STUDENTS COURSEBOOK
MARITIME ENGLISH
3rd YEAR
1st Semester
COURSE COORDINATOR:
MARITIME ENGLISH
CONTENTS
PAGE
1 Navigation
Underway
3 Buoyage
18
4 The Weather
26
40
Bibliography
47
RATIONALE
MARITIME ENGLISH
The willingness of practitioners to participate regularly in updating courses is crucial
to maintaining and enhancing their professional knowledge, competencies and skills. In order
to minimise the risk of professional incompetence being cited as the cause of marine
accidents, suitable courses must be provided in a guise, which practitioners are willing to
attend, and as a prelude to devising and providing courses, it is essential to understand how
maritime professionals perceive the role of updating courses.
This course is designed primarily for Merchant Marine Seafarers (Deck ) covering the
entire minimum requirements for English language set prescribed in STCW 95. The linguistic
content for the seafarers follows a multi-syllabus approach that integrates the three language
system (grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation) with practice of the four language
communication skills ( listening, speaking, reading and writing). The content includes all the
requirement in the STCW 1995 Code regarding the tasks that seafarers are expected to be
able to carry out in English. It includes generalized maritime topics most of which are
relevant to all trainees, however, the instructor may want to adapt, extend or supplement the
maritime topics to suit the particular needs of the trainees.
The methodology of this course is based on the principles of the Communicative
Approach to language teaching. This approach meets the requirements of STCW 1995 in that
it promotes practical, communicative competence in English.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Adequate knowledge of written and spoken English to:
- Understand charts, nautical publications, and meteorological information (deck
officers)
- Read and understand technical publications (engineer officers)
- Understand messages and communications concerning the ships safety in general.
- Communicate with other ships, coast stations and multilingual crew.
- Use and understand the IMO SMCP phrases.
- Speak and write clearly as a GMDSS operator.
- Understand the importance and usage of grammatical correct Global English
- Recognize and use good sentence construction
- Recognize and avoid common grammatical errors
- Improve communicative English
- Be your own grammar coach through the process of self-editing
MARITIME ENGLISH
UNIT 1
Navigation
1.1 Introduction
By navigation is understood any act or procedure that will ensure the safety of
passengers and crew, vessel and cargo during a voyage from point of departure to a
destination.
This safety is greatly determined by good seamanship.
And since good seamanship refers to The Human Factor (HF), it is obvious that the
influence on safety on board vessels is largely determined by acts of the seafarers on
board.
Therefore the manning of a vessel must be planned very accurately, and because
most vessels are manned with multi-lingual crews, special attention should be paid to
the internationally standardized form of maritime communication, both intership and
intra-ship.
1.2 Manning
All vessels have one thing in common: they must be manned by qualified crews.
On board vessels the two main departments are the deck department and the engine
room department.
The radio department is often integrated in the deck department.
The head of the deck department is the first mate or Chief Officer.
The Chief Engineer is the head of the engine room department.
Officers are assisted by ordinary seamen and able (bodied) seamen (OS and ABS).
An able seamen is experienced seafarer. He or she will often act as man-at-thewheel (helmsman), or lookout.
The boatswain, or bosun, is the head of the ratings (OS and ABS).
Apprentice officers are officers in training.
Nowadays many vessels are manned with General Purpose Officers or Multi- Purpose
Officers who have been trained to perform the duties of the mate, engineer and
radio operator together.
1.3 Duties
MARITIME ENGLISH
Of course the main responsibility of all the deck officers on merchant vessels is
navigation, i.e. getting the vessels safely to her destination.
There are many other duties to be performed in the deck department.
The first mate is responsible for making up the stowage plan, supervision of loading
and discharging of the cargo and general ship maintenance.
The second mate is responsible for the navigation equipment.
The third mate will often act as safety officer. He or she is responsible for the
maintenance of all the safety equipment on board.
The main duties of the Engineering-officers in the engine room department are the
maintenance and overhauling of the main engine and the auxiliary-engines.
The captain, or master, is ultimately responsible for all that goes on aboard the
vessel.
Usually he has not been integrated in the watch-keeping system on the bridge. If he
thinks it necessary to appear on the bridge and interfere with the work of the officer
of the watch (OOW), or if the master is called to the bridge by the OOW, he must
clearly indicate that he will become the conning officer by saying: I now have the
watch. To confirm this, the OOW will then answer: You now have the watch.
The tasks of the radio operator are to contact shore based stations and other vessels
in cases of distress, to transmit urgency messages, safety messages when there are
imminent dangers to navigation, to listen to Notices to Mariners, weather reports and
navigational warnings and to maintain contact with other ships for a safe and efficient
voyage.
1.4 Watchkeeping
The 24-hour-period on board the vessel is divided into 6 shifts, or watches, as they are
called.
Each watch lasts 4 hours.
The watches are:
First watch ( 2000 hrs-2400 hrs)
Middle watch (0000 hrs-0400 hrs)
Morning watch (0400 hrs-0800 hrs)
Forenoon watch (0800 hrs-1200 hrs)
Afternoon watch (1200 hrs-1600 hrs)
Evening watch (1600 hrs-2000 hrs)
The evening watch is often divided into two watches of 2 hours each to allow
everyone to enjoy the evening meal. These two watches are called the first and
second dogwatch.
The Radio-operator keeps watch four periods of two hours a day.
One of the Watchkeeping-systems that is used in the deck department aboard seagoing vessels is the 4-12-8 system, whereby the first mate stands all four-oclock
watches, the second mate stands the twelve-oclock watches and the third mate
stands the eight-oclock watches. The captain will often join the third mate, since the
third mate is usually the last experienced officer.
MARITIME ENGLISH
Self-assessment Test
Navigation: tasks
1) Idioms
The italicized words in the text are given below in alphabetical
order.
Find out what they mean as they appear in the text and learn them
by heart.
Abaft the port beam
Data
Forenoon watch
Negligence
Time elapsed
Abbreviation
Dead reckoning
Obsolete
Towards
Decrease
Deduce
General purpose
officer
Helmsman
Heading
Track
transmission
Aid
Deep-draught
vessel
Degrees
Delete
Departure
Destination
Detect
Determine
Helmorder
Obtain
Ordinary
seaman
Overhaul
Imminent
Imply
Increase
Influence
Insufficient
Integrated
Pilotage (1)
Pilotage (2)
Pilotage (3)
Position fix
Proceed
Propulsion
Dimensions
Interfere
Internal
Intersection
Latitude
Latter
Local knowledge
Conning officer
Consideration
Contrary to
Direction
Disaster
Distress
Dog watch
Dragging
anchor
Draught
Dredging
Dredging
anchor
Due to
Ensure
Execute
Protruding
obstacle
Ratings
Regular
Reliable
Resistance
Restricted
waterway
Running fix
Shallow
Shallow draft
Triangle
True north
Tsunami
Urgency
Viz.
Weather
condition
Wiresweeping
Controlling depth
Experience
Mate
Alteration of course
Appear
Apprentice officer
Auxiliary engine
Avoid
Bearing
Before the starboard
beam
Boatswain
Celestial bodies
Characteristics
Chart
Chart dividers
Chronometer
Clearing danger
Cocked hat
Longitude
Longitudinal
Maintenance
Man-at-the-wheel
Marine accident
Master
Shoal
Shoaling
Shore based
station
Steering error
Transmit
Wreck swept
MARITIME ENGLISH
Course
Course over ground
Cross bearings
Current
Express
External
First watch
Fore and aft
line
Mention
Merchant vessel
Middle watch
Mishaps
Stowage plan
Sufficient
Survey vessel
Tide
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1
0
1
1
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
1
6
1
7
1
8
1
9
2
0
2
1
2
2
Progress test
Descriptions, duties and
watches
1 - Officer on duty
13 - Head of ERdepartment
A - Captain (master)
2 - Cargo handling
supervision
14 - Stowage Plan
B - First mate
3 - Middle watch
15 - First watch
C - Second mate
4 - Trainee
5 - Safety
6 - Afternoon watch
16 - Helmsman
(man-at-the-wheel)
17 - General ship
maintenance
D - Third mate
E -Chief engineer
18 - Morning watch
F - Multi-Purpose Officer
19 - Integrated officer
G - Boatswain (bosun)
8 - Maintenance and
overhauling
20 - NAVWNG
H - Radio operator
21 - General purpose
officer
I OS
10 - Head of ratings
22 - Forenoon watch
J ABS
11 - Navaids o/b
23 - Conning Officer
K OOW
12 - Dogwatches
24 - Inexperienced
rating
L - Apprentice Officer
7 - Overall responsibility
2
3
2
4
MARITIME ENGLISH
UNIT 2
Anchoring, Berthing, Leaving
berth and Underway
2.1. Anchors and chain
A stocked anchor will tip sideways when it strikes the seabed, so that one fluke
will bite the soil. The stocked anchor consists of a puddening (1), a shank (2),
a crown (3), arms (4), flukes (5), a stock (6), anchor nuts (7), breastpiece (8)
and a forelock (9).
The disadvantages of a stocked anchor are:
-it cannot be stored in the vessels hawse because of the stock;
- one of its flukes will always point upwards, which makes this anchor very
vulnerable to being fouled.
The stockless anchor consists of an anchor shackle (1), a puddening (2), a
shank (3), flukes (4), arms (5) and shoulders (6).
Contrary to the stockless anchor, the stocked anchor cannot be stored in the
vessels hawse.
Both flukes will bite the seabed.
Sea going vessels are usually equipped with stockless anchors : two bower
anchors, a stern anchor for maneuvering the ship when she is dredging
anchor and a spare anchor.
Anchor chains are made up of lengths of 15 fathoms each. These lengths are
called shackles and are made of stud - links or open links.
MARITIME ENGLISH
Stud-link chain
Open-link chain
The studs are for strength and prevent the cable from turning (kinking).
Chains that do not have these strengthening are called open - link chains.
The joint between two lengths of 15 fathoms is also called shackle.
It is often painted white, so that the number of shackles that are out can be
determined.
2.2. Anchoring
When the vessel is approaching the anchorage or her designated berth, the
anchor gear has been thoroughly checked and prepared: windlass and hinging
parts have been greased, bandbrakes tested, hawse pipe-closing plates
removed, etc.
In order to avoid any unexpected situations, it is customary to prepare both
starboard and port anchors for letting go.
Bad holding ground, such as sand and shells, will cause the anchor to drag.
Therefore information about holding ground must be looked up in the pilot book
or chart prior to letting go anchors.
When a river berth has been allocated by the VTS Station or port authority, it will
sometimes be necessary to dredge anchor in order to make sharp turn towards
the embankement.
The length of chain that is put out is indicated by the number of shackles (1
shackle equals 15 fathoms). Safe anchoring implies that a length of chain equal
to the depth of water plus two shackles must be used.
More shackles must be put in the water:
- when the water is very deep (more than 25 fathoms)
-in adverse weather
- when barges are passing close to the vessel
-when the anchor chain has a low tensile strength
-when the anchor chain is leading ahead
-when the vessel is in ballasted condition.
When the anchor is holding, the anchor lights must be switched on and the
anchor ball is hoisted. The anchor position must be checked by bearings at
regular intervals.
MARITIME ENGLISH
2.3. Berthing
When the vessel approaches her designated berth at minimum steerageway, the
approach to the quay is made at the smallest possible angle.
With a heaving line the hawser is pulled from the vessel onto the embankment
by line-handlers.
The spring is fastened to a bollard, and while the engine is on half astern, the
warping drum picks up the slack (that is: pulls the line tight). To prevent the line
from being fouled, the hawser or spring is led through a fairlead.
The ship is then maneuvered along the embankment and fastened to bollards by
headlines, stern lines, breast lines and springs.
10
MARITIME ENGLISH
1) Single up fore and aft!!
11
MARITIME ENGLISH
4) Let go sternline!
Slack away sternline!
Heave away stern line!
2.5. Underway
All the helmorders that will follow after the vessel has departed and is underway
are given to the man-at-the-wheel (helmsman). He must repeat these
helmorders before he will actually execute them.
The helmorder "Ease her is given to reduce the amount of rudder and hold.
The helmorder "Steady is used to reduce the swing of the vessel by giving
"counter-rudder" when she is making an alteration of course.
The helmorder "Meet her is used to stop the swing of the vessel's head in a
turn.
The order "Steady as she goes is given when at that moment the intended
course to steer is straight ahead (for example 186 degrees).
The helmsman must report to the conning officer when the vessel is actually on
this course by saying: "steady on course 186 degrees".
The conning officer (OOW) must then repeat the helmsman's reply ("steady on
course 186 degrees).
Engineroom orders, too, must be repeated by the person operating the bridge
telegraph before they are executed.
The OOW should ensure that the orders are carried out correctly and promptly.
The engineroom orders are: Dead slow -, slow -, half -, full-, stop (-ahead or
-astern).
When the vessel is fitted with twin propellers, the word "both" must be added. ("dead
slow ahead both, "slow ahead both", "half ahead both", "full ahead both).
For bow-or stern thrusters the orders are:
"bow thruster full / half to port/starboard";
"stern thruster full / half to port/starboard".
12
MARITIME ENGLISH
When operation of the engine is no longer required, the phrase finished with
engines-no more maneuvering is used.
Self-assessment Test
Anchoring, berthing, leaving berth and underway: tasks
1) Idioms
The italicized words in the text are given below in alphabetical order.
Find out what they mean as they apear in the text and learn them by
heart.
adverse weather
dredging anchor
heaving line
slack away
allocate
helm orders
slack
anchor gear
embankment
engineroom
orders
hinging part
approach
equal
hoist
steady
steady as she
goes
avoid
equipped with
holding ground
steerage way
bandbrake
execute
imply
Stern line
barge
fairlead
indicate
stocked anchor
berth
fasten
nut
stockless anchor
bollard
fluke
prepare
strengthening
bower anchor
fore-to-aft spring
prevail
stud-link
breastline
forelock
prior to
tensile strength
cast off
fouled
puddening
tight
crown
grease
quay
vulnerable
current
hawse pipe
seabed
warping drum
dead slow
hawser
shackle
wharf
designated berth
headline
shank
windlass
dragging
heave way
single up
13
MARITIME ENGLISH
1) Indicate the difference in construction between the stocked anchor and the
stockless anchor.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
______
2) The disadvantages of the stocked anchor are:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
______
3) The advantages of the stockless anchor are:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
______
4) Explain the function of the stud in a stud-link chain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
______
Stud-link chain
5) The meanings of the word shackle are:
14
MARITIME ENGLISH
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
______
Progress test
3) Anchoring: matching
Study the text (Anchoring) and then indicate whether the
Fill in :
following examples of good seamanship are appropriateappr. /
(appr.) or not
not appr.
appropriate (not appr.) for the situation.
1) Look up holding-ground information when the vessel is
underway to her anchorage or designated berth.
__________
2) Check windlass because vessel is in ballasted condition
__________
3) Put more length of chain in water because tide is rising
__________
4) Check windlass when the vessel is underway to her anchorage or
__________
designated berth
__________
5) Put more length of chain in water when chain is leading
__________
ahead.
__________
6) Test bandbrake because chain is leading ahead.
__________
7) Remove hawse-pipe closing plate when weather conditions are
__________
deteriorating
8) Remove hawse-pipe closing plate when the vessel is underway
__________
to her anchorage or designated berth
__________
9) Put more length of chain in water because weather conditions
__________
are
__________
deteriorating.
__________
10)
Look up holding-ground information when strength of chain
__________
is not according to recommendations.
__________
11)
Look up holding-ground information because traffic is very
__________
busy.
12)
Grease anchor-gear hinging parts because chain is leading
ahead.
13)
Put more length of chain in water because traffic is very
busy
14)
Prepare both anchors when the vessel is in ballasted
condition.
4) Leaving berth
15
MARITIME ENGLISH
Study the text on Leaving berth, then write down in full the orders that
match with the sequence of casting off.
(The vessel has already been singled up fore and aft; the engineroomorder Start engine has been given; the casting-off Stand by for letting
go has been given).
Practice 1
Sequence of casting off: E - D - C - B - A
E _____________________________________________________________
D _____________________________________________________________
C _____________________________________________________________
B _____________________________________________________________
A _____________________________________________________________
16
MARITIME ENGLISH
5 - Full ahead!
6 - Midships, slow ahead!
7 - Stand by engines - start engines!
8 - Heave away headlines!
9 - Let go fore spring!
10 - Heave away aft spring!
11 - Slack away breastline!
12 - Propeller clear!
13 - Heave away sternlines!
Sequence of casting off:
Single up foreward/single up aft/fore spring/aft
spring/headline/breastline/sternline/ underway.
1
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Unit3
3 Buoyage
3.1. Buoyage systems and types of buoys
17
MARITIME ENGLISH
The main buoyage systems that are employed worldwide are the Lateral
buoyage system and the Cardinal buoyage system.
Buoys in the Lateral system are used to indicate the port-and starboard sides
of the fairways.
The Lateral system is subdivided into two separate systems: the IALA-A system
and IALA-B-system (IALA stands
for
18
MARITIME ENGLISH
the Pilot book. They may have any shape and are fitted with a yellow light.
Landfall marks mark safe water of sufficient depth and indicate that one
approaches the coast. They are pillar-, spar-or spherical-shaped and are fitted
with a white light.
Isolated danger marks are pillar- or spar-shaped and are fitted with a white
light.
In the buoyage systems we know can buoys, conical buoys (cones), pillar buoys, spar
buoys and spherical buoys (spheres).
The red or green colored can and conical buoys are used to indicate the sides of the
fairway.
In the lateral system these shapes actually have meanings: they indicate starboard
and port side.
The shapes of pillar buoys and spar buoys do not give any information. In order to
assess their meanings one must distinguish them by their topmarks (or daymarks),
light characteristics or colors. Pillar buoys and spar buoys can be used to indicate the
sides of the fairway.
To indicate port or starboard-side, they must be fitted with a can-shaped or conicalshaped topmark.
Spar buoys are used when navigation is hampered by ice. These buoys are not easily
carried away by ice floes in the fairway. Spherical buoys are used to indicate special
features in the fairway (special buoys) and to indicate safe water (landfall buoys).
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MARITIME ENGLISH
Its abbreviation is F. It may be used on lateral buoys.
The Flashing light is a light with a short light interval and a long dark interval.
Its abbreviation is Fl, but in nautical charts the abbreviations of the
corresponding rhythms Q (quick) or VQ (very quick) are used.
The
characteristic
of
the
Occulting light is contrary
to that
of the flashing light: the
occulting light has a long light interval and a short dark interval. In other words:
it is an interrupted light. Its abbreviation is Oc.
It is used on lateral buoys, special buoys, landfall buoys and isolated danger
buoys.
20
MARITIME ENGLISH
The Isophase light has a light interval and a dark interval of equal durations. Its
abbreviation is ISO. It is used on lateral buoys, special buoys, landfall buoys and
isolated danger buoys.
The Alternating light (Al) is a light that shows different colors alternately, for
example AIWGR (Alternating light White/Green/Red).
The applications of the types of lights are determined by the fact whether a light
is conspicuous or not. The most conspicuous light by far is the Flashing light.
Therefore it is always used to indicate danger. The least conspicuous light is the
Fixed light. Therefore it should merely be used to illuminate an object or an area.
Because of the conspicuous colors red and green, however, a fixed light is often
used in the Lateral buoyage systems.
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MARITIME ENGLISH
3.1.4. Colors
Colors used in the buoyage systems are red, green, yellow, black and white.
The colors red and green are used in the Lateral systems.
In the IALA-A system, counting from seaward, red indicates port side and green
indicates starboard side. In the IALA-B system red indicates starboard side and
green Red can buoy and green cone: IALA-A indicates port side.
