RYA SRC MAYDAY & Distress Procedures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct order of information in a MAYDAY message?
- MAYDAY x3, vessel name x3, position, nature of distress, persons on board, any other information, OVER (Correct answer)
- MAYDAY, position, vessel name, distress type, OVER
- Vessel name x3, MAYDAY x3, assistance required, OVER
- MAYDAY, MMSI number, vessel name, distress type, OVER
Correct answer: MAYDAY x3, vessel name x3, position, nature of distress, persons on board, any other information, OVER
The standardised MAYDAY voice message format is: MAYDAY spoken three times, vessel name spoken three times, position, nature of distress, number of persons on board, any other useful information, then OVER.
Question 2: What does MAYDAY originate from?
- The French 'm'aidez' meaning 'help me' (Correct answer)
- The English 'May Day' bank holiday
- The NATO phonetic word for the letter M
- A Royal Navy distress code from World War I
Correct answer: The French 'm'aidez' meaning 'help me'
MAYDAY comes from the French phrase 'm'aidez' (or 'mayday' as a phonetic rendering of 'm'aider') meaning 'help me'. It was adopted internationally as the standard voice distress signal.
Question 3: On which channel should a MAYDAY voice call be made?
- Channel 16 (Correct answer)
- Channel 70
- Channel 67
- Channel 06
Correct answer: Channel 16
All MAYDAY voice calls must be made on Channel 16, the international distress, safety, and calling frequency that all vessels must monitor continuously.
Question 4: What is a MAYDAY RELAY and when is it used?
- Relaying a MAYDAY on behalf of a vessel that cannot communicate itself (Correct answer)
- Repeating your own MAYDAY if not acknowledged
- A secondary distress frequency for relay stations
- A DSC relay call to coast stations
Correct answer: Relaying a MAYDAY on behalf of a vessel that cannot communicate itself
A MAYDAY RELAY is used when you receive a MAYDAY from a vessel in distress but no coast station appears to have acknowledged it. You transmit the relay to ensure the information reaches rescue services.
Question 5: What is the correct phrase to impose radio silence during a MAYDAY situation?
- SEELONCE MAYDAY (Correct answer)
- SILENCE MAYDAY
- MAYDAY SILENCE
- PAN PAN MAYDAY
Correct answer: SEELONCE MAYDAY
SEELONCE MAYDAY (from the French 'silence') is transmitted by the coast station coordinating the distress to impose radio silence on Channel 16 so distress communications are not interrupted.
Question 6: What does 'SEELONCE FEENEE' signal?
- The distress situation is over and normal communications may resume (Correct answer)
- Radio silence must be maintained
- A new distress situation has been declared
- The vessel has been found and is safe
Correct answer: The distress situation is over and normal communications may resume
SEELONCE FEENEE (from French 'silence fini') is transmitted by the coordinating station to indicate the distress is resolved and normal radio communications may resume on Channel 16.
RYA SRC MAYDAY & Distress Procedures 1
What is the correct order of information in a MAYDAY message?