What is Distress traffic?

• A. All messages relative to the immediate assistance required by a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle threatened by grave or imminent danger, such as life and safety of persons on board, or man overboard.
• B. Routine position reports
• C. Weather warnings
• D. Navigational warnings

Answer: (A)

Distress traffic covers messages about immediate assistance required because a vessel, aircraft, or other vehicle is in grave or imminent danger, putting lives at risk or involving a person overboard. This category has the highest priority in maritime radio communications and includes Mayday-style calls and any related urgent traffic that requires swift action to save lives.

Routine position reports are regular and non-urgent, weather warnings inform about hazardous weather conditions, and navigational warnings alert about hazards to navigation. None of these imply an immediate life-threatening situation, so they are not distress traffic.