Mayday

The spoken radiotelephony distress signal indicating grave and imminent danger and a need for immediate assistance.

Mayday is used for emergencies such as a vessel sinking, a serious fire or an immediate threat to life. The word derives from the French expression m’aidez, meaning “help me”, and is normally spoken three times at the start of a voice distress call so that it is recognised clearly.

A distress message should identify the vessel, give its position, state the nature of the distress and assistance required, and provide other useful information such as the number of people aboard. Exact transmission and acknowledgement procedures depend on the radio service and equipment, so operators should follow current training and official guidance.