Corrections

When a mistake is made in a message, say:

" Mistake..." followed by the word:

" Correction... " plus the corrected part of the message.

e.g.:

" My present speed is 14 knots - mistake.

Correction, my present speed is 1-2, one-two, knots."

Readiness

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

Repetition

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

e.g.:

" 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)."

Readability code:

In checking the readability of reception use the phrase:

" How do you read (me)? "

This may be answered as follows:

I read you...

bad/one with signal strength one (i.e. barely perceptible)

poor/two with signal strength two (i.e. weak)

fair/three with signal strength three (i.e. fairly good)

good/four with signal strength four (i.e. good)

excellent/five with signal strength five (i.e. very good)

1.5 LINGUISTIC STRUCTURE OF MARINE RADIOTELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS

Introduction

English is one of IMO official languages. Maritime English, a special sub-set or variety of English, is used as a recommended working language (and in some cases as an official language) in the maritime VHF and other voice marine communications throughout the world.

Procedures

There are two basic procedures or forms of maritime VHF communications, as far as the role of the participants is concerned:

1. EXCHANGE - conversation conducted in turns between two stations (see I.5.2 and II.)

2. BROADCAST – transmission is conducted by one station while other stations

are listening or standing by (see II.6)

Purpose

The above procedures are principally used for two purposes:

1. DISTRESS, URGENCY, AND SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS (see Section III) – normally starting with a broadcast and conducted subsequently by a series of exchanges and broadcasts, and
2. ROUTINE COMMUNICATIONS (see Section V), i.e. communications other than safety. These are mainly used for notifying ship’s arrival at a port or fairway, asking for berthing arrangements, bunkering, repairs, information and instructions relating to cargo, legal or business operations of the ship, etc.

Stages

Any conversation at sea, i.e. a ship-to -ship, ship-to-shore or shore-to-ship exchange, consists of the following stages: