STANDARD MARINE COMMUNICATION PHRASES - SELECTED EXAMPLES
IMO STANDARD MARINE COMMUNICATION PHRASES: PART A
Part A covers phrases applicable in external communications from ship to shore, shore to ship and ship to ship as required by STCW 1978, as revised, Table A-II/1, as well as phrases applicable on board vessels in conversations between Pilots and bridge teams as required by Regulation 14(4) of Chapter V of SOLAS 1974, as revised.
A1 EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION PHRASES
Attention: The use of Standard Phrases in vessels' external communications does not in any way exempt from application of the radiotelephone procedures as set out in the ITU Radio Regulations.
A1/1 Distress traffic
The distress traffic controlling station/other stations may impose radio silence on any interfering stations by using the term "Seelonce Mayday/Distress", unless the latter have messages about the distress.
A1/1.1 Distress communications
Note: A distress traffic always has to commence with stating the position of the vessel in distress as specified in "GENERAL 11 Positions /13 Bearings" if it is not included in the DSC distress alert.
.1 Fire, explosion
Source: Fabe D., Suban V.: Maritime Verbal Communication, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of maritime studies and transport, Portorož, Slovenia 2003 under permission of IMO
IMO STANDARD MARINE COMMUNICATION PHRASES: PART A
Part A covers phrases applicable in external communications from ship to shore, shore to ship and ship to ship as required by STCW 1978, as revised, Table A-II/1, as well as phrases applicable on board vessels in conversations between Pilots and bridge teams as required by Regulation 14(4) of Chapter V of SOLAS 1974, as revised.
A1 EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION PHRASES
Attention: The use of Standard Phrases in vessels' external communications does not in any way exempt from application of the radiotelephone procedures as set out in the ITU Radio Regulations.
A1/1 Distress traffic
The distress traffic controlling station/other stations may impose radio silence on any interfering stations by using the term "Seelonce Mayday/Distress", unless the latter have messages about the distress.
A1/1.1 Distress communications
Note: A distress traffic always has to commence with stating the position of the vessel in distress as specified in "GENERAL 11 Positions /13 Bearings" if it is not included in the DSC distress alert.
.1 Fire, explosion
.1 I am / MV ... on fire (- after explosion).
.2 Where is the fire? .
.2.1 Fire is
.3.1 Yes, dangerous goods are on fire.
.3.2 No, dangerous goods are not on fire.
.4 Is there danger of explosion?
.4.1 Yes, danger of explosion.
.4.2 No danger of explosion.
.5 I am / MV ... not under command.
.6 Is the fire under control?
.6.1 Yes, fire is under control.
.6.2 No, fire is not under control.
.7 What kind of assistance is required?
.7.1 I do not / MV ... does not require assistance.
.2 Where is the fire? .
.2.1 Fire is
- on deck.
- in engine-room.
- in hold(s).
- in superstructure/accommodation/... .
.3 Are dangerous goods on fire?- in engine-room.
- in hold(s).
- in superstructure/accommodation/... .
.3.1 Yes, dangerous goods are on fire.
.3.2 No, dangerous goods are not on fire.
.4 Is there danger of explosion?
.4.1 Yes, danger of explosion.
.4.2 No danger of explosion.
.5 I am / MV ... not under command.
.6 Is the fire under control?
.6.1 Yes, fire is under control.
.6.2 No, fire is not under control.
.7 What kind of assistance is required?
.7.1 I do not / MV ... does not require assistance.
.7.2 I require / MV ... requires
.8.1 No persons injured.
.8.2 Number of injured persons/casualties: ... .
.2 Flooding- fire fighting assistance.
- breathing apparatus - smoke is toxic.
- foam extinguishers/CO2 extinguishers.
- fire pumps.
- medical assistance/... .
.8 Report injured persons.- breathing apparatus - smoke is toxic.
- foam extinguishers/CO2 extinguishers.
- fire pumps.
- medical assistance/... .
.8.1 No persons injured.
.8.2 Number of injured persons/casualties: ... .
.1 I am / MV ... is flooding below water line/in the engine room/in the hold(s).
.2 I / MV ... cannot control flooding.
.3 What kind of assistance is required?
.3.1 I require / MV ... requires pumps/divers, ... .
.3.2 I will send pumps/divers/... .
.3.3 I cannot send pumps/divers ... .
.4 I have / MV ... has dangerous list to port side/starboard.
.5 I am/ MV ... in critical condition.
.6 Flooding is under control.
.7 I / MV ... can proceed without assistance.
.8 I require/ MV ... requires escort/tug assistance/... .
.3 Collision.2 I / MV ... cannot control flooding.
.3 What kind of assistance is required?
.3.1 I require / MV ... requires pumps/divers, ... .
.3.2 I will send pumps/divers/... .
.3.3 I cannot send pumps/divers ... .
.4 I have / MV ... has dangerous list to port side/starboard.
.5 I am/ MV ... in critical condition.
.6 Flooding is under control.
.7 I / MV ... can proceed without assistance.
.8 I require/ MV ... requires escort/tug assistance/... .
.1 I have / MV ... has collided
.2.1 I have / MV ... has damage above / below water line.
.2.2 I am / MV ... not under command.
.2.3 I / MV ... cannot establish damage.
.2.4 I / MV cannot repair damage.
.2.5 I / MV ... can only proceed at slow speed.
.3 What kind of assistance is required?
.3.1 I require / MV ... requires / escort / tug assistance /... .
.4 Grounding-with MV
- with unknown vessel/object / ... .
- with ...(name) light vessel.
- with seamark ... (charted name).
- with iceberg/ ... .
.2 Report damage.- with unknown vessel/object / ... .
- with ...(name) light vessel.
- with seamark ... (charted name).
- with iceberg/ ... .
.2.1 I have / MV ... has damage above / below water line.
.2.2 I am / MV ... not under command.
.2.3 I / MV ... cannot establish damage.
.2.4 I / MV cannot repair damage.
.2.5 I / MV ... can only proceed at slow speed.
.3 What kind of assistance is required?
.3.1 I require / MV ... requires / escort / tug assistance /... .
.1 I am / MV... aground.
.2 I require / MV... requires tug assistance / pumps / ... .
.3 What part of your vessel is aground?
.3.1 Aground forward / amidships /aft / full length.
.3.2 I cannot establish which part is aground.
.4 Warning. Uncharted rocks in position ... .
.5 Risk of grounding at low water.
.6 I / MV... will jettison cargo to refloat.
.6.1 Warning! Do not jettison IMO-Class cargo!
.7 When do you / does MV... expect to refloat?
.7.1 I expect / MV... expects to refloat
.8.1 I / MV... can / will beach in position ... .
.8.2 I / MV... cannot beach.
.5 List - danger of capsizing.2 I require / MV... requires tug assistance / pumps / ... .
.3 What part of your vessel is aground?
.3.1 Aground forward / amidships /aft / full length.
.3.2 I cannot establish which part is aground.
.4 Warning. Uncharted rocks in position ... .
.5 Risk of grounding at low water.
.6 I / MV... will jettison cargo to refloat.
.6.1 Warning! Do not jettison IMO-Class cargo!
.7 When do you / does MV... expect to refloat?
.7.1 I expect / MV... expects to refloat
-at ... UTC.
- when tide rises.
- when weather improves.
- when draft decreases.
- with tug assistance / ... .
.8 Can you / can MV... beach?- when tide rises.
- when weather improves.
- when draft decreases.
- with tug assistance / ... .
.8.1 I / MV... can / will beach in position ... .
.8.2 I / MV... cannot beach.
.1 I have / MV... has dangerous list to port / starboard.
.2 I / MV... will
.6 Sinking.2 I / MV... will
- transfer cargo / bunkers to stop listing.
- jettison cargo to stop listing.
.3 I am / MV... in danger of capsizing (list increasing).- jettison cargo to stop listing.
.1 I am / MV... sinking after collision / grounding / flooding / explosion /.
.2 I require / MV... requires assistance.
.3 I am / MV... proceeding to your assistance.
.4 ETA at distress position within ... hours / at ... UTC.
