In the United Kingdom, call 999 / 112 and say you need sea rescue (the coastguard). On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.
Who you are, where you are (latitude and longitude), what happened, how many people are aboard, and what your boat looks like. The step-by-step guide has the exact words — by phone and on VHF.
How to make a MAYDAY call →That is a job for marine assistance, not sea rescue — keep the rescue line free for lives.
Mayday or a tow? →Call HM Coastguard on 999 / 112, or 112 from any phone. With a VHF radio, send MAYDAY on channel 16 or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.
112 works wherever your phone has signal and is passed on to the rescue services. Calling the maritime rescue centre directly removes a transfer step — minutes that can matter.
The one whose search-and-rescue area you are in — not the country of your SIM card. Near borders that can change during a trip; the VesselSOS app picks it from your GPS position.
All European maritime emergency numbers →
Numbers change. If this one has, tell us: support@vesselsos.com