PERSONAL SAFETY

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Standard Marine Communication Phrases

Cpt. (N) Robert PAWLOWSKI (PLNA)

tel. 58 626-27-82, bl. 123/7
 AGENDA
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
II. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
a) fire, explosion
b) flooding
c) collision
d) grounding
e) list, danger of capsizing
f) sinking
g) disabled and adrif
h) armed attack, piracy
i) undesignated distress
j) abandoning vessel
k) person overboard
l) assistance
III. BRIEFING CREW AND PASSENGERS
 INTRODUCTION
ON THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
1. SMCP were adopted in November 2001 as resolution A.918(22) IMO
Standard Marine Communication Phrases. It was recommended a
wide circulation of the IMO SMCP to all prospective users and all
maritime education authorities.

2. The IMO SMCP builds on a basic knowledge of English and has been
drafed in a simplified version of maritime English. It includes phrases
for use in routine situations such as berthing as well as standard
phrases and responses for use in emergency situations.

3. Under the international convention on the STCW 78/95, the ability to

understand and use the SMCP is required for the certification of
officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross
tonnage or above.
 GENERAL INFORMATION

How to communicate/report:
 Positions ex. „WARNING. Dangerous wreck in position
55 degrees 44 minutes North 017 degrees 58,9 minutes East”
 Bearings ex. „Pilot boat is bearing 215 degrees from you.”
 Courses ex. „Advise you a new course of 095 degrees.”
 Speed ex. „My present speed is 14 knots”
 Distances …expressed in nautical miles or cables, ex. 7,8 Nm
 Time …expressed in the 24 hour UTC notation, ex. 1430 UTC
 Geographical names – …should be those on the chart or in Sailing Directions
Spelling of
letters,
digits
and numbers
 DATA
to be used during the exercise
• MV Risky Business
• MV Brita
• Position 55 degrees 44 minutes North
017 degrees 58,9 minutes East
• ETA at 1430 UTC
• Drifing at 3 knots to NE
EMERGENCY SITUATION
– fire, explosion

1. I am on fire/ after
explosion in position...
2. Where is the fire?
3. … fire is on deck/ in
engine-room/ in hold
4. Are dangerous goods on
fire?
5. Is there danger of
explosion?
6. Is fire under control?
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EMERGENCY SITUATION
– flooding

1. I am/ MV ... is flooding

below waterline
2. I/MV ... cannot control
flooding
3. What kind of assistance is
required?
4. … I require pumps/ divers

2
EMERGENCY SITUATION
– collision

1. I have / MV … has collided

2. … with MV …/with
unknown object/ with
iceberg/ with seamark
3. Report damage
4. I am/ MV … is not under
command

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EMERGENCY SITUATION
– aground

1. I am/MV … is aground
2. What part of your vessel is
aground?
3. … aground forward/
amidships/ aft/ full length
4. Warning! Uncharted rocks
in position …
5. I/MV … will jettison cargo to
refloat

4
EMERGENCY SITUATION
– list, danger of capsizing

1. I have/MV … has
dangerous list to
port/starboard
2. I am/MV … is in danger of
capsizing (list increasing)

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EMERGENCY SITUATION
– sinking

1. I am/ MV … is sinking
afer collision/
grounding/ flooding/
explosion
2. I am/MV … is proceeding
to your assistance
3. ETA at distress position
within … hours/ at … UTC

6
EMERGENCY SITUATION
– disabled, adrif

1. I am/ MV … is not under

command/ adrift/ drifting
at … knots to …

7
EMERGENCY SITUATION
– attack by pirates

1. I am/ MV … is under
attack by pirates
2. What kind of assistance is
required?
3. I require/ MV … requires
… medical assistance/
navigational assistance/
military assistance/ tug
assistance/ escort

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EMERGENCY SITUATION
– undesignated distress

1. I have/ MV … has
problems with cargo/
engine/ navigation
2. MV … requires tug
assistance

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EMERGENCY SITUATION
– abandoning vessel

1. I/ crew of MV … must
abandon vessel afer
explosion/ collision/
grounding/ flooding/
piracy/ armed attack.
2. I require assistance
3. What is your position?
4. My position is …

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EMERGENCY SITUATION
– person overboard
1. I have/ MV … has lost persons overboard in
position …
2. Assist with search in vicinity of position …
3. All vessels in vicinity of position … keep
sharp look out and report to …
4. I am/ MV … is proceeding for assistance,
ETA at … UTC/ within … hours.
5. Aircraf ETA at … UTC/ within … hours to
assist in search
6. Can you continue search?
7. Stop search. Return to …
8. What is the result of your search?
9. What is condition of person?
10. Report injured persons
11. Number of injured persons/casualties...
12. Person picked up is crewmember/
passenger of MV … 11
 Match characters with a numbers
MARITIME ACRONYM FULL TITLE
B5
B CPA / TCPA 1 Estimated Time of Arrival / … of Departure
C3
C DSC 2 Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
D2
D EPIRB 3 Digital Selective Calling (in the GMDSS)
E ETA / ETD 4 Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre
E1
F GMDSS 5 Closest Point of Approach / Time to … F6
G (D) GPS 6 Global Maritime Distress and Safety System G8
H MMSI 7 Search and Rescue H11
I MRCC 8 (Differential) Global (Satellite) Positioning System I4
J OSC 9 Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit J10
K SAR 10 On-Scene Coordinator K7
L TEU 11 Maritime Mobile Service Identification Number L9
M UTC 12 Universal Time Coordinated (ex GMT) M12
N VTS 13 Vessel Traffic Service
N13 12
 BRIEFING CREW AND PASSENGERS
announcement on the PA system - example

This is your Captain speaking.

 We have a minor flooding in hold #2.
 There is no immediate danger to crew, passengers or vessel –
and there is no reason to be alarmed.
 However, for safety reasons I request all officers report to the
bridge; watchkeepers remain at stations until further notice.
 Damage control teams continue to fight the flooding.
 We have radio contact with two vessels in vicinity.
 As soon as I have further information I will make another
announcement – there is no danger at this time.

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 BRIEFING CREW AND PASSENGERS
announcement on the PA system - example

This is your Captain speaking. I have another announcement:

 The flooding is not under control yet.
 Leave the engine room, superstructure, your stations and your
cabins immediately – close all openings.
 Take lifejackets with you.
 Take your emergency equipment with you according to the
muster list.
 All crew members to assembly station on the aferdeck on the
port side.
 The route to the assembly station on the foredeck is not clear,
therefore the escape route will be via superstructure.
 I repeat, assemble on the aferdeck on port side.
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SUPPORTING LITERATURE

1. Standard Marine
Communication Phrases,
IMO, July 2000.
2. Standardowe zwroty
porozumiewania się na
morzu, AM w Szczecinie,
2005.

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