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DGS GP Rating Exit Exam study materials
DGS GP Rating Exit Exam study resources

DGS GP Rating Exit Exam: Maritime English and Shipboard Communication

DGS GP Rating Exit Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Maritime English and Shipboard Communication

Scope

Maritime English and Shipboard Communication tests SMCP, VHF procedures, distress, urgency and safety calls, phonetic alphabet, helm and engine orders, and written handover. Clear, standard phrasing prevents collisions.

Core rules

  • MAYDAY: distress, grave and imminent danger. PAN PAN: urgency. SECURITE: safety.
  • Use VHF Ch 16 for distress and calling; move to a working channel.
  • Identify vessel, position, nature of distress, assistance required, persons on board.
  • Read back helm and engine orders; use standard replies such as Correct and Repeat.
  • Write the handover with time, position, course, speed, traffic and defects.

Worked example

MAYDAY call: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. This is Motor Vessel Ocean Star, Ocean Star, Ocean Star. Call sign ABCD. Position latitude 18 degrees 30 minutes north, longitude 072 degrees 15 minutes east. Fire in engine room. Require immediate assistance. 12 persons on board. Over. The repetition and ordered facts let the coast station copy the message first time.

Traps

Using MAYDAY for a non-distress, omitting the vessel's name or position, and failing to read back an engine order are common. Avoid slang and do not switch channel before the call is acknowledged.