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Marine radio

What is the difference between Mayday and Pan-Pan?

Short answer

Mayday is distress with grave and imminent danger; Pan-Pan is urgency without immediate grave danger.

Use Mayday when life, vessel, or aircraft is in grave and imminent danger and immediate assistance is required. Use Pan-Pan for an urgent safety problem that needs help or advice but is not yet distress.

Sources and scope

Reviewed by Richard Moore on . This answer is scoped to united kingdom marine vhf and internationally harmonised procedure; check the current chart, publication, local rules and official operational guidance before acting afloat.

Quick check

What is the difference between Mayday and Pan-Pan?