Safety of Life at Sea, Emergency Procedures and Distress Communications
Distress and urgency
Know the difference between MAYDAY (grave and imminent danger), PAN PAN (urgency - serious but not immediate danger) and SECURITE (safety message). Distress on VHF is Channel 16, with DSC alert on Channel 70. The distress call format: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is [vessel name] ×3, MAYDAY [name], position, nature of distress, assistance required, persons on board, over. Learn that EPIRB (406 MHz) and SART (9 GHz radar) are the primary beacons, and that a PLB is personal.
Emergencies
Learn the actions for man overboard (shout, throw, press MOB, keep visual contact, approach into wind, recover on the lee side), fire (stop engine, shut off fuel, use extinguisher, head into wind), flooding (find the leak, plug, use pumps), abandon ship (mayday, life raft, grab bag) and medical emergencies (first aid, evacuation). Know the lifejacket types, lifering, flares (red hand-held, red parachute, orange smoke - know their use and expiry) and fire extinguisher classes.
Traps
Questions often test the difference between MAYDAY and PAN PAN, or ask which channel to use for a DSC distress alert (Channel 70 for the alert, then Channel 16 for voice). Remember that a SART is detected on radar, not by voice, and that an EPIRB must be registered. Do not forget the grab bag and the importance of a float plan and checking weather before departure.