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Mayday Relay

Mayday Relay. Practice maritime VHF scenario.

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This scenario is part of the full library. Unlock all 15 VHF scenarios with the VHF SRC Course (€199, lifetime) or a Premium subscription (from €19.99/mo).

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Scenario briefing

Key teaching points

Wait 1–2 minutes after the original MAYDAY to give the coastguard time to respond.
Format: "MAYDAY RELAY MAYDAY RELAY MAYDAY RELAY, ALL STATIONS × 3, THIS IS [your vessel name × 3], MMSI [your MMSI]".
State the casualty's identity, position, nature of distress and the original time received.
Maintain SEELONCE MAYDAY — keep Channel 16 clear of routine traffic.

Common mistakes to avoid

Relaying immediately without waiting for the coastguard — you may step on the original casualty's next transmission.
Using "MAYDAY" instead of "MAYDAY RELAY" — implies you are the casualty.

Why it matters

A MAYDAY RELAY is what you do when you hear another vessel's MAYDAY but the coastguard has not acknowledged it. The relay is a legal duty under SOLAS V/33 and the procedure is distinct from the original distress — you must use the relay format, not pretend to be the casualty.

Exam relevance

MAYDAY RELAY procedure is a standard scenario in the VHF SRC oral and a regular probe in STCW GOC (Global Operator Certificate) exams.

Related scenarios

About SkipperCheck simulators

SkipperCheck offers two browser-based maritime training simulators:

ARPA · AIS · COLREG Bridge Simulator — 54 scenarios covering Rules 2, 5–10, 12–19, 23–30, 34 and 35.
VHF SRC Radio Simulator — 15 scenarios: voice Mayday, DSC distress, Mayday Relay, Pan-Pan, Sécurité, routine.

Both run in any modern browser, on desktop or mobile. No install, no plugins.