Distress and emergency messages are prioritized as they are critical for the safety of individuals at sea. These messages represent immediate threats to life or property, requiring swift action from all stations involved to facilitate rescue or provide assistance. The urgency of distress signals, such as those indicating a vessel is sinking or in danger, necessitates that they receive precedence over any other communications.
In contrast, messages about crew members' whereabouts, routine position updates, and discussions about daily schedules, while important, do not carry the same level of urgency. These types of messages are relevant to the operation of the vessel and the well-being of its crew, but they do not demand immediate attention in the way that distress calls do. Prioritizing distress messages ensures that the response to emergencies is as prompt and effective as possible, which is crucial in maritime operations.