What signifies an urgency message on the maritime radio?

An urgency message on maritime radio is indicated by the term "Pan-pan." This term is used to convey that a situation requires assistance but does not pose an immediate threat to life or vessel safety, distinguishing it clearly from "Mayday," which signifies a life-threatening emergency.

"Pan-pan" messages typically communicate urgent situations such as a malfunction or a need for medical assistance that require attention but are not critical or life-threatening. This alert allows vessels and stations to prioritize their response without confusing it with more severe emergencies indicated by "Mayday."

The other terms have distinct meanings: "Mayday" is reserved for distress situations where there is an immediate risk to life, and "Securité" is used for safety messages or information related to navigation and other safety matters at sea. "Urgent" is not a standardized term in maritime communication protocols and does not specify the nature of the urgency. Thus, "Pan-pan" is the correct wording that signifies the appropriate level of urgency on maritime radio communications.