When to Use a Sécurité Call vs a Pan-Pan

At sea, VHF Channel 16 is the international distress, safety, and calling frequency. Among the standardized voice calls, Sécurité and Pan-Pan are often confused. Both are lower priority than Mayday but serve distinct purposes. Understanding when to use each is essential for clear communication and an effective response from nearby vessels and rescue authorities.

Main Explanation

What it is

Sécurité (pronounced say-cure-ee-tay) is a safety call used to broadcast navigational warnings, weather alerts, or hazards to navigation. It is addressed to all stations and does not request assistance. A Pan-Pan (pronounced pahn-pahn) is an urgency call used when there is serious concern for a person or vessel but the situation does not yet meet the Mayday threshold of grave and imminent danger. Pan-Pan may be addressed to a specific station, such as the coast guard, or to all stations. The International Maritime Organization’s Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) define these calls as part of a universal language so any vessel, regardless of flag or crew, can communicate clearly in critical situations.

Why it matters

Misusing these calls can delay assistance, clutter Channel 16, or cause confusion among nearby vessels. A Sécurité call that is mistaken for a Pan-Pan may trigger an unnecessary response, while a Pan-Pan that is downgraded to a Sécurité broadcast could leave a vessel without the help it needs. Recreational sailors face information overload, conflicting advice, and outdated resources. Knowing the precise thresholds for each call reduces hesitation and ensures that the right level of urgency is communicated the first time. Channel 16 is not a conversational or radio check channel; every transmission must have a clear purpose.

How it works

Both calls begin on VHF Channel 16. For a Sécurité call, the format is: ‘Sécurité, Sécurité, Sécurité. All stations, all stations, all stations. This is [vessel name/call sign].’ The caller then states the nature of the hazard and its position, and may advise vessels to switch to a working channel for further details. For a Pan-Pan call, the format is: ‘Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan. All stations (or [specific station]), this is [vessel name/call sign].’ The caller then gives position, nature of the urgency, assistance required, and vessel description. If equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC), sailors can also send an urgency or safety alert that includes position data automatically. The voice call follows the DSC alert to provide details.

How to do it

Imagine you are on a coastal passage and spot a floating container or an unlit buoy adrift in a shipping lane. This is a hazard to navigation, not an emergency for your vessel. You would make a Sécurité call: press the transmit button, say ‘Sécurité’ three times, then ‘All stations’ three times, identify your vessel, and state the hazard’s position, description, and time observed. Advise other vessels to keep a sharp lookout. Then switch to a working channel if further discussion is needed.

Now imagine your engine fails in a busy channel but you are not in immediate danger of collision or grounding. You have no life-threatening situation, but you cannot maneuver and need assistance. This is a Pan-Pan. Call the coast guard or all stations: ‘Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan. This is [vessel name].’ State your position, the problem, the assistance required, number of people on board, and a description of your vessel. Stay on Channel 16 unless directed otherwise.

When not to do it

Do not use Sécurité for routine radio checks, casual conversation, or non-navigational announcements. Do not use Pan-Pan if life or the vessel is in immediate danger—that is a Mayday. Do not use Pan-Pan for minor issues that you can resolve without outside help, such as a minor equipment malfunction that does not affect safety. Do not rely solely on VHF voice calls; DSC, EPIRB, and other distress systems provide redundancy. Professional training and certification in marine radio operation are strongly recommended before using these calls in real situations.

Visual

Common Mistakes

Using Pan-Pan for a Mayday situation

If the vessel is sinking, on fire, or someone is in the water and cannot be recovered, the situation is grave and imminent. Using Pan-Pan instead of Mayday signals a lower priority and may delay the urgent response needed. Consequence: rescue assets may not be dispatched with the same immediacy. Correct approach: if there is any doubt, escalate to Mayday.

Using Sécurité for routine chatter or radio checks

Channel 16 is for distress, urgency, and safety calls, not for asking if your radio works or chatting with another boat. Consequence: you block the frequency and may mask a real emergency. Correct approach: use Channel 9 or a designated working channel for radio checks and routine communication.

Omitting position or vessel description in a Pan-Pan

A Pan-Pan call that does not include a clear position, vessel name, and description leaves responders unable to locate you. Consequence: delayed assistance and repeated calls. Correct approach: always state latitude and longitude or a range and bearing from a known landmark, plus vessel type, color, and number of people on board.

Broadcasting a long Sécurité message on Channel 16

Channel 16 must be kept clear for distress traffic. A lengthy Sécurité broadcast ties up the frequency. Consequence: a Mayday call from another vessel could be blocked or delayed. Correct approach: make a brief initial Sécurité call on Channel 16, then move to a working channel for the full details.

Confusing urgency with safety information

Some sailors treat a Pan-Pan as a general announcement or a Sécurité as a request for help. Consequence: the wrong level of response is triggered, or a real problem is ignored. Correct approach: ask yourself two questions—’Do I need assistance?’ If yes, it is at least a Pan-Pan. ‘Is life or the vessel in immediate danger?’ If yes, it is a Mayday. If you only need to warn others, it is a Sécurité.

Ignoring DSC capabilities

Many modern VHF radios have DSC, which can send a digital alert with your position and identity. Relying only on voice calls wastes this safety feature. Consequence: your position may not be automatically transmitted, and the alert may not reach all DSC-equipped stations. Correct approach: if your radio has DSC, use it for urgency and safety alerts, then follow with a voice call on Channel 16.

Safety Note

VHF radio calls are a tool, not a substitute for seamanship, training, or physical checks. Always monitor Channel 16 when underway, and keep a listening watch even when not in distress. Cross-check critical navigation and weather information with official sources such as the national coast guard, weather service, or local maritime authority. Never use a tablet or phone as your only navigation or communication tool—carry a fixed VHF radio, a handheld backup, and paper charts. Take a certified marine radio operator course and a recognized safety at sea course. Follow the COLREGS and all local maritime regulations. Digital tools and reference platforms complement, but never replace, proper training, human judgment, and the ability to act decisively when seconds count.