The combination of the color yellow with the color black is used in the Cardinal
Buoyage System. These buoys carry conical topmarks. The color black on the
buoy is positioned in such a way that it corresponds with the direction in which
the cones are pointing. Thus cardinal buoys can be recognized not only by their
topmarks, but also by the color combinations.
-black over yellow: North
-yellow over black: South
-yellow with a black band: West
-black with a yellow band: East.
The color red in combination with the color black is used on isolated danger
marks.
These buoys are red and black horizontally striped.
The color red in combination with the color white is used to indicate safe water - e.g.
in the middle of the channel.
These buoys are the red and white vertical stripes landfall buoys. (RWVS- buoys)
The yellow special buoy is used to indicate special features of the fairway.
Information as to its exact meaning must be looked up in the pilot-book of that
area.
3.1.5. Miscellaneous
Numbers on Lateral buoys are not merely used for registration, but also indicate
the sides of the fairway. Counting from seaward an even number will indicate
port side.
An odd number will indicate starboard side.
In "complicated" areas, i.e. areas with many inland
waterways where rivers bifurcate into branches that also
have bifurcations; it may be quite difficult to assess port- or
starboard side.
In order to facilitate navigation in these waters, the charted
sailing direction is indicated by means of an arrow,
Apart from fairways with port- and starboard sides, coastal waters may be
buoyed by lateral marks as well. The coastal side will then be indicated by a
starboard buoy.
Charted direction is "clockwise around the continents".
22
MARITIME ENGLISH
Self-assessment Test
conspicuous
contrary to
corresponding rhythm
determine
distinguish
duration
employ
exhibit
facilitate
fairway
feature
fixed light
flashing light
illuminate
2) Descriptions of buoys
23
indicate
inland waterway
interrupt
isophase light
landfall buoy
occulting light
odd numbers
pillar buoy
sphere
spherical
subdivide
wreck
MARITIME ENGLISH
Tanker Great Yarmouth Princess - GBCH - underway from Capo Michaella to San Pedro,
with a full cargo of crude oil, passes buoy A (marking a sewer-outfall off the coast of
the little fishing village of St. Christobal).
After passing waypoint, proceeding on course 345 degrees true at 12 knots, buoy B
(marking the position of submarine pipeline) is kept at starboard side.
To avoid dangers to navigation (X1 and X2), the track leads clear between the
dangerous wreck
(buoys C and D) and the shoals (buoys E and F).
The wreck is kept at starboard side. The shoals are kept at port side.
With the N Cardinal south of us, we are proceeding on course 270 degrees, speed 12
knots, until buoy G, indicating the approach to the coast, is straight ahead. Now we
make for the area N of the isolated danger (buoy H) into the restricted waters of San
Pedro Bay, where the river pilot embarks.
We now enter the Lateral Buoyage System (IALA-B) of the River Guadaljerez
(Sb. and P. buoys I) and proceed at a speed of 5 knots towards our designated river
berth.
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MARITIME ENGLISH
Buoys
A
types
shapes
lights
I (Sb.)
I (P.)
25
topmarks
colors
MARITIME ENGLISH
Unit 4
The Weather
4.1. Weather-conditions
Weather-conditions have a great influence on the safety during a voyage and
should always be taken into consideration in voyage-planning and when
underway.
The state of the atmosphere is determined by various meteorological elements,
such as
temperature, humidity, cloudiness and fog, forms of precipitation, barometric
pressure, and speed
and direction of wind. All these elements may be referred to as "the weather".
4.2. Temperature
Any change in temperature is significant in weather-forecasting. When measuring
temperatures
three different scales can be used:
- the scientifically used Kelvin-scale, also referred to as the absolute scale;
- the
which
measures
a temperature
in
centigrades;
- the obsolete Fahrenheit-scale.
4.3. Humidity
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapour in the air.
Warm air is capable to contain a higher grade of moisture, or humidity, than cold
air.
The maximum amount of moisture that air can hold at a specific temperature is
known as "saturation".
Most clouds are the result of a rising mass of cool air.
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MARITIME ENGLISH
When the temperature of air falls, water vapour in the air will condense into
droplets of ice crystals, thus forming clouds or fog.
4.4. Cloudiness
Clouds very often indicate an imminent change of weather.
Rising clouds is an indication that the weather is about to clear; lowering or
thickening clouds
The main types of clouds are the high cirrus clouds, the layered stratus clouds
and the
huge and massivecumulus clouds. "Alto" stands for high, and "Nimbus" means
rain.
The presence of cirrus clouds may be a warning for an approaching storm.
The low-hanging stratus clouds indicate unstable weather.
The altocumulus clouds may precede adverse weather.
4.5. Fog
Fog is a cloud that touches the ground.
Dense fog will reduce visibility considerably and is referred to as "thick weather".
By this is meant any type of weather-condition that will reduce visibility
considerably, whether by fog,
snow, rain, dust haze or any other circumstance.
4.6. Precipitation
Precipitation is formed when the droplets or ice crystals in clouds have become
sufficiently large to fall to the ground.
