The Standard Marine Communication Phrases has been compiled to; - Assist in the greater safety of navigation and of the conduct of the ship. - To standardize the language used in communication for navigation at sea, in port-approaches, in waterways, harbours and on board vessels with multilingual crew and - To assist maritime training institutions in meeting the objectives mentioned above.

1. 3M ESPIRITU, CHARDEN LEE C.

2. “Closed –loop” COMMUNICATION
 Closed loop communication has been shown to reduce error
rates by removing ambiguity from instructions, allowing
questions if the instruction was not heard clearly, and it allows
others in close proximity to be aware of the proposed course of
action.

3. IMO Standard Marine
Communication Phrases (SMCP)
 IMO's Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) were
adopted by the 22nd Assembly in November 2001 as resolution
A.918 (22) IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases.
 The Standard Marine Communication Phrases has been
compiled to;
 - Assist in the greater safety of navigation and of the conduct of
the ship.
 - To standardize the language used in communication for
navigation at sea, in port-approaches, in waterways, harbours
and on board vessels with multilingual crew and
 - To assist maritime training institutions in meeting the
objectives mentioned above.

4. The IMO SMCP includes phrases which have been developed to cover
the most important safety-related fields of verbal shore-to-ship (and
vice-versa), ship-to-ship and on-board communications. The aim is to
get round the problem of language barriers at sea and avoid
misunderstandings which can cause accidents.

5. Conning Officer
 Drives the ship’s heading and speed through standard
commands (orders) to the helm and leehelm
 Helm - controls the rudder
 Leehelm - controls the propellers
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

6. Basic Format
Conning Officer
Command
Acknowledges Report
Helm / Leehelm
Verbatim Repeat back
(Carries out command)
Report
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

7. HELM CONSOLE
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

8. ENGINE ORDER TELEGRAPH
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

10. MODERN HELM CONSOLE

12.  Direction: Either left, right or “Rudder amidships”
• Amount: Expressed as a number of
degrees of rudder (10, 15, etc.), or one of
the following: (nominal values given)
• Standard: 15°
• Full: 30°
• Hard: 35°(maximum rudder angle)
Shiphandling: Standard Commands
• Course: >10 degree change

13. AII ON-BOARD COMMUNICATION PHRASES (A)
 AII/1 - Standard Wheel Orders
 All wheel orders given should be repeated by the
helmsman and the officer of the watch should ensure
that they are carried out correctly and immediately. All
wheel orders should be held until countermanded.
The helmsman should report immediately if the vessel
does not answer the wheel.
 When there is concern that the helmsman is
inattentive s/he should be questioned:
"What is your heading ?" And s/he should respond:
"My heading is ... degrees."

14. Order and Meaning

15.  When the officer of the watch requires a course to be steered by compass,
the direction in which s/he wants the wheel turned should be stated
followed by each numeral being said separately, including zero, for
example:
Order Course to be steered
Port, steer one eight two 182°
Starboard, steer zero eight two 082°
Port, steer three zero five 305°
 On receipt of an order to steer, for example, 182, the helmsman should
repeat it and bring the vessel round steadily to the course ordered. When
the vessel is steady on the course ordered, the helmsman is to call out:
"Steady on one eight two".
 The person giving the order should acknowledge the helmsman's reply.
 If it is desired to steer on a selected mark the helmsman should be
ordered to:
"Steer on ... buoy / ... mark / ... beacon".
 The person giving the order should acknowledge the helmsman's reply.

