Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP)

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English and signals≈ 4 min read

Standard replies, corrections and radio checks

1The lesson in plain words

In one sentence

Answer in full, say when you need time, correct mistakes the standard way and read back what matters. Every reply closes the loop.

Replies

For a yes answer, say ‘Yes’ followed by the full phrase: ‘Yes, I have a pilot on board.’ For a no answer: ‘No, I do not require tugs.’ If you need time, say ‘Stand by’ and the interval: ‘Stand by, two minutes.’ If you cannot get the information at all, say ‘No information.’ To an instruction or advice, reply ‘I will …’, ‘I can …’, ‘I will not …’ or ‘I cannot …’ with the content in full.

Corrections and repeats

To correct yourself, say ‘Mistake’, then ‘Correction’ and the corrected part: ‘My present speed is one-four knots, mistake. Correction, my present speed is one-two knots.’ To protect a vital figure, say ‘Repeat’ and give it again: ‘My draft is one-two decimal six, repeat one-two decimal six metres.’ If you did not hear, say ‘Say again’.

Readability and channels

‘How do you read?’ is answered on a five-step scale, from ‘I read you bad’ (one) through poor, fair and good to ‘excellent’ (five). To keep a ship on a channel, say ‘Stand by on VHF channel …’; she replies ‘Standing by on VHF channel …’. To move her, say ‘Advise you change to VHF channel …’; she replies ‘Changing to VHF channel …’. ‘I am ready to receive your message’ shows readiness.

Reading back

The SMCP builds the read-back into its replies: you repeat instructions, advice and figures in full. Many VTS centres and pilots also ask you to read back. Repeat the key items exactly as received, in the same order: names, positions, times, channels and numbers. If what comes back is wrong, the sender says ‘Mistake … Correction …’ at once.

Position from a mark

Give your position as a true bearing from a named mark and a distance. If you are two nautical miles east of North Point light, report bearing zero-nine-zero degrees from that light, distance two nautical miles. Do not give the bearing of the light from your ship.

2Step by step

Closing the loop on a VTS instruction

1
Listen to the whole message before you key the microphone.
Answering halfway through often blocks the end of the message.
2
Write down positions, times, channels and figures as you hear them.
A written note is what you read back, not your memory.
3
Ask ‘Say again’ for anything unclear before accepting or acting on the message. Make sure you understand the whole instruction.
Guessing a figure is worse than asking for it.
4
Reply with ‘I will …’ or ‘I will not …’ and the content in full.
The full reply proves what you understood.
5
Act, then report when the action is complete if asked.
The sender can confirm the result and update the traffic picture.

3Key data

Need time: ‘Stand by’ plus the interval
Cannot obtain: ‘No information’
Own mistake: ‘Mistake … Correction …’ then the corrected part
Did not hear: ‘Say again’
Readability: Bad (1), poor (2), fair (3), good (4), excellent (5)

4Key points

1
Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ with the full phrase. When information is delayed, say ‘Stand by’ plus a time interval.
2
Correct with ‘Mistake … Correction …’; protect vital figures with ‘Repeat’.
3
Read back instructions and figures exactly, in the order received.
4
Positions from a mark give the bearing FROM the mark to you.

5Frequent mistakes

Wrong: Reply ‘Roger’ or ‘OK’ to a VTS instruction.
Right: Reply with the instruction in full: ‘I will proceed to the emergency anchorage.’ That is the read-back.
Wrong: Say ‘Stand by’ and leave the other station waiting without a time.
Right: Give the interval: ‘Stand by, five minutes.’ Then call back within it.
Wrong: Correct a wrong figure by simply giving a new one.
Right: Say ‘Mistake’, then ‘Correction’ and the corrected part, so the listener knows which figure to discard.

6Practice case & exam keys

Situation

VTS asks: ‘QUESTION. What is your ETA at reporting point Echo?’ Your second officer is still working it out. Then you realise you told VTS earlier that your draft was 11.8 m; it is 12.8 m. How do you handle both?

Show the answer

Say ‘Stand by, two minutes.’ Correct the draft immediately: ‘Mistake. Correction, my present maximum draft is one-two decimal eight metres. Repeat, one-two decimal eight metres.’ When the ETA is available, report: ‘ANSWER. My ETA at reporting point Echo is … UTC.’

Exam keys

Responses: ‘Yes/No’ + full phrase; ‘Stand by’ + interval; ‘No information’.
To instruction or advice: ‘I will / I will not …’ + content in full.
Corrections: ‘Mistake … Correction …’; vital parts: ‘Repeat …’; not heard: ‘Say again’.
Readability scale one (bad) to five (excellent).

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