Precipitation may take a variety of forms, for example rain, snow, drizzle, hail or
sleet. Wind
Wind is the most important factor that determines the condition of the weather.
Wind is merely an amount of air that moves in a horizontal motion over the earth
from
an area of high barometric pressure towards an area of low barometric pressure.
Falling barometric pressure generally indicates that a gale or storm is
approaching;
27
MARITIME ENGLISH
rising pressure indicates the approach or continuation of fair weather.
An area of low pressure is called a cyclone. A high-pressure area is an anticyclone.
Because of the rotation of the earth, the circulations of winds in the northern
hemisphere tend
to be clockwise around areas of high pressure, and anti-clockwise around lowpressure areas.
In the southern hemisphere the directions of circulation are the opposite. Wind is
always named
after the direction it is coming from, not blowing in.
Its force is indicated by the Beaufort-scale numbers. These numbers, ranging
from zero to force 12, refer to the windspeed measured in nautical miles per
hour.
For the navigator the wind direction and
force are the most important aspects
of meteorological conditions that are
forecast in weather reports by weather
stations.
Information must always include an increase or decrease in force and
any change in wind-direction.
A change of direction is usually indicated by the terms veering" and "backing".
A veering wind changes in a clockwise direction.
A backing wind changes in anti-clockwise direction.
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This Weather Forecast Information Sheet must be made available to all bridgepersonnel and studied regularly and closely in order to determine short-range
weather conditions and visibility.
The sheet consists of three parts:
- in the "General Synopsis" information is given about barometric pressure,
position and movement of a depression or anti-cyclone;
- in the "Forecast for Sea Areas" information is given about wind, weather
conditions and visibility.
The presence of a gale is indicated by a "tick" in the column "gales";
- in "Reports from Coastal Stations" information is given about wind, weather
conditions, visibility and atmospheric pressure.
Self-assessment Test
1) The Weather
Fill in: temperature, humidity, cloudiness, fog, precipitation or
wind.
1- A change of ____________ in a clockwise direction is indicated by the
word "veering".
2 - _____________
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MARITIME ENGLISH
5 - Circulation of _________ is anti-clockwise around low pressure areas in
the Northern
Hemisphere.
6
An
imminent
change
of
weather
is
often
indicated
by
________________________ .
7 - The amount of air that moves from one area to the other is referred to
as
__________ .
8 - ________________ can be measured in three different scales.
9 - ___________ is a result of a rising mass of cool air.
10
Adverse
______________________
weather
may
preceded
by
altocumulus
11 - A decrease of _____________:
clouds or
be
________ .
When
cloud
touches
the
ground
we
speak
of
_______________________.
15 - _____________ is formed when droplets have become large enough to
fall to the ground.
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W = warm front
C = cold front
O = occluded front
The abbreviations used in the Forecast for Sea Areas and Reports
from Coastal Stations are:
b = blue sky
c = cloudy
d = drizzle
o = overcast sky
h = hail
r = rain
g = gale
R = heavy rain
G = heavy gale
s = snow
q = squalls
Q = heavy squalls
rs = sleet
z = dust haze
m = mist
f = fog
F = heavy fog
A gale is indicated by a tick () in the column gales. A slash (/) indicates
a change.
The use of a capital letter, for example F, or R will indicate an
intensification of that specific weather condition.
Visibility may be indicated by:
p = poor
m = moderate
g = good
vg = very good
The Barometric Pressure is indicated by:
= steady
/ = rising or rising rapidly
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MARITIME ENGLISH
\ = falling or falling rapidly
Progress test
1) The weather forecast: fill in...
Weather Synopsis
1)
A depression of nine hundred seventy-six millibars, which was positioned at
fifty-two degrees North, three degrees East, is expected to move North and to be
centred over the Northwest of Scotland by midnight tonight.
System
Present Position
Movement
Forecast
At
Position
2)
An anti-cyclone of a thousand and thirty-eight millibars, which was positioned
over Ireland, is expected to move north-east and to be centred over the Hebrides by
midnight tonight.
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MARITIME ENGLISH
System
Present Position
Movement
Forecast
At
Position
Gales
Wind; Now
Weather
Visibility
/ Later
Viking
2) North Utsire:
wind northerly force six, increasing northerly force eight to nine, overcast sky,
moderate to good visibility.
Sea Area
Gales
Wind: Now
Weather
Visibility
/ Later
North Utsire
3) South Utsire:
wind north-westerly force seven, decreasing westerly force five to six, partly
cloudy sky, good visibility.
Sea Area
Gales
Wind: Now
/ Later
South Utsire
4) Forties:
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Weather
Visibility
MARITIME ENGLISH
wind becoming southwesterly force three to four, periods of drizzle and light
rain, good to poor visibiiity.
Sea Area
Gales
Wind: Now
Weather
Visibility
/ Later
/
Forties
5) Fisher:
wind northerly force eight, increasing northwesterly force eight to nine, heavy
rain, poor visibility.
