does the global rescue system work?

If you activate EPIRB or DSC in the Mediterranean or ocean, sitting in a dark life raft, who actually comes to rescue you? You have activated the GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System), a complex international technological network worth billions

Step 1: Space (Cospas-Sarsat)

The EPIRB signal (406 MHz) is detected by a dedicated international network of rescue satellites. They use Doppler calculations and onboard GPS data to determine your exact location

Step 2: Back to Earth (LUT & MCC)

Satellites relay the signal to ground stations. The system reads the 9-digit registration code and checks the global database

Step 3: Rescue command (MRCC)

Data is forwarded to the MRCC responsible for your sea area. The MRCC takes control of the incident.

The MRCC uses satellite communication to identify nearby merchant vessels and instruct them to divert toward you. By international law, merchant ships must assist persons in distress at sea

Step 4: The last mile

Satellites guide rescuers to your general area. To locate you precisely, rescuers rely on:

1. Homing signal (121.5 MHz) – EPIRB emits a local signal allowing helicopters to home in
2. SART – displays your position on navigation screens
3. Pyrotechnics – visual confirmation once rescuers are near

Checklist as part of the check-in

• Check that the VHF is properly connected to the boat’s GPS and displays position
• Check EPIRB and handheld VHF batteries are valid
• Verify location and validity of pyrotechnics
• Brief the crew accordingly

Safe sailing! Prepare for the worst so you can enjoy the best the sea has to offer with confidence and peace of mind.