How to Make a Pan Pan Call
How to Make a Pan Pan Call — When to Use It and Exactly What to Say
Most people know Mayday is the distress signal you send when lives are in immediate danger. Fewer people know that there is a signal one level below Mayday — the Pan Pan urgency signal — which is often the more appropriate call in serious but not immediately life-threatening situations.
Here is when to use it and exactly what to say.
Pan Pan vs Mayday — When to Use Each
Mayday — grave and imminent danger. Lives at risk right now. Vessel sinking, fire out of control, person overboard unrecovered, serious medical emergency.
Pan Pan — urgent situation requiring assistance but not immediate threat to life. Engine failure leaving you adrift, serious medical concern requiring attention, person overboard who has been recovered but is in a serious condition, significant equipment failure.
If you are not certain whether the situation warrants a Mayday — send Pan Pan first. You can escalate to Mayday if the situation deteriorates. Sending Mayday when Pan Pan was appropriate wastes rescue service resources. Sending Pan Pan when Mayday was appropriate delays response. When in doubt — if lives are at immediate risk, send Mayday.
The Pan Pan Call — Exact Words
Transmit on VHF Channel 16 at full power. Press and hold the transmit button. Pause. Then:
PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN
ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS (or COASTGUARD if you know they are monitoring)
THIS IS [vessel name] [vessel name] [vessel name]
MY POSITION IS [GPS coordinates or bearing and distance from known point]
[Nature of urgency — WE HAVE AN ENGINE FAILURE AND ARE DRIFTING / WE HAVE A CREW MEMBER WITH CHEST PAINS / etc]
I HAVE [number of persons on board]
I REQUIRE [what you need — medical advice / a tow / standby vessel]
OVER
Release the transmit button and listen for a response.
Example Pan Pan Call
“Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan. All stations all stations all stations. This is Sailing Vessel Albatross Sailing Vessel Albatross Sailing Vessel Albatross. My position is three miles south of Beachy Head. We have a crew member with serious chest pains and require medical advice. I have three persons on board. Over.”
What Happens After You Transmit
HM Coastguard will acknowledge your Pan Pan call and respond with assistance appropriate to the situation. For medical queries they will connect you with a qualified medical adviser. For mechanical failure they will advise on options and if necessary coordinate assistance.
Stay on Channel 16 until directed to move to a working channel. Do not turn off the radio.
The Coastguard may ask for additional information — your vessel description, current conditions, specific nature of the urgency.
FAQs
Can I cancel a Pan Pan call?
Yes — if the situation resolves, transmit a cancellation on Channel 16 informing all stations and the Coastguard that the urgency no longer exists. Always cancel if the situation is resolved.
What if nobody responds to my Pan Pan call?
Repeat the call. If the situation deteriorates to an immediate threat to life — upgrade to a Mayday call.
Should I use DSC for a Pan Pan?
DSC has a distress function (Mayday level) and an urgency function (Pan Pan level). For Pan Pan — activate the DSC urgency call first, then follow up with a voice Pan Pan call on Channel 16.
Print this guide and keep it near your VHF radio. In any maritime emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard or transmit on VHF Channel 16.
