UNIT 2

THE STANDARD MARINE COMMUNICATION PHRASES (SMCP) –

INTRODUCTION

SPEAKING

Why is it important to share a common vocabulary on board ship?

What do you understand by Standard Marine Communication Phrases?
What type of information do you think these phrases cover?
Do you think that a proper command of these phrases will reduce the risk of maritime
accidents?

As navigational and safety communications from ship to shore and vice versa,
from ship to ship, and on board ship must be precise, simple and unambiguous so as to avoid
confusion and error, there is a need to standardize the language used. This is of particular
importance in the light of the increasing number of internationally trading vessels with crews
speaking many different languages, since problems of communication may cause
misunderstandings leading to dangers to the vessel, the people on board and the environment.
In 1973, the Maritime Safety Committee agreed, at its twenty-seventh session that where
language difficulties arise a common language should be used for navigational purposes, and
that language should be English. In consequence the Standard Marine Navigational
Vocabulary (SMNV) was developed, adopted in 1977 and amended in 1985.
In 1992, the Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixtieth session, instructed the Sub-
Committee on Safety of Navigation to develop a more comprehensive standardized safety
language than SMNV 1985, taking into account the changing conditions in modern seafaring
and covering all major safety related verbal communications.
 At its sixty-eighth session in 1997, the Maritime Safety Committee adopted the Draft
IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) developed by the Sub-Committee on
Safety of Navigation. The draft IMO SMCP, following international trials, was amended at
the forty-sixth session of this Sub-Committee, and was given final consideration by the
Maritime Safety Committee at its seventy-fourth session in the light of remarks received by
the Organization. The IMO SMCP was adopted by the Assembly in November 2001 as
resolution A. 918(22).
Under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as revised 1995, the ability to use and understand the IMO
SMCP is required for the certification of officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of
500 gross tonnage or more.

2.1. Position of the IMO SMCP in maritime practice

The IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) has been compiled:

- to assist in the greater safety of navigation and of the conduct of the ship,
- to standardize the language used in communication for navigation at sea, in
port approaches, waterways and harbours, and on board vessels with
multilingual crews, and
- to assist maritime training institutions in meeting the objectives mentioned
above.
These phrases are not intended to supplant or contradict the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 or special local rules or recommendations made by IMO
concerning ships' routing, neither are they intended to supersede the International Code of
Signals, and their use in ship’s external communications has to be in strict compliance with
the relevant radiotelephone procedures as set out in the ITU Radio Regulations. Furthermore,
the IMO SMCP, as a collection of individual phrases, should not be regarded as any kind of
technical manual providing operational instructions.

The IMO SMCP meets the requirements of the STCW Convention, 1978, as revised,
and of the SOLAS Convention, 1974, as revised, regarding verbal communications;
moreover, the phrases cover the relevant communication safety aspects laid down in these
Conventions.

Use of the IMO SMCP should be made as often as possible in preference to other
wording of similar meaning; as a minimum requirement, users should adhere as closely as
possible to them in relevant situations. In this way they are intended to become an acceptable
safety language, using English for the verbal interchange of intelligence among individuals of
all maritime nations on the many and varied occasions when precise meanings and
translations are in doubt, as is increasingly evident under modern conditions at sea.

2.2. Organization of the IMO SMCP

The IMO SMCP is divided into External Communication Phrases and On-board
Communication Phrases as far as its application is concerned, and into Part A and Part B as to
its status within the framework of STCW 1978 as revised. Part A covers phrases applicable in
external communications, and may be regarded as the replacement of the Standard Marine
Navigational Vocabulary 1985, which is required to be used and understood under the STCW
Code, 1995, Table A-II/I. This part is enriched by essential phrases concerning ship handling
and safety of navigation to be used in on-board communications, particularly when the Pilot is
on the bridge, as required by Regulation 14(4), Chapter V, SOLAS 1974, as revised. Part B
calls attention to other on-board standard safety-related phrases which, supplementary to
Part A may also be regarded as useful for maritime English instruction.

2.3. Basic communicative features

The IMO SMCP builds on a basic knowledge of the English language. It was drafted
intentionally in a simplified version of maritime English in order to reduce grammatical,
lexical and idiomatic varieties to a tolerable minimum, using standardized structures for the
sake of its function aspects, i.e. reducing misunderstanding in safety-related verbal
communications, thereby endeavoring to reflect present maritime English language usage on
board vessels and in ship-to-shore/ship-to-ship communications.

This means that in phrases offered for use in emergency and other situations
developing under considerable pressure of time or psychological stress, as well as in
navigational warnings, a block language is applied which uses sparingly or omits the function
words the, a/an, is/are, as done in seafaring practice. Users, however, may be flexible in this
respect.

2.4. GENERAL

1 Procedure

When it is necessary to indicate that the IMO SMCP are to be used, the following message
may be sent:

"Please use IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases."

"I will use IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases."

