COLUMBUS UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF MARINE AND TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES

ENGLISH SIX

CADETS: WILLIAMS CANSARI/ 8-847-453

LEONEL TROESTH/8-947-1012

57
Unit 3B Navigation
in Seaspeak

In this unit:
Vocabulary: numbers
Structures: corrections and
repetitions
Listening & Speaking:
navigational warnings

1 Introduction
Exercise ı. Do this quiz to test your knowledge of sMCps

1) What word stands for Z in the NATO alphabet? A

2) When you give positions does longitude come first or second?. Longitude

lines converge at the poles and the distance between them changes
relative to your position on the earth.

3)Which of the following is for distance/speed/bearings? minutes/cables/knots.

Gerard Kremer Mercator was a sixteenth century Flemish scholar. In
1569 he invented the projection which made him famous - a way of
depicting the world which took account of the fact that the world is
round

4) What are cOlregs?

On nautical charts, the top of the chart is always true north. A well known method
to create such a chart is called the Mercator Projection after.

5) Match the procedure words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

gO AHeAd I can hear you clearly.

OUT This is the end of my transmission and a response is necessary. I have
Over received your initial call; continue with the rest of your message.

rAdIO cHecK This is the end of my transmission and no answer is expected. I reAd

yOU 5 By 5 What is my signal strength?

58 Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners

2 Vocabulary
Exercise 2. Match the numbers on the left with the spoken forms on the right.

150 Wun-fiver
1.50 One five zero
1500 Wun-fiver decimal zero
15 Fifteen hundred
15.0 One decimal five

Exercise 3. Study the following sentences. Say which is:

a) a call sign 1=quality

b) a quantity 2=size
c) a position 3=speed
d) a time 4=bearing
e) a size 5=call sing
f)a speed 6= time
g) a bearing 7=position
h) a distance 8=distance

1)‘I require six five – repeat six five litres. Over.’

R=quality

.2)‘Answer: my maximum draft seven meters.’

R= size
3)‘. . . one-four knots. Mistake. Correction, one-two, knots.’
R=speed
4)‘The buoy is zero three zero degrees on your port bow.’
R= bearing
5)‘Victor Juliet Five-Zero, this is Echo Golf Niner-Three.’
R= call sing

6)‘. . . last reported at 2008-Oct-04 zero four, four eight hours UTc.’ (04:48 UTc)
English for Mariners Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak 59
R= time
7)I am at South five three degrees zero six seconds, West zero seven zero degrees four
eight minutes (s 53° 06', w 0y0° 48').
R= position

8)’You are two decimal four kilometres from Great Bar lighthouse’.

R= distance
60 Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners

Exercise 4. Study this transcript and complete the record.

Caller: Calling all ships, all ships, all ships calling unknown ship.
Type: tanker, hull red, course two-two-six, speed: one six
knots. This is M/v Suraya, Hotel Romeo Golf Victoria – five,
Hotel Romeo Golf Victor – five. Over.
Responding vessel: Motor Vessel Suraya, Hotel Romeo Golf Victor – five. This Mo-
tor Tanker Royal Star Six – Delta Golf Foxtrot – four, tanker,
hull: red, course two-two-six, speed one six knots. Over.

Caller
Name: Name: mv Suraya
call sign: Call sign: hrgv-5
type of vessel: Type of vessel: Motor vessel (m/v)

Responding vessel
name: MT Royal Star
call sign: dgf-4
type of vessel: Tanker
description: Red hull
course: 226 degrees
speed: 16 knots
English for Mariners Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak 61

3 Structures
Corrections and repetitions in SMCPs

Exercise 5. Enter either ‘repeat’, ‘say again’ or ‘correction’ into the gaps:

1) My draft is one two decimal six metres repeat one-two decimal 6 metres.
2) My present speed is 14 knots – mistake. Correction , my present speed is 12,
one-two, knots.
3) say again all after ‘vicinity’.

Exercise 6. Phrases of these messages are mixed up. Write the sentences correctly:

1) overtake / do not/do not overtake / repeat.

R= Do not overtake repeat do not overtake

2) correction / turn to starboard and pass astern / mistake / turn to port.

R= Turn to starboard and pass astern, mistake. Correction: turn to port.

3) change course / change course to two three zero / to two three zero / repeat / cv Passing
Wind / Over.

R= c/v Passing Wind change course to two three zero repeat change course to
two three zero, Over.

4) my position / West 133 ° mistake / Correction West 132° / is North 69°24'.

R= My position is North 69°24', West 133° mistake. Correction West

132°.

5)understood / please say again / time now is 02:58 UTc / all after UTc.

R= Understood time now is 02:58 utc please say again all a er ‘utc’.

