Standard Marines Communication Phrases

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República Bolivariana de Venezuela

Universidad Nacional Experimental Marítima del Caribe


Cátedra de Idiomas
English VII Marine Operations

STANDARD MARINE COMMUNICATION PHRASES

As navigational and safety communications from ship to shore and vice versa, from ship
to ship and onboard ship must be precise, simple and unambiguous so as to avoid confusion and
error, there is a need to standardize the language used.
The IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) have been compiled:
✓ To assist in the greater safety of navigational and of the conduct of the ship.
✓ To standardize the language used in communication on harbors, and onboard
vessels with multilingual crews.
✓ To assist maritime training institutions in meeting the objectives mentioned
above.
1.-INTERNATIONAL PHONECTIC ALPHABET
When spelling of letters is necessary, only the following spelling table should be used:

A (alpha) H (Hotel) O (Oscar) V (Victor)


B (bravo) I (India) P (Papa) W (Whisky)
C (Charlie) J (Juliet) Q (Quebec) X ( X-ray)
D (Delta) K (Kilo) R (Romeo) Y (Yankee)
E (Echo) L (Lima) S (Sierra) Z (Zulu)
F (Foxtrox) M (Mike) T (Tango)
G (Golf) N (November) U (Uniform)

2.- MESSAGE MARKERS

Message markers are to use in shore-to-ship and ship-to-shore radio communication in general.

Message marker Examples

1.-Question What is your course?


What is your position?
2.-Answer My course is 1-2-3 degrees true.
My position is: NE of buoy number 1.5
3.-Request Permission to enter the fairway.
Please confirm your dwt.
4.-Information Wind backing and increasing.
The tanker XEROX is next.
5.-Advice Stand by on channel 6-8.
Steer course: 2-53.3 degrees true.
6.-Instruction You must alter course.
Push on starboard bow.
7.-Warning Obstruction in the fairway
Tanker aground in position …
8.-Intention I will reduce speed
I intend to be underway within period two
hours.

3.-DISTRESS, URGENCY AND SAFETY SIGNALS

MAYDAY ……………………………… used to announce a distress message.

PAN PAN ………………………………. used to announce an urgency message.

SECURITE ……………………………… used to announce a safety message.


4.-STANDARD ORGANIZATIONAL PHRASES

PROCEDURES

I will use IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases.

How do you read me? Numbers are said in separate digits

I read you one ……………….. Bad 150 one five zero


2.5 two point five or two decimal five.
I read you two ……………….. Poor
Excepting when rudder angles in wheel
I read you three ……………… Fair orders are given.
I read you four ………………. Good
I read you five ………………. Excellent

Stand by on VHF channel 1-6 (say it when decided to use it)

5.- POSITIONS

Latitude and longitude will be expressed in degrees and minutes, decimals of a minute. North,
South, East and West.

Ex. WARNING. Dangerous wreck in position 15 degrees 34 minutes North 061 degrees 29
minutes West.

6.- BEARINGS AND COURSES

They are expressed in 360 degree notation from North.

Ex. Pilot boat is bearing 215 degrees from you.

7.- DISTANCES, SPEED, TIMES

✓ Distance is expressed in nautical miles. Ex. They travelled a distance of 3 nautical


miles.
✓ Speed is expressed in knots. Ex. Most cruise ships travel about 20-25
knots.
✓ Time is expressed in the 24 hour UTC notation.
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION PHRASES
DISTRESS COMMUNICATIONS

I am/MV ... on fire (- after explosion). Is the fire under control?


Where is the fire? Yes, fire is under control.
Fire is No, fire is not under control.
~ on deck.
~ in engine-room. What kind of assistance is required?
~ in hold(s). I do not / MV ... does not require assistance.
~ in superstructure/accommodation/... . I require / MV ... requires
.
Are dangerous goods on fire? ~ fire fighting assistance.
Yes, dangerous goods are on fire. ~ breathing apparatus - smoke is toxic.
No, dangerous goods are not on fire. ~ foam extinguishers/CO2 extinguishers.
~ fire pumps.
Is there danger of explosion? ~ medical assistance/... .
Yes, danger of explosion.
No danger of explosion.
I am / MV ... not under command. Report injured persons.
No persons injured.
Number of injured persons/casualties: ... .

COLLISION REPORT DAMAGE.

I have / MV ... has collided I have / MV .. has damage above / below water
line.
~ with MV... . I am / MV ... not under command.
~ with unknown vessel / object / ... . I/MV ….cannot establish damage.
~ with ...(name) light vessel. I / MV cannot repair damage.
~ with seamark ... (charted name). I / MV ... can only proceed at slow speed.
~ with iceberg/ ... .
What kind of assistance is required?
I require / MV ... requires / escort / tug
assistance /...

SEARCH / RESCUE COMMUNICATION

I require / MV ... requires assistance.


I am / MV ... proceeding to your assistance.
What is your MMSI number? I will not abandon vessel.
My MMSI number is …. . I will abandon vessel at ... UTC.
Is your Epirb / Sart transmitting?
What is your position? Yes, my EPIRB/SART is transmitting.
My position ... .
Did you transmit a DSC distress alert?
What is your present course and speed? Yes, I transmitted a DSC alert.
My present course ... degrees, my speed ... Yes, I transmitted a DSC alert by mistake.
knots.
How many lifeboats / life rafts (with how
Report number of persons on board. many persons) will you launch?
Number of persons on board: ... . I will launch ... lifeboats / liferafts (with ...
Report injured persons. persons).
No person injured
Number of injured persons / casualties: ... . How many persons will stay on board?
No person will stay on board.
Will you abandon vessel? 2 persons will stay on board.

