This is not "conversational" English but standard marine orders (IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases, SMCP). They are identical worldwide, and improvisation is not allowed — only the exact wording. Here are the helm, engine, tug and mooring orders, with the rules and examples.
Why SMCP exists
The crew is multinational and the sound on the bridge and radio is poor. Identical, pre-learned phrases = zero misunderstanding in the stress of manoeuvring, mooring or avoiding collision. A wrong helm order can be very costly.
Helm / wheel orders
- Midships — rudder to 0°.
- Port five / ten / fifteen / twenty / twenty-five — rudder to that many degrees left.
- Starboard five / ten / fifteen / twenty / twenty-five — that many degrees right.
- Hard-a-port / Hard-a-starboard — full rudder.
- Ease to five / ten / fifteen — reduce the rudder angle.
- Steady — check the swing. Steady as she goes — keep the present heading.
- Meet her — counter the swing.
- Nothing to port / nothing to starboard — do not go left / right of the course.
The helmsman always repeats the order, acts, and reports: "Port ten — ten of port wheel on."
Course orders
- Steer one-eight-five — steer 185°.
- Digits one by one: 185 → "one-eight-five", 090 → "zero-nine-zero". Never "one hundred eighty-five".
- Steer the course — keep the ordered heading.
Engine orders (telegraph)
- Full ahead / Half ahead / Slow ahead / Dead slow ahead — the ahead steps.
- Stop engine.
- Dead slow astern / Slow astern / Half astern / Full astern — the astern steps.
- Emergency full ahead / astern — maximum power in emergency.
- Finished with engines (F.W.E.) — the engine is no longer needed.
- Stand by engine — engine on standby before manoeuvring.
Tug orders
- Make fast the tug forward / aft — secure the tug.
- Tug, push / pull — the tug directions.
- Slack the towline / hold on — pay out / stop.
- Let go the tug — release the tug.
Mooring orders
- Stand by fore and aft — be ready at both ends.
- Send the heaving line — throw the light line ashore.
- Make fast / let go — secure / release.
- Heave in / slack away / hold on — take up / pay out / stop.
Handing over the con and reports
- I have the con — I am controlling the ship.
- You have the con — you are controlling.
- Hand over clearly: only one person "has the con" at any moment.
Mini-dialogue (berthing with a pilot)
Pilot: "Dead slow ahead."
Officer (to the telegraph): "Dead slow ahead." (relays to helmsman/engine)
Pilot: "Port twenty."
Helmsman: "Port twenty — twenty of port wheel on."
Pilot: "Midships. Steady."
Helmsman: "Midships. Steady — course three-one-five."
Common mistakes
- Saying full numbers ("ninety" instead of "zero-nine-zero").
- Not repeating the order (repeat back is mandatory).
- Confusing "ease" (reduce the angle) with "midships" (rudder to zero).
- Saying "over and out" on the radio — it is never said.
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