Exercise 7. Answer the questions.

1) You receive this warning about a dangerous obstruction but the end is not clear:
“Securité, Securité Securité: Dangerous obstruction at location ***brzzzz*** . . . ” What
62 Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners
do you say?
Please say again all after location

2) You send this message: “My e TA is one zero four five UTc” but you make a mistake –
your eTA is 12.45. What do you say?
My eta is one four zero four five UTC, mistake. Correction my eta is one two four five
UTC.

3) A vessel is coming too close. It is very important that the vessel gives you a wide berth.
What do you say?
Give a wide berth. Repeat give a wide berth.
English for Mariners Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak 63

4 Reading
Exercise 8. Discuss what colrEgs you know, then read this dialogue and answer the
questions.

Solent Coastguard: All stations, all stations, all stations. This is Solent Coast-
guard, Solent Coastguard, Solent Coastguard. Be advised:
large vessel entering Southampton Water, currently at posi-
tion ***brzzzz*** Out.
Mv Jumbo Joe: Solent Coastguard, Solent Coastguard, this is Echo Golf Three
Niner. Say again all after position. Over.
Solent Coastguard: All stations, All stations, this is Solent Coastguard. I say again,
large vessel entering Southampton water, currently at posi-
tion one decimal two miles from Calshot Spit on bearing one
six five degrees. Vessel restricted in ability to deviate from its
course. Do not impede. Out.

1) Which phrase can be replaced with the message markeAadv ce?adv

a Iaa Be advised
r

2) What does currently mean? Now

3) What is Jumbo Joe’s call sign? eg39

4) What words are used instead of repeat? say again

5) Which part of the message does Mv Jumbo Joe want to hear again? everything a er the word
‘position’
6) Complete this information using numbers only: Vessel is two miles/ from Calshot Spit. Vessel’s

bearing is 165 degrees.

7) What does vessel restricted in ability to deviate from its course mean? (choose from a, b and c) a
a) Ship cannot change course easily
b) Ship is out of control
c) Ship is in the wrong position

8) What word means ‘get in the way’?

Impede
64 Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners

5 Listening
Exercise 9. You are on a small freighter in an area with a lot of traffic. Discuss what
can suddenly change in the fairway and be a danger to your ship.

Exercise ıo. Listen to the navigational warning and complete the record:

Navigational Warning
Message from: Cherbourg Traffic Control
Channel: 16
Nature of navigational warning: A group of
Location: South East of
Advice: Give a

Exercise ıı. Listen to a second navigational warning and answer the questions:

1) What is not in operation?

2) What colour is the flash from the buoy?

3) Where is the buoy?

4) How can you contact Jersey radio?

English for Mariners Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak 65

6 Speaking
Exercise ı2. Role play with a partner:
Student a: Go to page1y4. Study the details of the navigational warning. Use the informa-
tion and make a broadcast to ‘all ships’ (your partner).
Student B: Study the details of the navigational warning below. Use the information and
make a broadcast to ‘all ships’ (your partner).

Navigational Warning [Student B]

Time of message: 14.30 UTC June 26
Message: Pan message for man over board sent by M/V
‘Otello’, call sign: FMEJ
Location: 50 15,00 N – 001 39,2 W
Request: Ships proceeding in the vicinity to keep a sharp
look out and report all information on Channel 16

7 Writing
Exercise ı3. Study the navigational warning and the text (on the following page) which
puts the navigational warning into full sentences.

NAvIgATIONAl wArNINg

041630 UTC SEP

BALTIC SEA NAV WARN 008
KATTEGAT. BALTIC SEA. THE SOUND, GULF OF FINLAND
V. LONG TOW (650 M) DEPART GRENEN SWEDEN APPROX 042000 UTC SEP TO
PASS THROUGH DROGDEN
TOWBOAT ‘EUROSUND’ CALLSIGN OWFB2
WIDE BERTH REQUESTED
66 Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners

4th September 16.30 UTc

Baltic Sea navigational warning number 008
This navigational warning is for Kattegat, the Baltic Sea, the Sound and the Gulf of
Finland.
A very long tow of six hundred and fifty metres departs Grenen in Sweden on Septem-
ber 4th at approximately 20.00 UTc. The tow passes through Drogden. The name of
the tow boat is Eurosund. Its call sign is Oscar Whiskey Foxtrot Bravo – two. Please
give a wide berth.

Exercise ı4. Answer these questions:

1)What is this date and time? 140845 UTc NOv .R=4th September 16.30 UTc

2)What is this call sign in letter codes? AXyH-5

R= Baltic Sea navigational warning number
008
3) What comes first in a navigational warning – description of the danger or the location?
R= the location.

