JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual Vol I - US Navy

has an important safety message to transmit. In radiotelegraph
transmission the urgency signal is a CW transmission of the characters
XXX. In radiotelephone transmission it is the words, "Pan, Pan" spoken
three times immediately before transmission. Units hearing the urgency
signal should cease transmitting and listen for at least 3 minutes
before resuming normal communications.
D. Safety signals indicate that a calling station is about to
transmit a message concerning safety of navigation or give important
meteorological warnings. In radiotelephone transmission it is the
spoken word "Securite" (pronounced say-cure-etay), transmitted three
times immediately prior to transmission of the safety message. Units
hearing the safety signal should listen and not interfere with the
safety message.
313 Emergency Frequencies
Several frequencies in different radio bands are assigned for
distress, urgency, safety, or SAR signals and messages. SAR personnel
should thoroughly understand the frequencies and their authorized use.
The designated frequencies are:
A. Emergency Communications Frequencies. The unit in distress, or
a station that has been assigned controlling responsibility by the unit
in distress, controls distress traffic. However, for cases involving
international civil aviation, the station addressed by the distress
message controls distress traffic. Once communications are established
with a distressed unit, they should be maintained on the same frequency.
The following frequencies have been assigned as distress or emergency
frequencies:
1. 500 kHz - International CW/MCW distress and calling (Navy
ships are no longer required to maintain a listening watch or
log on this frequency).
2. 2182 kHz - International voice distress, safety, and calling.
3. 4125 kHz - International voice distress, safety, and calling
(backup frequency not presently guarded by Coast Guard units).
4. 6215.5 kHz - International voice distress, safety, and calling
(backup frequency not presently guarded by Coast Guard units).
5. 8364 kHz - International CW/MCW lifeboat, liferaft, and
survival craft.
6. 121.5 MHz - International voice aeronautical emergency, ELTs
and EPIRBs.
7. 156.8 MHz (channel 16) - VHF-FM international voice distress
and international voice safety and calling, Class C EPIRBs
(alternating 156.8 and 156.75 MHz).
8. 243.0 MHz - Joint/Combined military voice aeronautical
emergency and international survival craft and ELTs and