Module 6 - Distress & Mayday
Seelonce Mayday and Seelonce Feenee: controlling distress traffic
What you will learn
Respond to a received distress alert without interfering, apply the five-minute assisting-vessel boundary and obey authorised distress-traffic control.
Hearing a distress alert does not make every vessel the controller. Stop interference, listen on Channel 16, build an accurate picture and allow the appropriate coast station to acknowledge and coordinate.
When a DSC distress alert sounds, immediately cease any transmission that may interfere and continue a listening watch on Channel 16. Record the identity, position, time, nature and any voice information you receive. Do not press a DSC acknowledgement casually from a leisure-vessel set or start transmitting over the Coastguard response.
The MCA small-craft procedure says that if there is still no DSC acknowledgement after five minutes, then—if you are able to offer assistance—acknowledge by voice on Channel 16. The voice acknowledgement identifies the distressed vessel, identifies your vessel, says RECEIVED MAYDAY and states the assistance you can give, including ETA if proceeding. Use any available means to relay the distress message to an appropriate coast station.
The rescue coordination centre, coordinating unit or involved coast station may control the distress traffic and impose silence with SEELONCE MAYDAY. Stations aware of the distress traffic that are not participating must not interfere. When the controlling station announces the formal end of distress traffic with SEELONCE FEENEE, normal working may resume; an ordinary listening vessel must not declare the incident over itself.
| Situation | Your radio action | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Alert received | Cease interference and listen on Channel 16 | Do not cover the Coastguard or casualty |
| Coast station acknowledges | Continue listening and follow coordination | Do not add an unnecessary competing acknowledgement |
| No DSC acknowledgement after five minutes and able to assist | Voice-acknowledge on Channel 16 and state assistance/ETA | Relay to an appropriate coast station by any available means |
| SEELONCE MAYDAY heard | Keep non-essential traffic off the distress frequency | Only distress-essential participation continues |
| SEELONCE FEENEE formally announced | Recognise that controlled distress traffic has ended | The controlling station makes the announcement |
Listen before deciding whether to transmit
Your radio alarms with a DSC distress alert. The casualty's voice message is weak, and another station begins to acknowledge it.
1. Protect the channel
Stop your own traffic, select Channel 16 and record what can be heard without transmitting over the response.
2. Assess your role
Determine whether the Coastguard has acknowledged, whether you can genuinely assist and what verified information you hold.
3. Transmit only when useful
Follow the five-minute small-craft boundary for an unacknowledged alert, or pass essential new information under the controller's direction.
Sense check: Your transmission should add assistance or verified information that the controlling station does not already have, without masking the casualty.
Common mistake or limitation
- Acknowledging immediately and competing with the appropriate coast station.
- Offering an ETA without checking whether the vessel and crew can safely assist.
- Using SEELONCE MAYDAY or SEELONCE FEENEE as if any listening vessel may take control.
Recap
- Cease interference and listen on Channel 16 first.
- After five minutes without DSC acknowledgement, voice-acknowledge only if able to assist.
- Obey the controlling station's silence and resumption messages.
Optional quick check
Section 8 of 10
A Coastguard station has already acknowledged the distress. What should an uninvolved listening yacht normally do?
Sources and factual review
Reviewed 1 September 2026 - Compass Revision editorial review.
Practice the complete received-distress workflow
The full distress module connects DSC reception, voice acknowledgement, Mayday Relay, channel control and the listening watch.