17. COMMANDS TO THE HELM
Format Example
-Direction "Right. . ."
"Left. . ."
-Amount ". . standard rudder. . ."
". . .ten degrees rudder. . ."
-Course ". . .steady course two zero zero."
". . .steady on course one one five."
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

18. COMMANDS TO THE HELM
 Exception: Course changes of 10° or less:
 For small course changes, a specific rudder angle is not
given. This allows the Helm to use up to 10° of rudder to
make the course change.
 The standard command is:
 Direction: “Come right/left”
 Course to steer: “Steer course ___”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

19. OTHER HELM COMMANDS
 Desired action: Increase or decrease rudder angle
from a previously ordered angle
 Command:
 “Increase your rudder to ________”
 “Ease your rudder to _______”
 Note: Anytime a new rudder angle is ordered, a
steering/steady course must be repeated if it is
desired.
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

20. OTHER HELM COMMANDS
 Desired action: Change rudder angle to an equal
amount of rudder in the opposite direction
 Command: “Shift your rudder”
 Note: Again, if desired, course to steer must be
repeated.
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

21. OTHER HELM COMMANDS
 Desired action: Steady the ship on the current
heading
 Command: “Steady as she goes”
 When given, the Helm immediately determines
ship’s head at the instant of the command, and
steadies the ship on that course.
 This should normally be given only with the rudder
at or near amidships.
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

22. OTHER HELM COMMANDS Desired action: Determine
current ship’s heading
 Command: “Mark your
head”
 When given, the Helm
immediately determines
ship’s head at the instant of
the command,and reports it
to the Conn.
• Desired action:
Warn the Helm
to steer more
exactly
• Command:
“Mind your
helm”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

23. HELM REPLY
 Whenever an order to the Helm is given, the Helm
repeats the order back to the Conn verbatim.
 This assures the conning officer that the order was
heard and understood correctly.
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

24. HELM REPLY
 Examples:
 The Conn orders: “Right standard rudder, steady
course 260.”
 The Helm replies: “Right standard rudder, steady
course 260, aye.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

25. HELM REPLY
 Order: “Mark your head”
 Reply: “Mark my head, aye. 283.”
• Order: “Mind your helm”
• Reply: “Mind my helm, aye.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

26. HELM REPLY
 If the helm does not understand an order from the
Conn, the helm will reply:
“Orders to the helm”
 The Conn should immediately check his/her order
and restate it clearly to the Helm.
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

27. REPORT & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 Once a desired action is complete, the Helm reports it
to the Conn.
 The Conn acknowledges all reports with “Very well’
 If the Conn does not acknowledge a report, the Helm
should repeat the report until acknowledged.
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

28. EXAMPLES
Order: “Right standard rudder, steady course 298.”
Reply: “Right standard rudder, steady course 298,
aye.”
Report: “Sir, my rudder is right standard, coming to
new course 298.”
Report: “Sir, steady on course 298, checking 309.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

29. EXAMPLES
Order: “Come left, steer course 345.”
Reply: “Come left, steer course 345, aye.”
Report: “Sir, my rudder is left 5°, coming to new
course 345.”
Report: “Sir, steady on course 345, checking 352.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

30. EXAMPLES
Order: “Right full rudder.”
Reply: “Right full rudder, aye.”
Report: “Sir, my rudder is right full, no new course
given.”
Report: “Passing 230 to the right.”
Order: “Belay your passing heads.”
Reply: “Belay my passing heads, aye.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

31. EXAMPLESOrder: “Ease your rudder to right 15°.”
Reply: “Ease my rudder to right 15°, aye.”
Report: “Ma’am, my rudder is right 15°, no new course
given.”
Order: “Steady course 143.”
Reply: “Steady course 143, aye.”
Report: “Ma’am, my rudder is right 15°, coming to new
course 143.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

32. EXAMPLES
Order: “Hard left rudder.”
Reply: “Hard left rudder, aye.”
Report: “Sir, my rudder is left 35°, no new course
given.”
Order: “Shift your rudder.”
Reply: “Shift my rudder, aye.”
Report: “Sir, my rudder is right 35°, no new course
given.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

33. EXAMPLESOrder: “Right full rudder.”
Reply: “Right full rudder, aye.”
Report: “Sir, my rudder is right 30°, no new course
given.”
Order: “Rudder amidships”
Reply: “Rudder amidships, aye.”
Report: “Sir, my rudder is amidships, no new course
given.”
Order: “Steady as you go.”
Reply: “Steady as you go, aye. Course 098.”
Report: “Steady on course 098, checking 107.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