TECHNICAL FAILURE CARGO


I am / MV ... not under command.
I have / MV has ... lost dangerous goods of
What problems do you have / does MV ... have? IMO-Class ... in position ... .
I have / MV ... has problems with engine(s) / Containers / barrels / drums / bags / ... with
steering gear / propeller / ... . dangerous goods of IMO-Class ... adrift near
I am / MV ...is maneuvering with difficulty. position ... .
I am / MV ... is spilling
Keep clear of me / MV ... .
Navigate with caution. ~ dangerous goods of IMO-Class ... in
I require / MV ... requires tug assistance / position ...
escort / ... . ~ crude oil / ... in position ... .
I try / MV ... tries to proceed without
assistance. I require / MV… requires oil clearance
Stand by on VHF Channel ... / frequency ... . assistance - danger of pollution.
Standing by on VHF Channel ... / frequency ... I am / MV ... is dangerous source of radiation
.
PRACTICE

1.-Spell the following words using the Maritime Phonetic Alphabet.

TEU VTS
STRIPPING WINDWARD
STRINGS FAIRWAY

2.-GLOSSARY

Match the terms with their definitions

1.-To run a vessel up on a beach to prevent its sinking in deep water.


Adrift ________
2.-Uncontrolled movement at sea under the influence of current , tide
COW _________ or wind.
Derelict _______ 3.-To turn over.
Beach (to)______
4.-An emergency reversal operation of the main engines to avoid
Capsize _______ collision.
Crash-stop _________
5.-Vessel still afloat, abandoned at sea.

6.-A system of cleaning the cargo tanks by washing them with the
cargo of crude oil during discharge.

Write an example sentence for every message marker. Use maritime terminology.

1.-Question ______________________________________________________

2.-Answer _______________________________________________________

3.-Request _______________________________________________________

4.-Information ____________________________________________________

5.-Advice ________________________________________________________

6.-Instruction ____________________________________________________

7.-Warning ______________________________________________________

8.-Intenntion ____________________________________________________
SMCP GLOSSARY
Adrift Uncontrolled movement at sea under the The cruise ship left adrift with more than a
influence of current, tide or wind 1000 people on board after a power failure.
Assembly Place on deck, in mess rooms, etc., assigned to All passengers were requested to go to the
station crew and passengers where they have to meet assembly station.
according to the muster list when the
corresponding alarm is released or
announcement made
Backing (of Shift of wind direction in an anticlockwise At night the wind backs and decreases
wind) manner, for example from through the loss of daytime heating.
north to west (opposite of veering)
Berth .1 A sea room to be kept for safety around a The captain had to berth the ship without
vessel, rock, platform, etc. the aid of tugboats.
.2 The place assigned to a vessel when
anchored or lying alongside a
pier, etc.
Capsize (to) To turn over A rogue wave caused a fishing boat to
capsize.
Vessel A vessel severely restricted by her draught in A vessel constrained by her draft shall
constrained by her ability to deviate from the course followed navigate with particular caution…
her draft in relation to the available depth and width of
navigable water
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival The vessel’s ETA is continuously updated
throughout the voyage as new weather or
position data is received.
ETD Estimated Time of Departure What was the ship’s ETD ?
Flooding Major uncontrolled flow of seawater into the When water seeps or floods into a ship's
vessel interior, the vessel is slowly robbed of
buoyancy.
Foul (of Anchor has its own cable twisted around it or
anchor) has fouled an obstruction
Foul (of A line, wire, net, etc., is wound round the
propeller) propeller
IMO Class Group of dangerous or hazardous goods,
harmful substances or marine
pollutants in sea transport as classified in the
International Maritime
Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)
Leaking Escape of liquids such as water, oil, etc., out of
pipes, boilers, tanks, etc.,
or a minor inflow of seawater into the vessel
due to damage to the hull
Leeward On or towards the sheltered side of a ship;
opposite of windward
Let go (to) To set free, let loose, or cast off (of anchors,
lines, etc.)
List Here: inclination of the vessel to port side or
starboard side
Make water To have seawater flowing into the vessel due to
(to) hull damage, or hatches awash and not properly
closed
Moor (to) To secure a vessel in a particular place by
means of wires or ropes made fast to the shore,
to anchors, or to anchored mooring buoys.
Muster (to) To assemble crew, passengers or both in a
special place for purposes of checking
Muster list List of crew, passengers and others on board
and their functions in a distress or drill
Stand by (to) To be in readiness or prepared to execute an
order; to be readily available
Stand on (to) To maintain course and speed
Stripping Final pumping of tank’s residues
TEU Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit
Transshipment Here: the transfer of goods from one vessel to
(of cargo) another outside PORTS
Veer out (to) To let out a greater length of cable
Walk out (to) To reverse the action of a windlass to lower the
anchor until it is clear of the hawse pipe and
ready for dropping
Walk back (to) To reverse the action of a windlass to ease the
cable (of anchors)
Fairway Navigable part of a waterway

Compiled, Revised and Adapted by Professor Crescencio Marotta

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