Sea Area
Gales
Visibility
/ Later
Fisher
6) German Bight:
wind west force six, veering northwesterly force eight, overcast sky, moderate
visibility.
Sea Area
Gales
Wind: Now
Weather
Visibility
/ Later
/
German
Bight
7) Humber:
wind northwesterly force four, backing southwesterly force three to four, rain
followed by snow, poor visibility.
Sea Area
Gales
Wind: Now
Weather
Visibility
/ Later
/
Humber
8) Thames:
wind variable, becoming easterly force three, partly cloudy sky, good visibility.
Sea Area
Gales
Wind: Now
/ Later
Thames
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Weather
Visibility
MARITIME ENGLISH
9) Portland:
wind northeast force three to four, becoming northerly force six, thunderstorm
moderate visibility.
Sea Area
Gales
Wind: Now
Weather
Visibility
/ Later
Portland
10) Biscay:
wind westerly force six, increasing force eight to nine, heavy squalls, good
visibility.
Sea
Gales
Area
Wind: Now
Weather
Visibility
/ Later
/
Biscay
11) Finisterre:
wind increasing westerly force three to four, rain turning to drizzle with mist, poor
visibility.
Sea
Gales
Area
Finisterre
Wind: Now
Weather
Visibility
/ Later
/
Wind:
Area
Later
Irish Sea
Now
/ Weather
Visibility
Weather VisibilityBarometerTendency
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MARITIME ENGLISH
Station
Wick
force
force
Head
3) Dowsing:
calm, partly cloudy sky, twelve miles, a thousand and twenty-two millibars, steady.
Coastal
Station
Dowsing
WeatherVisibility Barometer
Tendency
force
4) Galloper:
wind southeasterly force four, sleet followed by snow, three miles, nine hundred eight
millibars, rising.
Coastal
Wind direction Wind
Station
Galloper
Tendency
force
5) Portland Bill:
wind northerly force five, rain followed by heavy snow, one mile, nine hundred ninety-six
millibars,
rising rapidly.
Coastal
Station
Portland Bill
Wind
Wind
direction force
Tendency
6) Scilly:
wind northwesterly force nine, gale, six miles, nine hundred eighty-nine millibars,
falling rapidly.
Coastal
Station
Scilly
Wind
Wind
direction force
7) Valentia:
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Tendency
MARITIME ENGLISH
wind south force three, partly cloudy sky, six miles, a thousand and sixteen millibars,
steady.
Coastal
Station
Valentia
Wind
Wind
direction force
Tendency
8) Ronaldsway:
wind southwest force six, rain followed by thunderstorm, seven miles, nine
hundred seventy-nine millibars, falling rapidly.
Coastal
Station
Wind
Wind
directio force
Weather
Visibility Barometer
Tendency
n
Ronaldsway
9) Prestwick:
calm, rain during the first few hours of the day, four miles, a thousand and
thirteen millibars, rising.
Coastal
Wind
Wind
Station
Prestwick
direction force
Weather
Visibility Baromete
Tendency
10) Tiree:
wind variable, heavy fog, 1 mile, a thousand and twenty-three millibars,
steady.
Coastal
Wind
Wind
Station
direction force
Tire
Weather
Visibility Barometer
e
6 ) The weather forecast: reading-practice
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Tendency
MARITIME ENGLISH
1 - By "a generating area" is understood: _________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2 - By "swell" is understood: ____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3
The
four
factors
that
determine
height
of
waves
are:
_____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4 - The characteristics of New Ice and Nilas Ice are: _________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5
The
characteristics
of
Young
Ice
and
first-year
ice
are:
____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
6 - The characteristics of old ice are: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
7 - Icebergs are very notorious for their ___________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
8 - Tides are caused by __________ forces that cause the waters to __________________
out
on one side of the earth and, simultaneously, to _______________ away on the other
side of
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MARITIME ENGLISH
the earth. When all these forces are added together, a ____________________ tide will
arise;
when the pull of the sun cancels out half of the moon's pull, ________________ tide wili
arise.
Tides are always measured from _____________________ datum; levels are always
stated at
____________________,
or
mean heights.
When tide is turning
we
speak
of
____________________
tide.
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UNIT 5
Beaufort Wind Scale
5.1 The Beaufort Wind Scale
The Beaufort Wind Scale is a guide that will allow the navigator to determine
what sea-conditions he may encounter at wind forces ranging from 0 knots to 64
> knots.
Beaufort Descriptiv Mean
number
e term
wind
speed
sea)
(knots
0
1
)
Calm <1
Light 1 - 3
Light 4 - 6
air
2
breeze
3
Gentl 7 - 10
e breeze
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MARITIME ENGLISH
Beaufort Descriptiv Mean
number
e term
wind
speed
sea)
(knots
4
Moderate
breeze
Fresh
breeze
)
11-16
7 - 21
(2-2.5 m).
Stron 22 - 27 Large waves begin to form; the white foam crests are
g breeze
extensive everywhere (probably some spray) (3 - 4 m).
