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PART 1

GENERAL

When it is necessary to indicate that phrases in this Vocabulary are to be used, the following messages may be sent:

"Please use the Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary".

"I will use the Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary".

If necessary, external communication messages may be preceded by the following message markers:

QUESTION indicates that the following message is of interrogative character

ANSWER indicates that the following message is the reply to a previous question

REQUEST indicates that the contents of the following message is asking for action from others with respect to the ship

INFORMATION indicates that the following message is restricted to observed facts

INTENTION indicates that the following message informs others about immediate navigational actions intended to be taken

WARNING indicates that the following message informs other traffic participants about dangers

ADVICE Indicates that the following message implies the intention of the sender to influence the recipient(s) by a recommendation

INSTRUCTION indicates that the following message implies the intention of the sender to influence the recipient(s) by a regulation.

Where possible, sentences should be introduced by one of the following verb forms:

IMPERATIVE

Always to be used when mandatory orders are being given

Note: See section 1 - Message markers.

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

"yes. . .", - followed by the appropriate phrase in full.

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

"No. . .", - followed by the appropriate phrase in full.

Where the information is not immediately available but soon will be, say:

"Stand by".

Where the information cannot be obtained, say:

"No information".

Where a message is not properly heard, say:

"Say again"

Where a message is not understood, say:

"Message not understood".

MAYDAY (repeated three times) is to be used to announce a distress message

PAN PAN (repeated three times) is to be used to announce an urgency message

SECURITE (repeated three times) is to be used to announce a safety message

5.1 What is your name (and call sign)?

5.2 How do you read me?

5.3 I read you . . . with signal strength . . .

(bad/1) (1 /barely perceptible)

(poor/2) (2/weak)

(fair/3) (3/fairly good)

(good/4) (4/good)

(excellent/5) (5/very good).

5.4 Stand by on channel. . .

5.5 Change to channel. . .

5.6 I cannot read you.

(Pass your message through vessel . . .

(Advise try channel . . . ).

5.7 I cannot understand you.

Please use the . . .

(Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary).

(International Code of Signals).

5.8 I am passing a message for vessel . . .

5.9 Correction . . .

5.10 I am ready to receive your message.

5.11 I am not ready to receive your message.

5.12 I do not have channel . . . Please use channel . . .

If any parts of the message are considered sufficiently important to need safeguarding, use the word "repeat".

Examples: "You will load 163, repeat, 163 tons bunkers".

"Do not, repeat, not overtake".

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.

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

Examples: "There are salvage operations in position 15 degrees 34 minutes North 61 degrees 29 minutes West".

"Your position is 137 degrees from Barr Head lighthouse distance two decimal four miles."

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

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.

Examples: "The Pilot boat is bearing 215° from you".

"Your bearing is 127° from the signal station".

Note: Vessels reporting their position should always quote their bearing FROM the mark, as described in paragraph 7.

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

Example: "The buoy is 030° on your port bow".

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

Preferably to be expressed in nautical miles or cables (tenths of a mile) otherwise in kilometres or metres, the unit always to be stated.

To be expressed in knots:

a) without further notation meaning speed through the water; or

b) "ground speed" meaning speed over the ground.

Numbers are to be spoken:

"One-Five-Zero" for 150.

"Two point five" for 2.5.

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

Times should be expressed in the 24 hour notation indicating whether UTC, zone time or local shore time is being used.

Note: In cases not covered by the above phraseology normal radiotelephone practice will prevail.

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