If a life is at risk, or could be soon, it’s search and rescue: a MAYDAY on VHF 16 if you have a radio, or 999 or 112 by phone, asking for the Coastguard. Always, everywhere, and you never need membership for it. If nobody is in danger and the problem is mechanical (dead engine, empty tank, flat battery), it’s a breakdown: there’s no official UK breakdown line, so you rely on private cover, your marina or another boat.
Someone in the water, an injury, fire, taking on water, drifting towards rocks or a shipping lane, the light or the weather going. Yes → MAYDAY on VHF 16, or 999 / 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Don’t downgrade a maybe: rescuers would rather stand down than start late.
That’s a breakdown, not a rescue. If you have marine breakdown cover, call your provider; otherwise your marina, your club or a boat nearby may be able to help. Anchor if it’s safe, and keep an eye on the tide and your drift.
Tell the Coastguard early: a PAN-PAN on channel 16 is for exactly this, urgent but nobody in immediate danger. Then start your tracking link so the people ashore see you drift. If it gets worse, it’s a MAYDAY and 999.
There’s no national breakdown service at sea. Search and rescue by HM Coastguard and the lifeboats is there for when lives are at risk; for a plain breakdown, these are the options we could verify:
Sources: Sea Start area, Sea Start FAQ, River Canal Rescue and GOV.UK, checked 10 Oct 2026. We list them for information only; we aren’t affiliated with any of them, and terms change, so check before you need it.
The app asks you this exact question: is anyone’s life in danger? Yes: it dials 999 in UK waters and shows you what to say, starting with “Coastguard, I am at sea”, with a MAYDAY form for your VHF. No: it keeps 999 free. It doesn’t list a UK breakdown service, so save your provider’s number in your phone before you go. VesselSOS doesn’t sell towing, isn’t affiliated with any rescue or breakdown service and isn’t a rescue service.