Disclaimer:

These recommendations are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered a guarantee of safety or a substitute for professional judgment. 

Orcas.pt and its contributors are not responsible for any decisions made by the skipper based on these recommendations or for any consequences arising from interactions with orcas.

This information is intended to supplement, not replace, the advice of experienced mariners and any applicable maritime regulations.

In Portugal, Spain, France and other countries the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) - maintains a continuous listening watch on international distress frequencies VHF 16 or VHF DSC CH 70 (Not implemented in all the areas) 

Using a VHF Radio in an emergency

Where there is grave and imminent danger you can contact the MRCC uing the marine Very High Frequency (VHF) radio.

Option 1 - If your radio is equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) press and hold the distress button until the alarm stops. Wait for 15 seconds. If you have GPS on board, link the DSC radio to the GPS. This will give your distress position.

Option 2 - Option 2: Mayday call 

STEP 1 Set the radio to Channel 16 on high power.

Press the microphone and speak slowly and clearly.

STEP 2

MAYDAY - DISTRESS CALL

In cases where there is grave or imminent danger to either the vessel or persons on board, then a MAYDAY should be broadcast in the following format:

• MAYDAY,      MAYDAY, MAYDAY,

• THIS      IS ‘NAME OF VESSEL’, ‘NAME OF VESSEL’, ‘NAME OF VESSEL’ (State the      name of the vessel three times)

• MAYDAY      ‘NAME OF VESSEL’,

• POSITION      (If possible give the position from a GPS receiver or bearings from      and distance to any known fixed points e.g. “Position one mile South of      Espichel Lighthouse”)

• NATURE      OF DISTRESS (e.g. sinking, man overboard, fire on board, …)

• NUMBER      OF PERSONS ABOARD.

• ANY      OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION.

• OVER”

If is not in a life-threatening situation? You can do a Urgency call (PAN-PAN)

PAN-PAN - URGENCY CALL In cases that are considered to be grave but do not require immediate assistance and where there is no imminent danger to the vessel or persons on board, then a “PAN-PAN” should be broadcast in the following format:

• PAN-PAN,      PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS,

• THIS      IS ‘NAME OF VESSEL’, ‘NAME OF VESSEL’, ‘NAME OF VESSEL’ (State the      vessel’s name three times)

• POSITION (If possible give the position from a GPS receiver or bearings from and      distance to any known fixed points e.g. “Position one mile South of      Espichel Lighthouse”)

• NATURE      OF THE URGENCY. (e.g. Vessel adrift, mechanical failure, …)

• NUMBER      OF PERSONS ABOARD

• ASSISTANCE      REQUIRED AND ANY FURTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION.

• OVER”

SECURITÉ - SAFETY CALL In cases where an important navigational or meteorological warning should be given e.g. an orca sighting, to point out a missing mark, a ship with lights off:

• SECURITÉ,      SECURITÉ, SECURITÉ, ALL SHIPS, ALL SHIPS, ALL SHIPS,

• THIS      IS ‘NAME OF VESSEL’, ‘NAME OF VESSEL’, ‘NAME OF VESSEL’ (State the      vessel’s name three times)

• NATURE      OF THE WARNING (e.g. Orcas Sighting, sudden storm, …)

• OVER”

In the case of maritime emergency and you want to comunicate via phone

PORTUGAL

• EMERGENCY 112

• EMERGENCY + 351 214 401 919

SPAIN

• EMERGENCY 112

• EMERGENCY 900 202 202

FRANCE

• EMERGENCY 196