1

VTS-operators must avoid the use of the terms

starboard / port / ahead / astern;
in stead, they will use cardinals and half-cardinals
to indicate positions and directions.
Like so:
shallow waters to the North of you;
vessel overtaking to the South-East of you;
uncharted shoal to the West of you;
obstruction to the North-West of you;.

Questions from VTS to vessel.

98

Coastal Station has located your vessel on radar and now wishes to know:

. vessels name and call sign;

Alfa: what is the name of your vessel

and call sign?

. vessels course and speed;

Bravo: what is your present course

and speed?
Charlie: what is your destination?
Delta: what was your last port of call?
Echo: what is your next port of call?
Foxtrot: are you underway?
Golf: what is your cargo?
Hotel: do you carry any dangerous
goods?

. what her port of destination is;

. what port she is coming from;
. what port she is heading for now;
. whether she is proceeding or not;
. what cargo she carries;
. if she carries any dangerous goods;
. if she has any defects;
. what radar range she uses.

India: do you have any deficiencies?

Juliet: what range scale are you
using?

Answer from vessel:

99

. name and call sign (Seaborne DKEL); Alfa: Seaborne DKEL;

. course and speed (125 degr. 12 kn.); Bravo: one two five degrees true . port of destination (Rotterdam);
. last port (Marseille);
. next port (Antwerp);
. proceeding or not (proceeding);
. cargo (3500 tns. general cargo);
. any dangerous goods (negative);
. any defects (SB ballast pump not
working);
. radar range (6 miles range).

my speed one two knots;

Charlie: Rotterdam;
Delta: Marseille;
Echo: Antwerp;
Foxtrot: I am underway;
Golf: three five zero zero metric tons
ofdangerous
general cargo;
Hotel: no
goods;
India: starboard ballast pump
inoperative.
Juliet: I am using six miles rangescale.

Coastal stations often ask for a MARITME and POSITION

REPORT of your ship.
For this MAREP / POSREP the Standard Marine Alphabet is
used.
(The MAREP/POSREP will quicken and facilitate the exchange
of data between VTS-station and vessel considerably!)
S

MAREP/POSREP

100

Acquiring information by making use of the Ship-Reporting System, whereby

each letter has been given a fixed meaning:
ALFA
BRAVO

- VESSELS NAME + CALL SIGN;

- DAY OF MONTH AND TIME
(UTC/Z / ZONE / LOCAL TIME);
CHARLIE
- POSITION
(LONGITUDE / LATITUDE);
DELTA
- POSITION (AS BEARING AND
DISTANCE FROM FIXED POINT.);
ECHO
- TRUE COURSE;
FOXTROT - SPEED (IN KNOTS);
GOLF
- LAST PORT OF DEPARTURE;
HOTEL
- TIME AND POINT OF ENTRY
INTO THE SYSTEM;
INDIA
- DESTINATION (+ ETA);
JULIET
- DEEP SEA OR LOCAL PILOT ON
BOARD;
KILO
- TIME OF EXIT FROM THE
SYSTEM;
LIMA
- INTENDED TRACK;
MIKE
- VHF-CHANNELS GUARDED;
NOVEMBER - TIME OF NEXT REPORT;

OSCAR
PAPA
QUEBEC
ROMEO
SIERRA
TANGO
UNIFORM
VICTOR
WHISKEY
X-RAY
YANKEE
ZULU

- DRAFT;
- CARGO
(TYPE AND QUANTITY);
- ANY DEFECTS OR
LIMITATION;
- ANY POLLUTANTS OR
DANGEROUS GOODS;
- WEATHER CONDITIONS;
- SHIPS REPRESENTATIVE
OR OWNER;
- SIZE AND TYPE OF
VESSEL;
- MEDICAL PERSONEL;
- NUMBER OF PERSONS ON
BOARD;
- ANY OTHER USEFUL
INFORMATION.
- REQUEST TO RELAY
REPORT TO OTHER
SYSTEM (E.G. AMVER);
- END OF REPORT.

THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LECTURERS ASSOCIATION

IMLA

mu

WORKSHOP ON MARITIME ENGLISH

WOME