Exercise ı5. Study this navigational warning and write it in full sentences:

NAvIgATIONAl wArNINg

281400 UTC JUN

BALTIC SEA NAV WARN 007
SE BALTIC.
DERELICT SEMISUBMERGED YACHT ADRIFT 55–32N019–
34E AT 280245 UTC JUN.

281400 UTC JUN BALTIC SEA NAV WARN 007 SE BALTIC. DERELICT SEMISUBMERGED

YACHT ADRIFT 55-32N 019-34E AT 280245 UTC JUN.

English for Mariners Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak 67
68 Level 1, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners

Exercise ı6. Vocabulary list: Check you know these words:

NOUNS ABBREVIATIONS
Knot UTc
Decimal Nav
Hull c/v
Call sign M/v
Correction Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jun,
Mistake Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec
Advice
Flash
Vicinity
Location
138
Unit 3B LevelLevelNavigation
English for Mariners 1, Unit 3B3B
2, Unit – Navigation in Seaspeak
– Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners 69

in Seaspeak

In this unit:
Vocabulary: mapping
Structures:
mathematics in English
Reading:
notice to mariners
Listening:
communicating with pilots

1 Introduction
Exercise ı. Test your knowledge of nautical charts by doing this quiz.

1) What does colREGs demarcation line mean on a chart?

a)Where international rules begin.
b) No vessels beyond this point.
c) Foreign vessels must report to coastguard.

2) Why can you not use longitude lines to measure distance?

R=Longitude lines converge at the poles and the distance between them changes relative
to your position on the earth
3) What did Gerard Mercator invent that was so important to mariners?

R=Gerard Kremer Mercator was a sixteenth century Flemish scholar. In 1569 he

invented the projection which made him famous – a way of depicting the world
which took account of the fact that the world is round.

4)Is the top of a nautical chart always true north or magnetic north?

R=On nautical charts, the top of the chart is always true north. A well known method
to create such a chart is called the Mercator Projection a er
5)What do depth contour lines show on a nautical chart?
a)Obstructions below the surface
b) Navigable routes
c) The shape of the sea bed
 English for Mariners Level 2, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak 139

2 Vocabulary
Exercise 2. Match these words with definitions (ı–8):

dead reckoning track made good parallel sounding

co-ordinates prime meridian bearing scale

1) bearing : clockwise angle between magnetic North and the direction of an

object.
2) prime meridian : zero line of longitude
3) dead reckoning : method of calculating a position
4) co-ordinates : sets of numbers which identify position
5) parallel : line of latitude
6) scale : what distance on a chart equals real distance
7) track made good : real route travelled
8) sounding : depth of water

Exercise 3. Study this diagram.

A is point of departure. B is destination.

track

Track made good

Angle of drift Exercise 4. Label the diagram with the following:
• track made good
• angle of drift
• bearing
• track
bearin
g
140 Level 2, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners

3 Structures
Exercise 5. Study the sentences (a–g) and match them with the numbers and formulas(ı–
7).
a) Multiply five by eight and divide the product by seve / 5
b) Five eighths multiplied by a third /2
c) Add five to eight and multiply by seven /4
d) One mile equals one point six one kilometres /1
e) A scale of five to eight /6
f) Eight point five divided by seventeen /3
g)A bearing of eighty degrees five minutes /7

1)1 M = 1.61 km / 5
2) 5 1
8 3
3) 8.5 17
4) ˆ8 5• 75)
5 8
7
6) 5 8
y)8o ° 5'

Exercise 6. Complete the following sentences:

1) multiply five by three to make fifteen.

2) Five multiplied by three is equal to fifteen.
3)Fifteen divided by three squal five.
4) One half is the same as point five.
5) Five added to fifteen is the same has ten multiplied by two.
English for Mariners Level 2, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak 141

Exercise 7. Study these sentences and answer the questions.

1) Roughly y nautical miles equals 8 statute miles. Which of the following words can
replace ‘roughly’?
a) Exactly
b) b)approximatelyc)under
2) To convert nautical miles to statute miles, multiply nautical miles by 8 and divide the
product by y. In the following sum: 10 78 11.42
a) Which number is nautical miles? 10
b) Which number is the ‘product’? 10 x 8 ( or 80 )
c) Which number is statute miles? 11.42
3) How do you reverse the operation in question number 2?
a)Multiply statute miles by y then divide by 8.
b) Divide statute miles by y and multiply by 8.
c) Multiply nautical miles by y and divide by 8.

4) One unit on a chart represents 8o,ooo units on the actual water surface. Which of the
following does not mean the same thing?
a) 1 : 8oooo
b)1/8oooo
c)8oooo cm = 1 m
5) Which of the following formulae shows that one minute on the latitude scale is equal
to a nautical mile?
a)1 NM = 1' b)1 NM = 1852 mc)1 ' : 1 NM

4 Speaking
Exercise 8. Work with a partner.
Student a: Go to page1y5. Read aloud the equations to Student B.
Student B: Write out the sums in numbers.
1)
2)
3)

Exercise 9. Write out two sums of your own. Speak them aloud to your partner. Your
partner must write them out correctly.
142 Level 2, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners

Exercise ıo. Change roles.

Student B: Go to page1y5. Read aloud the equations to Student A.
Student a: Write out the equations in numbers.
1)
2)
3)

Exercise ıı. Write out two sums of your own. Speak them aloud to your partner. Your
partner must write them out correctly.

5 Reading
Exercise ı2. Notices to mariners are issued by maritime authorities. What informa-
tion do you expect to find in them? Study this Notice to Mariners.

NOTICE TO MarINERS
No. 24/o8 cı5
soUTH EasT COasT OF ENglaNd
dovER STRaIT TRaFFIC SEparaTION SCHEME
varNE BaNK
wrECK
FIRST WORLd war sUBMarINE

Latitude 5o° 57'.84ı N., Longitude oı° 2ı'.622 E (wgs 84 Datum)

Mariners are advised that further to Trinity House Notice to Mariners 21/o8 c13 dated
18th June 2oo8, the wreck of a First World War submarine, formerly laying in the above
position in the sw bound lane of the Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme, south of
the Varne Bank, has been relocated to position Latitude 5o° 5y'.89 N., Longitude o1°
23'.12 e.
The clearance depth over the wreck in the new position is in excess of 3o metres l.A.T.
The works vessel NORMA, the tug eerlANd 26 and guard vessel THV Alert have now
vacated the site.
English for Mariners Level 2, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak 143

Say if the statements that follow are true or false:

1) This notice is for inland waters. j true j false
2) There is a wreck located at Varne Bank. j true j false

3) The wreck is new. j true j false

4) This is the first notice about this wreck. j true j false

5) The wreck has been moved. j true j false

6)There is now less than 3o metres clearance over the wreck. j true j false

7) NORMA is a tug. j true j false

8)Vessels are now working in the area. j true j false

6 Listening
Exercise ı3. Before you listen – Discuss with a partner the following questions.
• When is a pilot normally necessary?
• What are standard pilot boarding instructions?

Exercise ı4. Listen to the first exchange between a ship’s captain and a pilot station.
Decide which of these statements is true.
a) The call happens after the pilot boards the ship.
b) The caller does not need a pilot.
c) The captain will make more calls to the pilot station.
d) This is the final call. There will be no more contact after this.

Exercise ı5. Listen again and complete this record of the call:

record oF cAll

Name of vessel:

Present position: eTA pilot station:

Vessel details:
Gross tonnage: Maximum draught:
144 Level 2, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak English for Mariners

Exercise ı6. Listen to the second exchange. Decide which of these statements is true.
a) The vessel is not ready for the pilot.
b) Two pilots will board the vessel.
c) The pilot boat will be launched soon.
d) The vessel is not going to Gortonstown.

Exercise ı7. Listen again and complete this record of the call:

record oF cAll

Present Position: vHF channel:

Boarding equipment in place: j Yes j No

Equipment details:

Exercise ı8. Study this transcript of a radio exchange and fill in the gaps.

White Fox (Captain) Point Lucien Coast guard. This is White Fox vc4228 on channel
16. .
Coast Guard White Fox vc4228 , Point Lucien Coast
guard. ahead on channel 26. Over.
White Fox (Captain) Point Lucien Coast guard. This is White Fox on channel 26. Re-
quest: Please give signal check: one, two, three, four. How do you
? Over.
Coast Guard White Fox. This is Point Lucien coast guard. Response: I
five. Question: What is your position?
Over.
English for Mariners Level 2, Unit 3B – Navigation in Seaspeak 145

White Fox (Captain) Point Lucien coast guard. This is White Fox. : My posi-
tion is: latitude: fifty , twenty two north.
Longitude: oh – three – nine degrees fifteen minutes .
Over.
Coast Guard White Fox. Question: what is your speed and eTA? Over.
White Fox (Captain) Point Lucien. This is White Fox. Information: my speed is two
knots. eTA is eighteen thirty UTc . Over.
Coast Guard Thank you captain. Your position is five – oh degrees, two minutes
north, oh three nine degrees, fifteen minutes west. Request: Say
again speed and eTA . Over.
White Fox (Captain) Point Lucien. This is White Fox. I :
speed is two knots. eTA is eighteen thirty UTc . Over.
Coast Guard White Fox. This is point Lucien coast guard. Thank you captain.
Nothing more. .