The learning objectives for this chapter
is to understand the importance of good
communication procedures on all levels
in order to achieve safe and efficient
ship operation what is communication
here is one possible definition transfer
of signals and messages from one person
to another with the purpose of creating
an understanding a particular meaning or
a certain reaction from the other person
if no reaction is received we are
talking about one-way communication
there are several methods of
communicating these are in writing
verbal nonverbal communication signs and
signals etc
option one maybe a clear and
straightforward message or ambiguous one
but normally is only one way and it
cannot be clarified
according to statistics as much as
seventy to eighty percent of incidents
and accidents at sea can be traced back
to some kind of communication problem
here are a few examples of possible
causes a communication problems
communication problems between personnel
on the bridge because of different
culture native language age experience
etc communication understanding between
bridge and engine personnel
communication understanding between ship
and tugs communication understanding
between ships communication
understanding between ship and the VTS
communication understanding between ship
and ship owner or operator communication
understanding between ship and
authorities nowadays when only a few
ships are sailing with a radio officer
the bridge has become not only the main
communication center for internal ship
communication but also the center for
external communications services
this means additional workload for the 0
W and good communication skill has
become even more important for the
navigation officer the main elements for
establishing good bridge communications
and teamwork are clear and precise
messages delivered in standard maritime
English mutual respect and confidence
between the bridge team members a
professional job attitude and share of
the work load good theoretical knowledge
efficient adoption of effective bridge
practices and procedures self-confidence
since communication problems have been
identified as a factor which often plays
a major role in c incidents and many
other accidents the communication aspect
of ship operation has been addressed by
many different bodies at regular
intervals over the last century among
seafarers the IMO publication standard
marine navigational vocabulary is
probably the best-known publication
about this subject today this
publication has been updated several
times and is a very good reference
manual on the subject in the late
eighties a new communication idea was
presented to the maritime world namely
see speak more than 1,000 people from 26
maritime nations participated in the
research and work that led to the
production of the sea speaker reference
manual and the sea speak training manual
the central principle of see speak is
that the receiver should be alerted to
the type of message that follows at the
very beginning of the message the same
is achieved by the use of message Marcus
a message market is a label which is
attached to a message this principle is
entirely in agreement with the IMO
recommendations and the main purpose of
see speak is to reduce communication
problems between ships between ship and
shore between ship under VTS etc
see speak messages are formed entirely
from words within the english-language
the total vocabulary used in c speak
comprises three kinds of words and
expressions the vocabulary of general
english words in general maritime use
words in specialised maritime use see
speak has seven official message markets
however in connection with special
operations additional markers may be
used question indicates that the
following message is of interrogative
character request indicates that the
contents of the following message are
asking for action from others with
respect to the ship information
indicates that the following message is
restricted to observed facts intention
indicates that the following message
informs other traffic participants about
the ship's intention warning indicates
that the following message informs other
traffic participants about dangers
instruction indicates that the following
message implies the intention of the
sender to influence the recipients by
regulation advice indicates that the
following message implies the intention
of the sender to influence the
recipients by a recommendation
the officer of the bridge watch
have a general operator's certificate
ships operating only an area a1 a
restricted operator's certificate is
sufficient the officer of the watch will
be responsible for ensuring compliance
with the soulless requirements the ITU
radio regulations and any local
watchkeeping rules the VHF watchkeeping
range is 20 to 30 nautical miles
depending on antenna height all ships
must keep a continuous watch on the
following channels digital selective
calling channel 70 channel 16 when
practicable channel 13 when practicable
when within their ranges ships must keep
a continuous watch on the navtex and
digital selective calling medium
frequencies on these radio bands voice
transmission ranges between 150 and 250
nautical miles by day and a little more
by night however digital selective
calling signals can reach 600 to 700
nautical miles high frequency broadcasts
have a nearly unlimited range ships must
keep a continuous watch on distress and
DSC frequences 4 6 8 12 and 16 megahertz
according to their position ships
equipped with a ship earth station must
keep a continuous watch on the satellite
appropriate to their position the range
of satellite broadcasts is limited to
non polar regions a radio lock
containing records of all incidents
connected with radio communications of
importance to the safety of life at sea
must be maintained the following
information is normally required in the
radio log a summary of communications
relating to de-stress urgency and safety
traffic a reference to important
radio-service incidence own ships
position should be noted at least once a
day identities of other stations with
which contact has been made problems due
to interference congestion etc
unnecessary transmissions obscene
language etc
radio equipment should be tested at the
interval stated by the manufacturer and
in accordance with flag state
requirements great care should be taken
to avoid the transmission of false
alerts when testing equipment all ships
should make a report to the relevant
authorities when an incident involving
another ship is observed or an incident
on their own ship involves a discharge
or a probable discharge of oil or other
noxious liquid substances above
permitted level has taken place a
discharge or probable discharge of
harmful substances in package for has
occurred a discharge during the
operation of the ship of oil or other
noxious liquid substances in excess of
what is allowed has occurred the officer
of the watch should always be prepared
for an emergency situation to occur
he must familiarize himself with all
procedures these should be refreshed and
practiced as a drill at regular
intervals the officer of the watch
should always remember that an emergency
incident does not become dangerous until
it gets out of control the most
important thing to do during the
emergency is to stay calm think clearly
and follow relevant emergency procedures
follow standard procedures which have
already been practiced in drills
the officer of the watch of a ship that
is likely to be engaged in the transfer
of personnel or stores by helicopter
should become familiar with the ICS
guide to helicopter ship operations