2 Spelling

Spelling of letters

When spelling is necessary, only the following spelling table should be used:
3
Letter Code Letter Code
A Alfa N November
B Bravo O Oscar
C Charlie P Papa
D Delta Q Quebec
E Echo R Romeo
F Foxtrot S Sierra
G Golf T Tango
H Hotel U Uniform
I India V Victor
J Juliet W Whisky
K Kilo X X-ray
L Lima Y Yankee
M Mike Z Zulu
Spelling of digits and numbers

A few digits and numbers have a modified pronunciation compared to general English:

Number Spelling Pronunciation

0 zero ZEERO
1 one
WUN
2 two
TOO
3 three TREE
4 four FOWER
5 five
FIFE
6 six SIX
7 seven SEVEN
8 eight AIT
9 nine NINER
1000 thousand TOUSAND

2.5. MESSAGE MARKERS

In shore-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication or radio communication in general,

the following eight Message Markers may be used:

(1) Instruction
(2) Advice
(3) Warning
(4) Information
(5) Question
(6) Answer
(7) Request
(8) Intention

As conversations on VHF usually operate in call-and-response pairs of messages, the

Seaspeak message markers include pairs such as:

1) Question: “What is your position?”

Answer: “My position is 3 miles E of Cape Midia”
-
2) Instruction: “Go to berth number 5”
Instruction received: “I will go to berth number 5”

3) Advice: Please anchor, distance: two miles from Star Point

Advice Received: I will anchor, distance: two miles from Star Point.
4) Request: I require two tugs.
Request received: You require two tugs.

5) Information: The pilot is waiting near buoy number six.

Information received: The pilot is waiting near buoy number six.

6) Intention: I intend to turn to port.

Intention received: You intend to turn to port.

7) Warning: I am manoeuvring with difficulty.

Warning received: You are manoeuvring with difficulty

2.6. Ambiguous words

Some words in English have meanings depending on the context in which they appear.
Misunderstandings frequently occur, especially in VTS communications, and have produced
accidents. Such words are: the conditionals "may", "might", "should" and "could’;
The word "can". The word "can" describes either the possibility or the capability of doing
something. In the IMO SMCP the situations where phrases using the word "can" appear
make it clear whether a possibility is referred to. In an ambiguous context, however, say, for
example: "QUESTION. Do I have permission to use the shallow draft fairway at this time?"
Do not say: "Can I use the shallow draft fairway at this time?" if you are asking for a
permission. (The same applies to the word "may").

2.7. Standard verbs

Do not use the verbs HAVE TO / WANT / MAY / MIGHT / CAN / COULD / SHOULD
Do not say: You have to alter course to port, but say: You must alter course.
Do not say: Do I have to take a pilot?, but say: Must I take a pilot?
Do not say: I want to pass ahead of you, but say: Intention: I wish to pass ahead of you.
Do not say: You may not enter the fairway, but say: Do not enter the fairway.
Do not say: May I proceed?, but say: Do I have permission to proceed?
Do not say: I might enter the fairway now, but say: Intention: I will enter the fairway.
Do not say: Can I heave up anchors?, but say: Do I have permission to heave anchors?
Do not say: You might run into danger, but say: Warning: you are running into danger!
Do not say: You could run into danger, but say: Warning: you are running into danger!
Do not say: You should reduce your speed, but say: You must reduce speed.

Shortened forms such as: I’M / YOU’RE / DON’T / I’VE must not be used. Instead, you
must use: I AM, YOU ARE, DO NOT, I HAVE

2.8. Responses

When the answer to a question is in the affirmative, say:

"Yes .... " followed by the appropriate phrase in full.

When the answer to a question is in the negative, say:

"No ..." followed by the appropriate phrase in full.
When the information requested is not immediately available, say:
"Stand by …" followed by the time interval within which the information will be available.

When the information requested cannot be obtained, say:

"No information."

When an INSTRUCTION (e.g. by a VTS Station, naval vessel or other fully authorized
personnel ) or an ADVICE is given, respond if in the affirmative:
"I will/can ... " - followed by the instruction or advice in full; and, if in the negative, respond:
"I will not/cannot ... " - followed by the instruction or advice in full.

Example: "ADVICE. Do not overtake the vessel to the North of you."

Respond: "I will not overtake the vessel to the North of me."
Responses to orders and answers to questions of special importance both in external and
on-board communication are given in wording in the phrases concerned.

2.9. Standard organizational phrases

The question "How do you read (me)?" may be answered by using the phrase “I read you
bad”, “-poor”, “-fair”, “-good” or “-excellent”, or by a signal strength indication.

"I read you ...

bad/one signal strength one (i.e. barely perceptible)
poor/two signal strength two (i.e. weak)
fair/three signal strength three (i.e. fairly good)
good/four signal strength four (i.e. good)
excellent/five signal strength five (i.e. very good)

When it is advisable to remain on a VHF Channel / frequency, say:

"Stand by on VHF Channel ... / frequency ... ."

When it is accepted to remain on the VHF channel / frequency indicated, say:

"Standing by on VHF Channel ... / frequency ... ."

When it is advisable to change to another VHF Channel / frequency, say:

"Advise (you) change to VHF Channel ... / frequency ... ."
"Advise(you) try VHF Channel .. / frequency... ."

