Distress & SAR Information
GMDSS distress procedures, SAR coordination centres, NAVAREA coverage and emergency contact information for all ocean regions.
In a genuine distress situation
Transmit MAYDAY on VHF CH 16. Activate DSC distress on CH 70. Activate EPIRB. Do not delay transmitting because you are uncertain — a distress call can always be cancelled if the situation resolves.
GMDSS Distress Procedures
Initial Distress Call
VHF CH 16 / MF 2182 kHz / HF 4/6/8/12/16 MHz
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY — This is [vessel name] × 3, MMSI [number], position [lat/lon], nature of distress, number of persons on board, any other useful information, OVER
DSC Distress Alert
VHF DSC CH 70 / MF DSC 2187.5 kHz
Press distress button (hold 5 seconds) — transmits vessel ID, position (GPS auto-populated), nature of distress to all coast stations and vessels in range
EPIRB Activation
406 MHz to Cospas-Sarsat
Automatic on immersion or manual activation — transmits 15-digit hex ID, position to rescue coordination centres via satellite within minutes
SART / AIS-SART
9 GHz radar / AIS CH 75/76
Activates when detecting radar sweep — creates 12 blips on rescuer radar screen at 0.5 NM intervals along bearing
NAVAREA Coordinators
NAVAREA I — United Kingdom (UKHO)
N Atlantic, N Sea, English Channel
NAVAREA II — France
E Atlantic (tropical)
NAVAREA III — Spain
Mediterranean, Black Sea
NAVAREA IV — USA
W Atlantic
NAVAREA VII — South Africa
S Atlantic, SW Indian Ocean
NAVAREA XI — Japan
N Pacific
NAVAREA XVI — Chile
SE Pacific, Drake Passage
Major SAR Coordination Centres
MRCC Falmouth
UK waters, N Atlantic
+44 1326 317575
MRCC Brest
Bay of Biscay, Atlantic approaches
+33 2 98 22 22 22
MRCC Miami
SE USA, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean
+1 305 415 6800
MRCC Singapore
Malacca Strait, Singapore Strait
+65 6325 2585
MRCC Cape Town
Southern Africa, S Atlantic, S Indian Ocean
+27 21 938 3300
RCC Canberra
Australian SAR zone, S Pacific
+61 2 6230 6811