Near 28 - 33 Sea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves
gale
Gale 34-40
9
g gale
10
Stor
m
8 - 55
11
Viole 56-63
nt storm
12
cane
over
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MARITIME ENGLISH
5.1.1
Tropical
cyclones:
categories
and
damage
(Saffir/Simpson Scale)
Tropical cyclones may occur in the northern hemisphere and in the southern
hemisphere.
The names by which they are known vary with the areas they originate from.
The most notorious tropical cyclones, with wind speeds of 64 knots and over, are
the Hurricane in the
North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, the Typhoon in the Western North Pacific, the
Cyclone in the
Southwest Pacific and the Willy-Willy in the Australian Area.
The Saffir/Simpson Scale subdivides the tropical cyclones into 5 categories
according to
wind-force and corresponding damages that are caused.
Category
one
two
three
four
five
Saffir/Simpson
Wind speed
64 - 83 knots
84- 96 knots
97-113 knots
114 - 135 knots
135 knots and over
Scale
Damage
minimal
moderate
extensive
extreme
catastrophic
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MARITIME ENGLISH
Code Sea0
1
2
description
Calm - glassy
Calm - rippled
Smooth
0 m.
0-0.1 m.
0.1 - 0.5 m.
3
4
wavelets
Slight
Moderate
0.5 - 1.25 m.
1.25-2.5 m.
5.1.3
Ship
Due
make
to
three
the
different
5
6
7
description
Rough
Very rough
High
2.5 - 4 m.
4 - 6 m.
6 - 9 m.
8
9
Very high
Phenomenal
9 - 14 m.
Over 14 m.
Motions
influences of wind and sea the vessel can
rotating motions
when her starboard and port sides rise and fail with the waves, the vessel
is rolling
when her stem and stern rise and fall with the waves, the vessel is
pitching
when her bow is pushed to starboard and then to port, the vessel is
yawing
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MARITIME ENGLISH
when
the
ship
is
sinks back
into a trough, she is surging
when the whole ship moves bodily to starboard and then to port, she is swaying
5.2. Ice
Shipping may be
from
total
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MARITIME ENGLISH
damage to sea-going vessels. Care must be taken that water inlets will not
become obstructed. Young ice and first-year ice are thicker and tougher and can
be recognised by their grey-white or milky-white colour, Icebreaker assistance
will often be necessary to ride up the ice and form an opening. After one year the
ice will take a greenish appearance. When the colour of the ice is green-blue, we
are dealing with old ice (2 or more years of age), which is extremely hard and
dangerous to navigation.
Pancake ice, ice cakes and icefloes are flat pieces of ice 30 cm to 20 m in
diameter.
Floebergs and Floebits are massive pieces of sea ice. Growlers, Bergy bits and
Icebergs are enormous pieces of floating ice with a thickness of 10 cm to many
metres. Icebergs are notorious for their submarine ledges that may extend to
great distances from their visible parts, which constitute not more than 10% of
their total volumes.
5.4. Tides
Tides are mainly caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.
This attraction-force causes the waters to swell out towards the moon in a high
tide.
At the same time, on the far side of the earth, the moon's attraction is at its
weakest and the waters on
that side will swell away from the moon in an equal and opposite high tide.
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Within the 24-hour-period two high tides arise, with two low tides in between
them.
The sun has a gravitational effect on the earth, too. The effect of the sun's gravity
on the tides is
approximately half of that of the moon because the sun is at a far greater distance
from the earth.
Every other week, at new and full moon, when the sun and the moon are both in
line with the earth, the
two gravitational forces are added together, and exceptionally strong tides, called
Spring-tides, are
produced. In the weeks that lie in between, when the sun and the moon are at
90 degrees to each
other,at the first and third quarters of the moon, the pull of the sun will cancel
out half of the moon's
gravitational effect, and weak tides, called Neap tides, will occur.
This theoretical pattern does not occur in every part of the world.
The shape of a continent may prevent water from flowing uninterruptedly across
the surface of the
planet, and this has complex effects on the regularity of tides. In some places
there are four high tides
within 24 hours, while only one high tide and one low tide a day in other areas.
There are places on the ocean's surfaces where all the tidal forces cancel each
other out.
In restricted areas the tides may be almost imperceptible, while in other areas
enormous ranges differences between high and low tides - may occur.
Tides are measured from chart datum, and levels are always given at
average (mean) heights. The Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT) is the lowest tide
that has ever been recorded in that area. Highest high tides and lowest low
tides are called Spring tides. Highest low tides and lowest high tides are called
Neap tides. When the tide is turning we speak of Slack tide.
So, at Low Slack the tide is about to rise; at High Slack the tide is about to fall.
This latter tide is especially important to the mariner, since it is the best tide to
leave and proceed to open sea.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Kluijven, van, P. The International Maritime Language Programme. An
English Cours for Students at Maritime Colleges and for on-board
training: Presentations, Texts, Tasks and Projects (2nd ed.). - SMCP
included. CD-ROM Alkmaar, Alk & Heijnen Publishers, 2005
2. Logie, Vivers, Nisbet Marlins Study Pack 2.
Edinburgh, Marlins,
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5.
and
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