When the changing of a VHF Channel / frequency is accepted, say:

"Changing to VHF Channel ... / frequency ... ."

2.10. Corrections

When a mistake is made in a message, say:

"Mistake ..." followed by the word:
"Correction ... " plus the corrected part of the message.

Example: "My present speed is 14 knots - mistake.

Correction, my present speed is 12, one-two, knots."
 2.11. Readiness

"I am/I am not ready to receive your message."

2.12. Repetition

If any part of the message is considered sufficiently important to need safeguarding, say:
"Repeat ... " - followed by the corresponding part of the message.

Example: "My draft is 12.6 repeat one-two decimal 6 metres."

"Do not overtake - repeat - do not overtake."

When a message is not properly heard, say:

"Say again (please)."

2.13. Numbers

Numbers are to be spoken in separate digits:

"One-five-zero" for 150

"Two decimal five" or
"Two point five" for 2.5

Note: Attention! When rudder angles, e.g. in wheel orders, are given, say:

"Fifteen" for 15 or
"Twenty" for 20, etc.

2.14. Positions

When latitude and longitude are used, these shall be expressed in degrees and minutes
(and decimals of a minute if necessary), North or South of the Equator and East or
West of Greenwich.

Example: "WARNING. Dangerous wreck in position 15 degrees 34 minutes North

061 degrees 29 minutes West."

When the position is related to a mark, the mark shall be a well-defined charted object. The
bearing shall be in the 360 degrees notation from true north and shall be that of the
position FROM the mark.

Example: "Your position bearing 137 degrees from Big Head lighthouse
distance 2.4 nautical miles."

2.15. Bearings
 The bearing of the mark or vessel concerned is the bearing in the 360 degree notation
from north (true north unless otherwise stated), except in the case of relative bearings.
Bearings may be either FROM the mark or FROM the vessel.

Example: "Pilot boat is bearing 215 degrees from you."

Note: Vessels reporting their position should always quote their bearing FROM the
mark, as described in paragraph 11.2 of this section.

Relative bearings

Relative bearings can be expressed in degrees relative to the vessel's head. More
frequently this is in relation to the port or starboard bow.

Example: "Buoy 030 degrees on your port bow."

(Relative D/F bearings are more commonly expressed in the 360 degree notation.)

2.16. Courses

Always to be expressed in 360 degree notation from north (true north unless otherwise
stated). Whether this is to TO or FROM a mark can be state

2.17. Distances

To be expressed in nautical miles or cables (tenths of a mile), the unit always to be

stated.

2.18. Speed

To be expressed in knots:

- without further notation, meaning speed through the water; or,

- "ground speed", meaning speed over the ground.

2.19. Times

Times should be expressed in the 24 hour hours UTC notation; if local time will be
used in ports or harbours it should clearly be stated.

2.20. Geographical names

Place names used should be those on the chart or in Sailing Directions in use.
Should these not be understood, latitude and longitude should be given.
COMPREHENSION
I. Answer the following questions:

A) Why must SMCP be used in VHF conversation?

B) What is the difference between Repeat and Say again in VHF communication?
C) What does Stand by! imply in VHF- comunication?

II. In order to understand a message completely it is necessary to know its function. See
if you can identify the function of these messages in the spaces provided:

………………: Buoy number two-six is unlit.

……………....: What are my berthing instructions?
………………: No vessels are at the anchorage.
……………....: Go to berth number eight.
………………: What is your draught aft?
………………: Advise you keep your present course.
………………: I expect to be underway within period: two hours.
………………: Please provide fire-fighting assistance.
………………: Push on my port bow.
……………….: The vessel ahead of you is stopping.

III. Rewrite these sentences into the Seaspeak format:

a) Large vessel leaving. Keep clear of the approach channel.

………………………………………………………………………………….
b) At what time do you expect to arrive at the harbour entrance?
………………………………………………………………………………….
c) I will attempt rescue by Breeches-buoy.
………………………………………………………………………………….
d) You did say your length was two hundred metres, didn’t you?
…………………………………………………………………………………
e) It would be better for you to pass ahead of me as I am slowing down.
…………………………………………………………………………………
f) I’m afraid that shore based radar assistance is not available.
………………………………………………………………………………….
g) Ok. Thanks for the warning. I’ll keep a look out for wreckage.
………………………………………………………………………………….

IV. Transform the following sentences into SMCPs:

1) Fire cannot be extinguished by the vessel’s own equipment.

2) Six crewmembers have been injured.
3) Three crewmembers were killed.
4) Vessel has had a collision with an unknown object.
5) Vessel is adrift.
6) Vessel is being attacked by pirates.
7) No damage has been caused to the ship and the vessel will continue her voyage.
8) Someone has fallen overboard.
 9) Vessel needs asks for medical assistance.
10) Vessel asks for helicopter with doctor.
11) Message from RCC: helicopter is airborne and on its way.
12) The helicopter is going to use a rescue sling.

V. Spell your full name by means of using the phonetic alphabet.