.7 Disabled and adrift.2 I require / MV... requires assistance.
.3 I am / MV... proceeding to your assistance.
.4 ETA at distress position within ... hours / at ... UTC.
.1 I am / MV...
.8 Armed attack / piracy- not under command.
- adrift.
- drifting at ... knots to ... (cardinal points).
- drifting into danger.
.2 I require / MV... requires tug assistance.- adrift.
- drifting at ... knots to ... (cardinal points).
- drifting into danger.
.1 I am / MV... under attack by pirates.
.1.1 1 / MV... was under attack by pirates.
.2 I require / MV... requires assistance.
.3 What kind of assistance is required?
.3.1 I require / MV... requires
.4.1 I have / MV has
.5 Can you / can MV... proceed?
.5.1 Yes, I / MV... can proceed.
.5.2 No, I / MV... cannot proceed.
.9 Undesignated distress.1.1 1 / MV... was under attack by pirates.
.2 I require / MV... requires assistance.
.3 What kind of assistance is required?
.3.1 I require / MV... requires
- medical assistance.
- navigational assistance.
- military assistance.
- tug assistance.
-escort / ... .
.4 Report damage.- navigational assistance.
- military assistance.
- tug assistance.
-escort / ... .
.4.1 I have / MV has
- no damage.
- damage to navigational equipment / ... .
.4.2 I am / MV... not under command.- damage to navigational equipment / ... .
.5 Can you / can MV... proceed?
.5.1 Yes, I / MV... can proceed.
.5.2 No, I / MV... cannot proceed.
.1 I have / MV... has problems with cargo /.engine(s) / navigation / ... .
.2 I require / MV... requires ... .
.10 Abandoning vessel.2 I require / MV... requires ... .
.1 1/ crew of MV ... must abandon vessel... after explosion / collision /
grounding / flooding / piracy / armed attack / ... .
.11 Person overboardgrounding / flooding / piracy / armed attack / ... .
. 1 I have / MV... has lost person(s) overboard in position ... .
.2 Assist with search in vicinity of position ... .
. 3 All vessels in vicinity of position ... keep sharp lookout and report to ... .
.4 I am / MV... is proceeding for assistance. ETA at ... UTC / within ... hours.
.5 Search in vicinity of position ... .
.5.1 I am / MV... is searching in vicinity of position ... .
. 6 Aircraft ETA at ... UTC / within ... hours to assist in search.
. 7 Can you continue search?
. 7.1 Yes, I can continue search.
. 7.2 No, I cannot continue search.
. 8 Stop search.
. 8.1 Return to ... .
. 8.2 Proceed with your voyage.
.10 What is the result of search?
.10.1. The result of search is negative.
.11 I/ MV ... located / picked up person(s) in position ... .
.12 Person picked up is crew/member / passenger of MV ... .
.13 What is condition ofperson(s)?
.13.1 Condition ofperson(s) bad / good.
.13.2 Person(s) dead.
.2 Assist with search in vicinity of position ... .
. 3 All vessels in vicinity of position ... keep sharp lookout and report to ... .
.4 I am / MV... is proceeding for assistance. ETA at ... UTC / within ... hours.
.5 Search in vicinity of position ... .
.5.1 I am / MV... is searching in vicinity of position ... .
. 6 Aircraft ETA at ... UTC / within ... hours to assist in search.
. 7 Can you continue search?
. 7.1 Yes, I can continue search.
. 7.2 No, I cannot continue search.
. 8 Stop search.
. 8.1 Return to ... .
. 8.2 Proceed with your voyage.
.10 What is the result of search?
.10.1. The result of search is negative.
.11 I/ MV ... located / picked up person(s) in position ... .
.12 Person picked up is crew/member / passenger of MV ... .
.13 What is condition ofperson(s)?
.13.1 Condition ofperson(s) bad / good.
.13.2 Person(s) dead.
Source: Fabe D., Suban V.: Maritime Verbal Communication, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of maritime studies and transport, Portorož, Slovenia 2003 under permission of IMO
Last modified: Saturday, 25 April 2020, 7:50 PM