BOATsmart! Base de connaissances du Canada
Module 07 - Emergency Preparedness
Marine Radio
You can use a maritime VHF radio to signal distress:
- Use maritime VHF Channel 16 and repeat ‘Pan Pan’ three times to signal the need for assistance
- Use VHF Channel 16 and repeat Mayday three times to signal imminent danger and/or a life-threatening situation
- Once the appropriate distress signal is given, relay the following information:
- The name of your vessel
- Your position
- The nature of the emergency
- The type of assistance needed
If you are buying a new maritime VHF radio, be sure it has the new Digital Selective Calling (DSC) feature on channel 70. This feature provides automatic digital distress alerts. The Canadian Coast Guard provides DSC channel 70 service on the east and west coasts, as well as on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
Remember, maritime VHF radio channel 16 is used for emergency purposes only. Once you contact another vessel on channel 16, you should switch to another working frequency.
MCTS centers provide Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) which alert boaters to intended movements of larger vessels in certain areas. MCTS centers also continuously broadcast Notices to Shipping and weather and ice reports on marine radio frequencies. Boaters should also be aware that the Canadian Coast Guard and MCTS centers will issue Safety Calls via marine radio to mariners, transmitting navigational safety notices and meteorological warnings.
If you have a cell phone onboard, call 911 to report your emergency. You can also call *16 to reach Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications centers. You should provide the same information as above.
Keep in mind: Making a cell phone call does not alert other boats on the water that you need help–and those boats could be the ones that help you first.
