Long ago and far away, well anyway in 1963 in Groton, Connecticut, while attending U.S. Coast Guard radio school I learned the word "PAN." No not something you use with the word "pot" when cooking but a word taken from the French word "PANNE" which is translated into English as urgent.

In those days "PAN," pronounced "PAHN," was said as three individual words followed by phrase "this is" and the boat's name three times and radio call sign once, if the radio is licensed (i.e. PAN PAN PAN this is THE TRAWLER CATCH NO FISH ...[to my knowledge no such boat exists]). The call has changed slightly since those days and in place of a single word "PAN" spoken three times the proper procedure today is to use the double word "PAN-PAN" (still pronounced "PAHN") spoken three times.

An urgent message is sent on Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) and has precedence over all other traffic except a distress call ("MAYDAY".) An urgent message may be used if a person is lost overboard but only if help is needed. It may also be used to repeat an urgent storm warning from an authorized shore station and if steering or power is lost in a shipping lane.

A navigational aid malfunction or debris in the water does not warrant an urgent call but it may warrant a safety call ("SECURITY".) If possible it is best to call the Coast Guard with the information concerning these types of problems and let them decide how they want to handle the problem. When calling the Coast Guard you may use channel 16 but they will most likely shift you off to another channel like 22A

The proper way to give an urgent message is: speak the words "PAN-PAN" three time "ALL STATIONS" spoken once followed by "THIS IS" the name of your vessel three times. When applicable, after giving the name of your vessel three times, announce your radio call sign once. Describe the problem and any information what would help those responding to your call such as your position and description of your vessel. The message is ended with "THIS IS" your vessel's name and call sign (if it has one) spoken once "OVER."

Listen for response.

A typical urgent message by a boat without a radio license may be something like this: "PAN-PAN PAN-PAN PAN-PAN ALL STATIONS THIS IS THE TRAWLER CATCH NO FISH THE TRAWLER CATCH NO FISH THE TRAWLER CATCH NO FISH MAN OVERBOARD BETWEEN BUOY SIX AND BUOY TWELVE. MAN HAS NO LIFE JACKET ON AND HIS CONDITION IS UNKNOWN. IF OVERBOARD MAN IS SPOTTED PLEASE ASSIST WITH FLOTATION DEVICE OR BY REMOVING HIM FROM THE WATER AND CALL THE TRAWLER CATCH NO FISH. THE CATCH NO FISH A 40 FOOT LONG WHITE WITH BLUE TRIM TRAWLER CURRENTLY LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF BUOY TWELVE HEADING SOUTH TOWARDS BOUY SIX THIS IS THE TRAWLER CATCH NO FISH OVER"

Always remember the boat radio is a tool and not a toy. There are a lot of potential users with very few channels available so be sure any message, whether it is distress, urgent, safety, or routine, is needed to be transmitted before pushing the button on the make and transmitting.

NOTE: The example call is for illustration purpose only and refers to no real person, boat, event, or place.