UNIT 1

COMMUNICATION AT SEA

SPEAKING

How do people communicate with each other?

Why is communication important?
How many types of communication do you know?
Describe the images above.
How is onboard communication carried out ?
From your knowledge, how do seafares communicate with other vessels or coast
stations?
Why must communication at sea be effective?

All vessels, irrespective of their type, share common characteristics: they have
to communicate with one another and establish and maintain contact with the port authorities and
the pilot stations on approaching canals and harbours. Sometimes they have to keep in touch with
the searching aircraft and helicopters taking part in rescue operations.
There are various ways of conveying information at sea. Therefore, maritime
communication comprises communication between vessels and coast-stations, intership
communication, (communication between the ship and other ships) and intraship communication
(internal communication when the vessel is berthing, casting off, leaving berth, loading and
discharging, etc.). Vessels and coast-stations can communicate by means of Radio-Telephony,
Satellite, Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and Radio-Telex. Radio signals may be passed using
radio-telegraphy and radio-telephone. When communicating over the radio the phonetic alphabet is
used so that combinations of letters can be understood by people regardless of a poor radio signal or
differences in pronunciation or native language.
Communication within the ship is done by an internal telephone system or walkie- talkies.
Communication within the ship is carried out in the crew’s native language, or in case of mixed
crews, it is carried out in English.
Communication over short distances can be made by both visual and sound signals. Visual
signals can be sent using flags of the International Code of Signals or using an Aldis lamp for
flashing messages in Morse Code, which has been phased out. There are different coloured flags for
each letter of the alphabet. Flags can also be hoisted in combinations of two, three or four, which
have a particular meaning. Sound signals are used in fog and can be made with the ship’s siren,
whistle or bell.
Communication over long distances can be sent by radio. Radio telephony uses Very High
Frequency (VHF), Medium Frequency (MF) and High Frequency (HF) in order to allow spoken
messages to be passed. The VHF is used to bridge short distances, is easy to operate and is allowed
to be used in international, territorial and inland waterways. Medium Frequency (MF) is used to
communicate between stations that are not separated by a distance greater than 200 nautical miles.
High Frequency (HF) is used for medium and long range radio communication.
Voice communications at sea depend entirely on the use of language and, if they are to be
effective, it would be advisable for the participants to share a common language.
Since there are many nationalities that use VHF radio for voice communications at sea, it
was decided by the International Maritime Organization that English would be used for that
purpose.
The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is part of the International
Convention concerning Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Its main objective is to prevent accidents by
providing Marine Safety Information and at least minimize the consequences of marine accidents
by means of effective communication. GMDSS consists of a terrestrial and a satellite-system. The
terrestrial system (earth-system) comprises Radio-Telephony (RTF), Digital Selective Calling
(DSC), Direct Printing Telegraphy (DPT), Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) and the Search and
Rescue Radar Transponder (SART). The satellite systems comprise Inmarsat, COSPAS/SARSAT,
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and the Status Recording-System
(STAREC). GMDSS will enable a vessel to communicate with coastal stations and other vessels at
any time and under any circumstances.
Categories of messages that can be transmitted and received are called “priorities” and they
indicate the importance of the message. There are four types of message:
1) A DISTRESS message is used to indicate that there is serious and immediate danger for
vessel, crew and passengers. A DISTRESS ALERT is also referred to as a “MAYDAY”.
2) An URGENCY message indicates that there is serious danger for vessel, crew and
passengers. This message is also referred to as a “PAN PAN” message.
3) A SAFETY message indicates that there is imminent risk for navigation. A SAFETY
message is also referred to as a “SECURITE” message.
4) A ROUTINE message is transmitted to ensure safe navigation. Routine messages refer to
inter-ship communication, exchange of data in port operations, communication between
ships and Vessel Traffic Services, inshore radar stations, bridges and locks.
Any message concerning maritime communication consists of three parts: the announcement of
the message which may be followed by the acknowledgement from the receiving station or vessel;
the actual message and the ending of the message.
In maritime communication a distinction must be made between GMDSS vessels and non-
GMDSS vessels, that is, vessels that do not have to comply with the Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System. Non-GMDSS vessels include small vessels such as pleasure yachts that are not
engaged in trade, ships that are not self-propelled, but also men-of-war.
GMDSS vessels include all vessels engaged on international voyages. The difference
between the two lies merely in the way communication is initiated, for example the announcement
of a message. Non-GMDSS vessels announce a message by means of VHF (voice-communication).
GMDSS vessels announce a message by means of Digital Selective Calling (DSC). DSC is intended
to digitally announce and initiate ship/ship, ship/shore and shore/ship radio-telephone and radio-
telex calls. After the announcement has been digitally acknowledged by the receiving station or
ship, communication is usually continued on VHF. To transmit a DSC call, a GMDSS-operator
enters the required commands to address the station or ship with which he wishes to communicate,
and the priority of the call.

COMPREHENSION & VOCABULARY

1. Relying on the text above, give answers to the following questions:

1) Why is communication at sea essential?

2) What does maritime communication comprise?
3) How can vessels and coast-stations communicate?
4) Which frequency categories are used in radio telephony?
5) What is the purpose of GMDSS?
6) How many systems does GMDSS consist of?
7) What does the terrestrial system comprise?
8) What does the satellite system comprise?
9) What does a Distress alert indicate and how is it referred to?
10) What does an Urgency message indicate and how is it referred to?
11) What does a Safety message refer to?
12) What does a GMDSS vessel stand for?
13) Which vessels are regarded as Non-GMDSS vessels?
14) What is the difference between GMDSS and Non-GMDSS vessels?

2. What do the following abbreviations stand for?

A) GMDSS……………………………………………………………………………..
B) DSC…………………………………………………………………………………
C) VHF………………………………………………………………………………...
D) MF………………………………………………………………………………….
E) HF…………………………………………………………………………………..
F) SOLAS……………………………………………………………………………..
G) EPIRBs……………………………………………………………………………..
H) STAREC……………………………………………………………………………
I) DPT…………………………………………………………………………………
J) RTF…………………………………………………………………………………
K) NAVTEX……………………………………………...............................................

3. Fill in the blanks:

When at sea, mariners need to be able to communicate with other ships of any size or (1) ........ ...... .
They should also send and receive urgent maritime (2) ................ information.
Since the early 1900s sailors have communicated with other ships and people (3) ............ by radio
or, more recently, by expensive satellite (4) .............. calls. When communicating over the (5)
................. the phonetic alphabet is used so that combinations of letters can be understood by people
(6) ................ of a poor radio signal or differences in pronunciation or native language. For
example, to (7) ................. P-I-R-A-T-E using the phonetic alphabet one would say: Papa-India-
Romeo-Alfa-Tango-Echo.

Listen to the German Coast Guard trainee and state what happened.

In your opinion, what would be the causes of communication failures at sea?

Comment upon the following statement: “Safety Communication at Sea is a

MUST”.