34. ENGINE ORDERS
 For fixed pitch propellers, ship speed is dependent
on shaft rpm only.
 For controllable pitch propellers, ship speed is
dependent on shaft rpm and, below about 12 knots,
propeller blade pitch.
 For gas turbines, the shaft is always spinning when
the engine is on line. “All engines stop” is achieved
by a blade pitch of 0°.
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

35. ENGINE ORDERS
 Prescribed standard speeds are predetermined ship’s
speeds:
 “Standard speed” - normally 15 knots
 “1/3” - one third of standard speed
 “2/3” - two thirds of standard speed
 “Full” - speed higher than standard speed
 “Flank” - maximum speed
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

36. ENGINE ORDERS
 Ahead
Bell Speed
1/3 5
2/3 10
Std 15
Full 20
Flank Max
speed
Typical Prescribed
Standard Speeds
• Astern
Bell Speed
1/3 5
2/3 10
Full Max
speed
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

37. ENGINE ORDERSFormat Example
-Engines ”All engines. . ."
-Direction ". . ahead full. . ."
". . .back 2/3. . ."
-Speed ". . indicate 108 revolutions for 15
knots."
". . .indicate 072 revolutions and
20% pitch for 3 knots."
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

38. ENGINE ORDERS
 Engines: Port, starboard, or all engines.
Unnecessary for single screw ships.
• Direction: Ahead, back or stop, and
nearest standard speed (except for stop)
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

39. ENGINE ORDERS
 Speed:
“..indicate ____ turns for __ knots.”, OR
“..indicate turns for __ knots.”
 For controllable pitch propellers below 12 knots:
“..indicate ___ turns and __% pitch for __ knots.”
OR, “..indicate pitch and turns for __ knots.”
-Note: If proceeding at a prescribed standard speed,
none of this is required.
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

40. MANEUVERING COMBINATIONS
 In maneuvering situations, where frequent engine
changes are expected, the Conning Officer may set
“maneuvering combinations”.
 When set, the Lee Helm answers all bells at the
prescribed standard speed increment.
 On ships with an EOT, this is indicated by an RPM
setting of “999”.
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

41. REPLIES AND REPORTS
 Reply: Verbatim repeatback is required.
 Reports: Lee Helm reports when action is completed.
 Note: Every report must include the complete status of
all engines, even if only one was changed.
 Acknowledgement: Conn will acknowledge all reports
with “Very well”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

42. EXAMPLES
Order: “All engines ahead standard, indicate 115
revolutions for 16 knots.”
Reply: “All engines ahead standard, indicate 115
revolutions for 16 knots, aye.”
Report: “Ma’am, engine room answers all engines ahead
standard, indicating 115 revolutions for 16 knots.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

43. EXAMPLES
(Continued from previous slide)
Order: “Indicate 122 revolutions for 17 knots.”
Reply: “Indicate 122 revolutions for 17 knots, aye.”
Report: “Ma’am, engine room answers all engines
ahead standard, indicating 122 revolutions for 17
knots.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

44. EXAMPLES
Order: “Port engine ahead 1/3, starboard engine back
2/3.”
Reply: “Port engine ahead 1/3, starboard engine back 2/3,
aye.”
Report: “Ma’am, engine room answers port engine ahead
1/3, starboard engine back 2/3.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

45. EXAMPLES
(Continued from previous slide)
Order: “Starboard engine stop.”
Reply: “Starboard engine stop, aye.”
Report: “Ma’am, engine room answers starboard
engine stop, port engine ahead 1/3.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands

46. EXAMPLES
Order: “All engines ahead 1/3, indicate pitch and turns
for 5 knots.”
Reply: “All engines ahead 1/3, indicate pitch and turns for
5 knots, aye.”
Report: “Sir, engine room answers all engines ahead 1/3,
indicating 075 turns and 34% pitch for 5 knots.”
Shiphandling: Standard Commands