Okuzeka
Maritime & Shipping vocabulary · Radio Communication & SMCP

Mayday

Meaning in maritime & shipping, with examples

/ˈmeɪdeɪ/nounCore term

In maritime & shipping, mayday means: The international radio distress signal, spoken three times, used when a ship, aircraft or person is in grave and imminent danger and needs immediate help.

In Turkish: tehlike çağrısı, imdat çağrısı

How it is used

A distress call starts 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is…', followed by the ship's name, call sign, position, the nature of the distress and the help required. It is usually sent first by DSC and then by voice on VHF channel 16.

Example sentences

  1. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is motor vessel Blue Star, Blue Star, Blue Star.

  2. The coast station acknowledged the mayday and sent a rescue boat.

Common collocations

  • send a mayday
  • mayday call
  • mayday relay
  • acknowledge a mayday
  • pan-panThe radio urgency signal, spoken three times, used when there is an urgent problem concerning the safety of a ship or a person but no grave and imminent danger.
  • sécuritéThe radio safety signal, spoken three times, used before a message about navigational or weather safety, such as a buoy out of position or a gale warning.
  • channel 16The international VHF frequency (156.8 MHz) reserved for distress, urgency and safety calls and for first contact between stations. Ships at sea keep listening on it at all times.
  • GMDSSGlobal Maritime Distress and Safety System: the international system of radio and satellite equipment and procedures that lets ships send distress alerts and receive safety information anywhere at sea.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Radio Communication & SMCP

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: