How the SMCP is built and why it is required
1The lesson in plain words
The SMCP is IMO’s fixed safety English. Part A is the core every officer must use and understand; Part B adds on-board phrases.
What it is
The IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) were adopted by resolution A.918(22) on 29 November 2001. They are a simplified safety English for speaking with other ships, shore stations and your own crew. They replaced the Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary of 1985. Nautical English introduced the basics; this unit takes you to the level an officer of the watch needs.
Why you must know it
STCW table A-II/1 requires an officer of the watch to use the SMCP and to use English in written and spoken form. SOLAS V/14.4 makes English the bridge working language for bridge-to-bridge and bridge-to-shore safety communication, and between the pilot and the bridge team, unless all those directly involved share another language. The SMCP gives that English a fixed form.
General and Part A
The General section sets the rules: spelling, message markers, responses, corrections, numbers, positions, bearings, times and words to avoid. Part A1 holds external phrases: distress, urgency and safety traffic, pilotage, helicopter and icebreaker operations, and VTS. Part A2 holds on-board phrases tied to navigation: standard wheel orders, standard engine orders and phrases for the pilot on the bridge.
Part B
Part B covers further on-board phrases: handing over the watch, trim and list, alarms, occupational safety, fire, damage control, grounding, search and rescue, cargo, and passenger care. The resolution calls Part A an indispensable part of any STCW curriculum; Part B is useful supplementary training. Learn Part A as the STCW core; use Part B for your duties.
How the phrases are written
The SMCP avoids synonyms and contracted forms such as ‘I’ll’. It gives one phrase for one event, fully worded answers to yes-or-no questions, and a fixed part followed by a variable part. Under stress it uses block language that drops words such as ‘the’ and ‘is’: ‘Dangerous wreck in position …’. Distress, urgency and safety radio traffic belongs to the GMDSS module.
2Key data
- Adopted
- IMO resolution A.918(22), 29 November 2001
- Replaced
- Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary (1985)
- Part A1
- External: distress, urgency, safety, pilotage, specials, VTS
- Part A2
- On board: wheel orders, engine orders, pilot on the bridge
- Part B
- On board: watch, safety, cargo, passengers
- SOLAS V/14.4
- English unless all directly involved share another language
3Key points
- 1
The SMCP (A.918(22), 2001) is the required safety English for an officer of the watch under STCW table A-II/1.
- 2
Part A is external and navigation-related on-board phrases; Part B is other on-board safety phrases.
- 3
One phrase for one event, no synonyms, no contractions, fully worded answers.
- 4
Block language drops small words in urgent messages; meaning stays fixed.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: The SMCP is a phrasebook for radio calls only.
Right: It also covers on-board communication: wheel and engine orders, the pilot on the bridge, watch handover and emergencies.
Wrong: Any clear English will do, so the exact phrase does not matter.
Right: Use the SMCP phrase whenever one fits. Fixed wording is what removes doubt between non-native speakers.
Wrong: Contractions such as ‘I’ll’ sound natural and are fine on the radio.
Right: Say ‘I will’. Contractions are easy to mishear in noise and are avoided throughout the SMCP.
5Practice case & exam keys
A pilot and master share a local language, but you, the officer of the watch (OOW), do not. They say knowing English wheel orders is enough for you. What language and SMCP preparation do you need for this pilotage?
Show the answer
Use English so everyone directly involved understands the safety communication. Wheel orders alone are not enough: you need the General rules, A1 external phrases for VTS and pilotage, and A2 engine orders and pilot-on-bridge phrases. Use Part B for duties such as handing over the watch.
Exam keys
- SMCP: IMO resolution A.918(22), adopted 29 November 2001.
- Part A: external phrases (A1) and navigation-related on-board phrases (A2).
- Part B: other on-board safety-related phrases.
- Features: no synonyms or contractions, one phrase per event, full answers.
Finish this unit
When you've read it, answer three questions. Get all three right to finish the unit; opening the page alone doesn't count.
My notes for this unit
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