General

  1 Procedure

 When it is necessary to indicate that the IMO SMCP are to be used, the following message may be sent:

 "Please use IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases."

 "I will use IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases."

  2 Spelling

  2.1 Spelling of letters

 When spelling is necessary, only the following spelling table should be used:

  2.2 Spelling of digits and numbers

 A few digits and numbers have a modified pronunciation compared to general English:

  3 Message Markers

 In shore-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication or radio communication in general, the following eight Message Markers may be used (also see "Application of Message Markers" given in PART A1/6 "Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Standard Phrases"):

• (i) Instruction

• (ii) Advice

• (iii) Warning

• (iv) Information

• (v) Question

• (vi) Answer

• (vii) Request

• (viii) Intention

  4 Responses

  4.1 When the answer to a question is in the affirmative, say:

• "Yes .... " followed by the appropriate phrase in full.

  4.2 When the answer to a question is in the negative, say:

• "No ..." followed by the appropriate phrase in full.

  4.3 When the information requested is not immediately available, say:

• "Stand by" followed by the time interval within which the information will be available.

  4.4 When the information requested cannot be obtained, say:

• "No information."

  4.5 When an INSTRUCTION (e.g. by a VTS Station, naval vessel or other fully authorized personnel ) or an ADVICE is given, respond if in the affirmative:

• "I will/can ... " - followed by the instruction or advice in full; and,

 if in the negative, respond:

• "I will not/cannot ... " - followed by the instruction or advice in full.

 Example: "ADVICE. Do not overtake the vessel North of you."

Respond: "I will not overtake the vessel North of me."

  4.6 Responses to orders and answers to questions of special importance both in external and on-board communication are given in wording in the phrases concerned.

  5 Distress, urgency and safety signals

  5.1 MAYDAY to be used to announce a distress message

  5.2 PAN PAN to be used to announce an urgency message

  5.3 SECURITE to be used to announce a safety message

  6 Standard organizational phrases

  6.1 "How do you read (me)?"

• 6.1.1 "I read you ...

  bad/one	with signal strength one	(i.e. barely perceptible)
  poor/two	with signal strength two	(i.e. weak)
  fair/three	with signal strength three	(i.e. fairly good)
  good/four	with signal strength four	(i.e. good)
  excellent/five	with signal strength five	(i.e. very good)

  6.2 When it is advisable to remain on a VHF Channel / frequency, say:

• "Stand by on VHF Channel ... / frequency ... ".

• 6.2.1 When it is accepted to remain on the VHF channel / frequency indicated, say:

  • "Standing by on VHF Channel ... / frequency ... ".

  6.3 When it is advisable to change to another VHF Channel / frequency, say:

• "Advise (you) change to VHF Channel ... / frequency ... ."

• "Advise(you) try VHF Channel .. / frequency... .".

• 6.3.1 When the changing of a VHF Channel / frequency is accepted, say:

  • "Changing to VHF Channel ... / frequency ... .".

  7 Corrections

 When a mistake is made in a message, say:

• "Mistake ..." followed by the word:

• "Correction ... " plus the corrected part of the message.

• Example: "My present speed is 14 knots - mistake.

• Correction, my present speed is 12, one-two, knots."

  8 Readiness

 "I am/I am not ready to receive your message".

  9 Repetition

  9.1 If any part of the message is considered sufficiently important to need safeguarding, say:

• "Repeat ... " - followed by the corresponding part of the message.

 Example: "My draft is 12.6 repeat one-two decimal 6 metres."

• "Do not overtake - repeat - do not overtake."

  9.2 When a message is not properly heard, say:

• "Say again (please)."

  10 Numbers

 Numbers are to be spoken in separate digits:

• "One-five-zero" for 150

• "Two decimal five" or

• “Two point five” for 2.5

 Note: Attention! When rudder angles, e.g. in wheel orders, are given, say:

• "Fifteen" for 15 or

• "Twenty" for 20, etc.

  11 Positions

  11.1 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.

 Example: "WARNING. Dangerous wreck in position 15 degrees 34 minutes North 061 degrees 29 minutes West."

  11.2 When the position is related to a mark, the mark shall be a well-defined charted object. The bearing shall be in the 360 degrees notation from true north and shall be that of the position FROM the mark.

 Example: "Your position bearing 137 degrees from Big Head lighthouse distance 2.4 nautical miles."

  12 Bearings

 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.

 Example: "Pilot boat is bearing 215 degrees from you."

 Note:
Vessels reporting their position should always quote their bearing FROM the mark, as described in paragraph 11.2 of this section.

  12.1 Relative bearings

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

 Example: "Buoy 030 degrees on your port bow."

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

  13 Courses

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

  14 Distances

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

  15 Speed

 To be expressed in knots:

• 15.1 without further notation, meaning speed through the water; or,

• 15.2.1.1 "ground speed", meaning speed over the ground.

  16 Times

 Times should be expressed in the 24 hour UTC notation; if local time will be used in ports or harbours it should clearly be stated.

  17 Geographical names

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

  18 Ambiguous words

 Some words in English have meanings depending on the context in which they appear. Misunderstandings frequently occur, especially in VTS communications, and have produced accidents. Such words are:

• 18.1 The conditionals "may", "might", "should" and "could"

  May
  	Do not say:	"May I enter the fairway?"
  	Say:	"QUESTION. Do I have permission to enter the fairway?"
  	Do not say:	"You may enter the fairway."
  	Say:	"ANSWER. You have permission to enter the fairway."
  Might
  	Do not say:	"I might enter the fairway."
  	Say:	"INTENTION. I will enter the fairway."
  Should
  	Do not say:	"You should anchor in anchorage B 3."
  	Say:	"ADVICE. Anchor in anchorage B 3."
  Could
  	Do not say:	"You could be running into danger."
  	Say:	"WARNING. You are running into danger."

• 18.2 The word "can"

• The word "can" describes either the possibility or the capability of doing something. In the IMO SMCP the situations where phrases using the word "can" appear make it clear whether a possibility is referred to. In an ambiguous context, however, say, for example: "QUESTION. Do I have permission to use the shallow draft fairway at this time?" Do not say: "Can I use the shallow draft fairway at this time?" if you are asking for a permission. (The same applies to the word "may").

 Note:
In all cases the radiotelephone procedures as set out in the ITU Radio regulations have to be observed.