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Emergency mode

If there is grave or imminent danger, contact emergency services now.

United States maritime emergency

Call 911

Opens the native phone dialer. Fishing Mobile does not place or confirm the call itself.

Marine VHF 16 (156.8 MHz)

  1. Say MAYDAY three times.
  2. Give vessel name, call sign or registration, and description.
  3. Give position or location.
  4. State the nature of emergency and assistance needed.
  5. State the number of people aboard.
  6. Release transmit, listen, and repeat after 10 seconds if no response.

Information to give responders

  • Your current coordinates or location; say when they were observed.
  • Nature of the emergency and assistance needed.
  • Vessel name, type, color, registration/call sign, and distinguishing features.
  • Number of people aboard and injuries or urgent medical/accessibility needs.
  • Last route, heading, speed, departure, destination, and ETA.
  • Communications, PFDs, beacon, flares, and other survival equipment.

For grave or imminent danger, use marine VHF-FM Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) when available or call 911. A voice 911 call is preferred when possible; text 911 only when calling is not possible and local text-to-911 is available. Fishing Mobile has not dispatched or notified an authority unless an explicit authority receipt is shown.

Guidance verified 2026-08-10; review by 2027-02-10. This guidance is bundled for offline use.

How to Call MAYDAY

  1. Press and hold transmit button
  2. Say "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY"
  3. Say "This is [vessel name]" three times
  4. Say "MAYDAY [vessel name]"
  5. State your position (GPS coordinates or landmarks)
  6. State nature of emergency
  7. State number of people on board
  8. State condition of vessel
  9. Say "OVER" and release button

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. This is Sea Breeze, Sea Breeze, Sea Breeze. MAYDAY Sea Breeze. Position 25.7617 North, 80.1918 West. Taking on water, sinking. 4 people on board. Require immediate assistance. OVER.

Distress

VHF-FM Channel 16 (156.8 MHz)
National distress, safety, and calling frequency. Call MAYDAY for grave and imminent danger.
911
Call 911 when cellular service is available. Do not rely on cellular coverage offshore.

Towing (not distress)

Sea Tow 24/7 Dispatch
1-800-473-2869 — Membership required for free towing.
TowBoatUS 24/7 Dispatch
1-800-391-4869 — Membership required for free towing.

Commercial services. A breakdown is not a distress call; use these rather than Channel 16 when nobody is in danger.

This app does not automatically contact any of these services. In an emergency, call MAYDAY on VHF-FM Channel 16 or call 911 when cellular service is available. Automatic delivery to personal emergency contacts is currently disabled pending certification.

Fishing Mobile has not dispatched, notified, or connected an authority unless an explicit authority receipt is shown.