ENGLISH I

MARITIME AND PORTS OPERATIONS

UNIT 7/ COMMUNICATIONS: VISUAL

Homework. Be prepared to share answers in class.

Part I. Answer briefly.

1. Why are visual communication methods still taught in modern times?

That’s because there are still occasions when modern technology cannot be used. For example
during a radio failure, ships may not be able to communicate.

2. What are some types of visual communication methods?

The main metods of visual communication still in use is flashing lights. Crews can you the
directional method’s.
1. False
2. True
3. False
 Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words

Visual communication: Visual communication is the practice of using visual elements to

communicate information or ideas.

Radio silence: Radio silence is a deliberate cessation of communications, typically for the duration
of some sensitive period.

Radio failure: Radio communication is considered to be failed if for two minutes that the pilot or
the ATC unit doesn't answer the repeated calls through all available communication channels.

flashing light: In order to use flashing light as a means of communication a special code had to be
developed and used internationally. This code is known as the Morse code. By altering the
duration of the flashes to short and long flashes and combining them in various groups it was
possible to use the light for passing messages.

Morse code: Morse code is a method used in telecommunication to encode text characters as
standardized sequences of two different signal durations, called dots and dashes, or dits and dahs.
Morse code is named after Samuel Morse, one of the inventors of the telegraph.

Non-directional method: non-directional beacons (NDBs) are ground-based radio transmitters

used to aid and navigate vessels in aviation and marine applications during their approach.

Directional method: The directional simulation method involves generating uniformly distributed
direction vectors and performing a one-dimensional integration along each direction
Signal lamp: A signal lamp is a semaphore system using a visual signaling device for optical
communication, typically using Morse code.

Semaphore: an apparatus for visual signaling (as by the position of one or more movable arms)

Semaphore flag: The Semaphore flag signaling system is an alphabet signalling system based on
the waving of a pair of hand-held flags in a particular pattern