Teachers Guidelines for the subject

Communication at sea
Purpose: This lesson has been designed to familiarize students with general
information related to the area of maritime communication, the specific English
terminologies and data used in this field. Emphasis is given to the introduction of
message types: distress, urgency, safety by the distinction made between GMDSS and
Non GMDSS vessels and the way communication is initiated, i.e., announcement of
a message.
Warm up:
Students interest is raised by the teachers questions related to communication in
general. The aim of this warm up activity is to give students the chance to practice
their English speaking skills and to use their knowledge in order to give appropriate
answers to the following questions:
What is communication?
Why and how do people communicate with each other?
Can seafarers also communicate when they are at sea?
How /By what means is communication at sea carried out?
Why should communication be effective on board?
Encourage students to give answers. If answers are not pertinent help them by asking
additional questions.
Lead in:
Have students describe the images. This exercise will prepare students for the
subsequent information they will gain during your presentation on Communications
at Sea. After giving the answers to the questions, you may tell them that the vessel
they see in the two images is called Hunday Fortune. The Fortune was built in
September 1996 and sailed under the flag of Panama. On March 21, 2006, the vessel
was on its way from ports in China and Singapore through the Gulf of Aden about 60
miles south of the coast of Yemen. It was sailing west towards the Suez Canal on the
way to ports in Europe. Around 1235 UTC, a huge explosion of unknown origin
occurred below deck and aft of the accommodation, sending 60 to 90 containers
tumbling into the ocean. Theories concerning the cause of the explosion vary. The
explosion caused a massive blaze that spread through the stern of the ship, including
the accommodation and the stacks in front of the accommodation. Secondary
explosions followed as 7 containers full of fireworks also ignited above deck on the
stern. After efforts to contain the fire failed, all 27 crew members abandoned ship and
were rescued by the Dutch destroyer HNLMS De Zeven Provincin.
Presentation:
Before making a power point demonstration on the topic of Communication at Sea,
asks students to take notes of the information they may consider necessary. The
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information presented on your slides will help them solve the subsequent exercises.
Below, you can find the detailed information of the subject in question, which will
come in the aid of your presentation delivery:
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.
Communication within the ship is done by an internal telephone system or
voice pipes. Engine orders are passed from the bridge by means of the ships
telegraph. Communication within the ship is carried out in the crews native language,
or in case of mixed crews, it is carried out in the mutually understood language. Most
commonly used language is English.
Communication over short distances can be made by visual or 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 ships 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 rage radio communication.
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:
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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 intership 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. Non-GMDSS
vessels announce a message by means of VHF (voice-communication). GMDSS
vessels announce a message by means of Digital Selective Calling (DSC). After the
announcement has been made on the VHF or by DSC, the actual message is
transmitted by means of voice communication on the VHF.
Practice:
Have students give full answers to the questions of exercise 2 (they should do this
exercise orally). Allow them 5 minutes to complete this task and correct them if
necessary. Name some students to take turns in providing answers to each question.
Then ask students to focus on exercise 3 which consists in giving explanations to
some of the abbreviations comprised in your power point demonstration.
Production A:
Tell students that communication at sea must be short and precise, unambiguous and
simple. Thus, when transmitting a message at sea, plain language must be used. When
spelling of letters or digits and numbers is necessary, only the spelling tables provided
in the Students Guidelines (Ex. 4) must be used. Together with them spell the
phonetic alphabet and the numbers.
After that, continue with the exercises 5, and 6. Have students practice the
pronunciation of ships call signs (Ex 5) as well as of the digits and numbers (Ex 6).
You should stress the idea that numbers must be spoken in separate digits. Again, you
should name some students to take turns in completing these tasks.
Production B:
Put the emphasis once more on the distinction between GMDSS and non-GMDSS

