RYA SRC Distress and Urgency Calls

Question 1

What is the difference between a 'Mayday' and a 'Pan Pan' call?

Accepted Answer

Mayday indicates grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance; Pan Pan indicates an urgent situation that is not an immediate threat to life or the vessel

Answer

Mayday is reserved for situations of grave and imminent danger where immediate assistance is required (e.g., sinking, fire). Pan Pan is for urgent situations not immediately life-threatening (e.g., engine failure, medical concern).

Question 2

What is the correct format for expressing a position in a Mayday call?

Accepted Answer

Latitude and longitude, or a true bearing and distance from a known point

Answer

Position should be given as latitude and longitude (degrees and minutes, North/South, East/West), or as a TRUE bearing and distance from a named charted feature.

Question 3

What does the signal 'SECURITE' (pronounced 'SAY-CURE-IT-AY') indicate?

Accepted Answer

A safety message is about to follow, such as a navigational hazard or weather warning

Answer

Securite (spoken three times) precedes a safety message concerning navigational hazards, weather warnings, or other information important to the safety of navigation.

Question 4

In what order of priority are Mayday, Pan Pan, and Securite calls ranked?

Accepted Answer

Mayday (distress), Pan Pan (urgency), Securite (safety)

Answer

The priority order is: Mayday (highest — distress/immediate danger), Pan Pan (urgency — serious concern), Securite (safety — navigational or meteorological warnings). Mayday takes absolute priority.

Question 5

When can a Mayday call be cancelled?

Accepted Answer

When the distress situation is resolved and the vessel is no longer in danger, the originating vessel should cancel it with 'MAYDAY — ALL STATIONS — SILENCE FINI'

Answer

The vessel that originated the Mayday (or the coast station coordinating) should cancel it when the emergency is over, using the proword 'SILENCE FINI' (pronounced 'SEE-LONCE FEE-NEE') to indicate the distress traffic is ended.

RYA SRC Practice Test

RYA SRC Practice Test

RYA SRC Distress and Urgency Calls