Maritime English
This domain tests operational English: standard phrases under the IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases, message markers, spoken numbers and positions, and the written English of logs, notes of protest and cargo documents. The examiner is testing that your message cannot be misunderstood.
Structure of a good message
- Name the addressee and yourself, then the message marker, then the content, then the proword.
- Markers: ADVICE, INSTRUCTION, QUESTION, INFORMATION, INTENTION, REQUEST, WARNING.
- Over ends a transmission calling for a reply; out closes a conversation and is never used in the same breath as over.
Spoken numbers, positions, alphabet
- Say numbers digit by digit when giving course, speed, channel or MMSI; say decimal before the fractional part, never 'point'.
- Position: degrees and minutes with hemisphere letters, for example 47°12′ North, 003°45′ West.
- Spelling uses the phonetic alphabet (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie… Juliett, Kilo… X-ray, Yankee, Zulu).
SMCP grammar habits
- I am for a state (I am not under command), I have for possession (I have 5 persons on board), I am going to for intention, do not for prohibition, you should for advice.
- Keep to the phrase list, avoid idioms, and do not invent synonyms under pressure.
Worked example
A deck officer wants to overtake a vessel on her port side and radios: 'Hey, we're coming past you on your port side, alright?' Rebuild it in SMCP: MV ALPHA to MV BRAVO: INTENTION - I intend to overtake you on your port side. OVER. If the other ship's officer replies Mayday, sir to describe a minor problem, that is a dangerous misuse of a distress word and must be corrected: the correct form is PAN PAN or a plain message marker, because MAYDAY triggers a full rescue response.
Traps that cost marks
- Using over and out together, or leaving a routine call open with no proword at all.
- Saying 'point five' instead of decimal five in a position or channel.
- Replacing standard phrases with polite paraphrases that change the obligation; ADVICE and INSTRUCTION are not interchangeable.
- Using MAYDAY or SECURITE for a routine operational message.