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Emergency

Mayday — VHF Radio

Distress call script, vessel IDs, channels, and beacon codes.

Vessel
SV Nellie
Call sign
WDN9451
MMSI
368327170
USCG
1336754 USA

Mayday range is ~25–30 nm maximum. Press the red DSC (Digital Selective Calling) button before or during the voice call to transmit our digital ID and location automatically.

Mayday call — Channel 16 (156.8 MHz)

  1. Tune the VHF to Channel 16, press and hold the transmit button
  2. Speak slowly and clearly
  3. Say “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”
  4. Say “THIS IS NELLIE, NELLIE, NELLIE” (spoken three times)
  5. State our position clearly: “XX degrees and XX.XXX minutes North [pause] XX degrees and XX.XXX minutes West”
  6. State the nature of the emergency (sinking, fire, taking on water, medical crisis)
  7. State the assistance we need (medical assistance, rescue)
  8. Report the number of people on board and any injuries
  9. Give details: a 15 meter monohull sailboat, light silver, center cockpit, USA flagged #1336754
  10. End by saying “OVER” and release the button to listen for a reply

Channels we use

ChannelUse
CH 16Distress & calling (156.8 MHz)
CH 13Ship-to-ship, bridge-to-bridge nav safety — ships >20 m monitor in US waters
CH 72Ship-to-ship — chat at anchor
CH 68 / 69 / 71Ship-to-dinghy — “Nellie” to “Nellie Tender”

Beacon codes

BeaconCode
EPIRBADCD4 0B328 00485
PLB12DCEC B6300 FFBFF
PLB22DCEC B6F74 FFBFF
PLB32DCEC B6D14 FFBFF · CHK 8B368
PLB42DDB2 DF2EB BFDFF · CHK B8FD3 · AIS Self ID 972579687