English for Maritime industry: hard to learn?
Fri 10, Nov 2023
In an industry with a significant international presence, having a common language that everyone on board a vessel can understand and communicate in is critical.
Maritime English, also known as SMCP, is the language franca at sea and is critical for various reasons, including crew safety, daily work efficiency, and ship integrity.
By using specialized terminology, Maritime English eliminates any misunderstanding that may happen if conventional terms used in everyday life were employed. For example, if the captain and a crew member are in separate parts of the ship, the directions left and right are confusing.
The primary goal of Maritime English is to serve as a manifestation of foundation English with distinctive terms to allow ship-to-ship contact, ship-to-shore communication, and internal communications on board a vessel. To study Maritime English, you must first be proficient in regular English. Many people wonder what makes English hard to learn, and the solution is simple - https://livexp.com/blog/what-makes-english-hard-to-learn/. The desired level of English will be attained with the appropriate drive and the correct instructor.
Some examples of Maritime English terminology for boat positions:
- Front of the ship - bow/foredeck.
- Propeller area - frequently/stern.
- Midship is the area between the fore and the bow.
- The starboard (right) side of the vessel.
- Decks are the levels of a ship.
- The keel is the ship's foundation.
- Where captains and officers work - bridge.
This is naturally difficult for newbies; some intricacies will be more difficult to remember than others, but more senior crew members will practice various scenarios before they occur in reality.
This might be 'INTENTION,' which signifies the seafarer is ready to recommend the following action, or 'REQUEST,' which means something is needed on board to perform the next duty.
'QUESTION' is also a typical utterance before a statement to indicate that a response to an inquiry is required; this is generally followed by 'ANSWER' as an apparent response to the query. All of this eliminates any doubt in reacting to a command.
'I require help' is a crucial statement that indicates that a seafarer on board the vessel requires aid without disturbing other crew members.
Maritime English is frequently a talent aspiring sailors need to gain while seeking jobs, making it difficult to get into the field.
Once acquired, Maritime English is a highly effective way to behave aboard a ship, from changing English words and phrases to inventing a code language for hazardous circumstances.
