Pan-Pan
Pan-Pan is used for urgency: a situation concerning the safety of a vessel or person, but without immediate grave danger.
- Urgency but not Mayday
- Safety of vessel or person
Marine Radio revision module 7 of 10
PAN
Urgency & Safety Calls
Pan-Pan urgency calls, Securite safety announcements, medical advice, hazards, and how they differ from Mayday.
Pan-Pan and DSC urgency announcementsSecurite and DSC safety calls
9 guided lessons · 19 practice questions · 19 flashcards
3 outcomes · self-guided revision
- Explain pan-Pan urgency calls, Securite safety announcements, medical advice, hazards, and how they differ from Mayday.
- Apply Pan-Pan and DSC urgency announcements to a realistic onboard situation.
- Recall the core check: urgency but not Mayday.
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Securite
Securite is used for important safety information such as navigation hazards, severe weather, or other warnings relevant to nearby vessels.
- Safety information
- Navigation warnings
Choosing the Right Priority
The priority ladder is Mayday, Pan-Pan, then Securite. Choosing the right one prevents both under-reporting and unnecessary distress traffic.
- Mayday: distress
- Pan-Pan: urgency
Pan-Pan Versus Mayday
Pan-Pan is urgency traffic: serious concern for a vessel or person, but not grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. It sits below Mayday and above routine calls.
- Use Pan-Pan for urgency, not immediate life-threatening distress.
- Do not press the red DSC distress button for Pan-Pan.
Securite Safety Traffic
Securite introduces safety information, such as navigation warnings, hazards, weather information, or other messages important to safety at sea.
- Securite is safety information.
- Use it for hazards and navigational warnings.
Medical Advice Calls
A medical issue may be urgency or distress depending on severity. The radio operator's job is to choose the priority honestly, give useful information, and request the help needed.
- Escalate to Mayday if life is in grave and imminent danger.
- Use Pan-Pan for serious medical urgency that is not immediate distress.
Urgency Message Shape
A Pan-Pan voice call starts with Pan-Pan spoken three times, the station called, your vessel identity, then the urgency message. The content often resembles a Mayday message but with a di...
- Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan.
- All stations or named coastguard station as appropriate.
DSC Urgency And Safety Are Different Workflows
For urgency concerning a person or vessel, MCA guidance allows an All Ships DSC urgency call nominating a working channel. Then use Channel 16 for the short PAN-PAN announcement: PAN-PAN...
Read the full lesson: DSC Urgency And Safety Are Different WorkflowsRadiomedical Traffic And Standard Marine Phrases
For urgent medical advice at sea, PAN-PAN may be appropriate where there is serious concern but no grave and imminent danger. Call the Coastguard, state position, casualty age and sex whe...
- PAN-PAN can carry a radiomedical request when the situation is urgent but not distress.
- Give observable facts and answer follow-up questions accurately.
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