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vessels. The difference between the two lies merely in the way communication is
initiated. Ask students to take notes, while you are writing the following information
on the blackboard:
A Distress message is announced by MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY THIS IS
M.V. ...............CALL SIGN ...........(3X).
The spoken message must consist of the following information:
MAYDAY
-Identification (9-digit MMSI code, ships name and call sign)
-The position of the vessel
-Time and transmission (not required)
-The nature of distress and danger
-The assistance that is required
-Any other important information and requirements (e.g. number of persons
on board of vessel in distress)
An Urgency Message is announced by PAN PAN - PAN PAN - PAN PAN ALL
STATIONS/VESSELS ALL STATIONS/VESSELS ALL STATIONS/
VESSELS; THIS IS M.V. ..............CALL SIGN ..............(3X).
The spoken message must consist of the following information:
- the position of the vessel
- time and transmission
- nature of danger and relevant data
- any other important information and requirements
A Safety Message is announced by SECURITE- SECURITE SECURITE - ALL
STATIONS/VESSELS ALL STATIONS/VESSELS ALL STATIONS/
VESSELS; THIS IS M.V. ..............CALL SIGN ..............(3X).
The spoken message must consist of:
- the position of the vessel
- time of transmission according to UTC
- nature of imminent risk for navigation and relevant data
- any other important information and requirements.
Production C:
On the basis of the information provided on the blackboard you should explain the
following task to students. Have them listen to the CD and fill in the missing
information- ex.7:
235 786 000 Pearl Head VRSE in position 38 degrees 10 min. N 018 degr. 10 min. E
transmits a distress message on VHF. Her engine room and no.2 hold are on fire. The
vessel is sinking. Crew are abandoning vessel. Assistance is required. There are 18
crew members on board. 8 of them have been injured. 2 members were killed
You might find it necessary to play the CD twice. After completing this task, ask
students to focus on exercise 8. They are supposed to give answers to the questions
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connected to the message they have just listened to. If necessary, make any
corrections.
Production D:
This exercise is meant to give students the opportunity to apply the information they
learned in previous exercises. This is the opportunity to assess the students acquired
knowledge and degree of understanding
Lesson Plan
Teacher:
Date & time: 25. 10.2100; 08:00 10.00
University: Constana Maritime University
Level: upper intermediate -advanced
Number of students: 20
Group: TX 22 (2nd year)
Total time: 120 minutes
Lesson: Communication at sea
Skills covered: comprehension, listening and speaking
Resources: International Maritime Language Programme (IMLP)
Coursebook, PC van Kluijven, Alk & Heijnen
Publishers, Alkmaar, Netherlands, 2005; Students
guide; CD-Rom; computer; loudspeaker; chalkboard.
Objectives: 1) to raise Ss interest in the topic;
2) to familiarize Ss with general information regarding
Communication at sea

3) to develop Ss vocabulary (maritime idioms);

4) to acquire the necessary information related to types of engine;
5) to demonstrate understanding of the new text and apply the
acquired knowledge in the exercises;
6) to demonstrate the ability to name the application and to compare
them (advantage and disadvantage);
7) to be able to indicate the order of events in a 4-stroke engine;
8) to practice listening for details.
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Organization: - individual work
Methods: - conversation
- observation
- exercise
- didactic narration
Anticipated problems: - Ss may find it difficult to give a description of the
working of a marine engine T will help them by
asking them about the car engine and other auxiliary
questions;
- Ss may have problems with the type of information
they are going to hear on the CD-Rom T will help
them by playing the CD one more time
List of conventional signs: - S student
- T teacher
- Ss - students
Bibliography:
- Kluijven, PC, International Maritime Language Programme (IMLP)
Coursebook, Alk & Heijnen Publishers, Alkmaar, Netherlands, 2005
- Harmer, Jeremy, The Practice of English Language Teaching, Longman,
2000
- Vizental, Adriana : Metodica predarii limbii engleze Strategies of Teaching
and Testing English as a Foreign Language Polirom, Iasi, 2007