RYA SRC MAYDAY & Distress Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What medical information prefix is used when requesting urgent medical advice from a coast station?
- PAN PAN MEDICO (Correct answer)
- MAYDAY MEDICAL
- SECURITE HEALTH
- PAN PAN URGENCY
Correct answer: PAN PAN MEDICO
PAN PAN MEDICO is the internationally recognised prefix for communications involving urgent medical situations at sea, used when medical advice or assistance is needed but the situation is not immediately life-threatening.
Question 2: What action should a vessel take on hearing a MAYDAY if no coast station acknowledges within a few minutes?
- Transmit a MAYDAY RELAY on behalf of the distressed vessel (Correct answer)
- Transmit their own MAYDAY to alert other vessels
- Switch to Channel 70 and send a DSC relay
- Contact the vessel directly and ask for more information
Correct answer: Transmit a MAYDAY RELAY on behalf of the distressed vessel
If no coast station acknowledges a MAYDAY within a reasonable period, any vessel that has received the message should transmit a MAYDAY RELAY to ensure rescue services are alerted.
Question 3: What information should be included in a MAYDAY RELAY message?
- MAYDAY RELAY x3, your vessel name, all details of the vessel in distress as received (Correct answer)
- Only the position of the distressed vessel
- Your vessel's details and your position
- MAYDAY RELAY x3 followed by silence to allow the distressed vessel to transmit
Correct answer: MAYDAY RELAY x3, your vessel name, all details of the vessel in distress as received
A MAYDAY RELAY includes MAYDAY RELAY spoken three times, your vessel's name identifying yourself as the relaying station, then all the details received about the vessel in distress including their name, position, and nature of emergency.
Question 4: Can a MAYDAY be transmitted by any person on board, not just the skipper?
- Yes, any person on board may transmit a MAYDAY if necessary (Correct answer)
- No, only the licensed radio operator
- No, only the skipper or master
- Yes, but only if the skipper is incapacitated
Correct answer: Yes, any person on board may transmit a MAYDAY if necessary
In a genuine life-threatening emergency, any person on board may transmit a MAYDAY regardless of whether they hold a radio licence. Saving life takes absolute priority over licensing requirements.
Question 5: What is the international phonetic alphabet word for the letter 'A'?
- Alpha
- Apple
- Alfa (Correct answer)
- America
Correct answer: Alfa
In the NATO phonetic alphabet used in marine radio, the letter A is represented by 'Alfa' (spelled without the 'ph' to ensure correct pronunciation by non-English speakers internationally).
Question 6: After a successful rescue, who broadcasts the end of the MAYDAY situation?
- HM Coastguard (the incident coordinator) (Correct answer)
- The rescued vessel
- The first vessel to acknowledge the MAYDAY
- Any vessel at the scene
Correct answer: HM Coastguard (the incident coordinator)
The incident coordinator, typically HM Coastguard, broadcasts the end of the MAYDAY situation using SEELONCE FEENEE to officially release Channel 16 from distress status and allow normal communications to resume.
RYA SRC MAYDAY & Distress Procedures 5
What medical information prefix is used when requesting urgent medical advice from a coast station?