SÉCURITÉ

The international radiotelephony safety signal announcing an important navigational or meteorological warning or another safety message.

The word is normally spoken three times, pronounced approximately ‘say-cure-ee-tay’, followed by the addressed station or all stations, the caller’s identity and the safety message under the applicable procedure. A digital selective calling safety announcement may precede voice traffic.

SÉCURITÉ ranks below urgency and distress: PAN PAN is used for a very urgent safety message and MAYDAY for grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. The category should match the situation, and reception of a safety call does not remove the need to monitor official warnings.