International Marine VHF Voice protocols (ITU?)

[Mark-1]

Before people rush to point it out, I'm aware this is a purely theoretical topic and in practical terms irrelevant. However it interests me so it may interest others.

With that caveat in place, there's an interesting thread elsewhere about prefixing Vessel name with a vessel type (ie "This is Yacht Boatname, Yacht Boatname, Yacht Boatname") on VHF transmissions. Googling around that topic lead me to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which seems to define Mayday Voice Protocols in this appendix:

http://search.itu.int/history/HistoryDigitalCollectionDocLibrary/1.14.48.en.102.pdf

Section III – Distress call, 4, 2 describes Distress Call.

My questions are:

1) Am I right in thinking the ITU define Marine VHF voice protocols?

2) I suspect the 1998 version for that document is not the most recent version, can someone point me at the latest version?

3) In the case of a Mayday, "the name, or other identification" allows, but doesn't require, the prefixing of name with vessel type. Agreed?

4) Can someone point at the ITU document specifying voice protocol for vessel identification in normal 'non-Mayday' transmissions? (I suspect it's the same, but nice to read these things first hand.)

5) I've never heard 'DE' used for real, so I assume fell out of use decades ago. Is it used somewhere abroad?

6) Where are all the pro-words defined? Eg: Out, Over.

 

[westhinder]

About your point 5) If you mean DE as an equivalent for THIS IS, is it not simply the French 'de', (or 'du') meaning from? This is still being used daily in France, as in 'bateau xyz (x3), du Cross Griz Nez, me recevez-vous? A vous (or: 'Parlez'), or 'Pen Duick (x3), de Bon Vent, m'entendez vous?'
I agree I have never heard it as 'Delta Echo'
It looks like most of the standard formulas were originally in French: Mayday = m'aidez = aidez moi, Pan Pan = panne = breakdown, Securité, Silence, Silence Fini, etc

 

[Mark-1]

About your point 5) If you mean DE as an equivalent for THIS IS, is it not simply the French 'de', (or 'du') meaning from? This is still being used daily in France, as in 'bateau xyz (x3), du Cross Griz Nez, me recevez-vous? A vous (or: 'Parlez'), or 'Pen Duick (x3), de Bon Vent, m'entendez vous?'
I agree I have never heard it as 'Delta Echo'
It looks like most of the standard formulas were originally in French: Mayday = m'aidez = aidez moi, Pan Pan = panne = breakdown, Securité, Silence, Silence Fini, etc

I meant verbal DELTA ECHO.

You list of psuedo-French prowords is really interesting. I knew Mayday/m'aidez but I didn't know Pan/panne. Everyday's a school day.

 

[Roberto]

Before people rush to point it out, I'm aware this is a purely theoretical topic and in practical terms irrelevant. However it interests me so it may interest others.

With that caveat in place, there's an interesting thread elsewhere about prefixing Vessel name with a vessel type (ie "This is Yacht Boatname, Yacht Boatname, Yacht Boatname") on VHF transmissions. Googling around that topic lead me to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which seems to define Mayday Voice Protocols in this appendix:

http://search.itu.int/history/HistoryDigitalCollectionDocLibrary/1.14.48.en.102.pdf

Section III – Distress call, 4, 2 describes Distress Call.

My questions are:

1) Am I right in thinking the ITU define Marine VHF voice protocols?

2) I suspect the 1998 version for that document is not the most recent version, can someone point me at the latest version?

3) In the case of a Mayday, "the name, or other identification" allows, but doesn't require, the prefixing of name with vessel type. Agreed?

4) Can someone point at the ITU document specifying voice protocol for vessel identification in normal 'non-Mayday' transmissions? (I suspect it's the same, but nice to read these things first hand.)

5) I've never heard 'DE' used for real, so I assume fell out of use decades ago. Is it used somewhere abroad?

6) Where are all the pro-words defined? Eg: Out, Over.

Re 2), Look for ITU "Radio Regulations", Iirc three volumes, available to download.
http://www.itu.int/pub/R-REG-RR

Re 3), the Mayday format has been changed and now one must indicate the three: callsign, mmsi, name, *not* one of the three but all of them; it seems unnecessarily long but this had apparently been required by SAR organizations. No mention is made of the vessel type, though it might well be included at the end, as "other useful information". The format is sightly different if the mayday is dsc or voice only. Correct structure in the radio regulations above.

 

[duncan99210]

The ITU is the controlling authority for radio communications world wide: they lay down the frequencies, procedures and practices for all radio communication systems. Their publications are the result of international agreement on just how to use the radio spectrum, all nations involved have to agree to changes for them to come into effect, so things change slowly....
The basics of marine radio comms are here http://search.itu.int/history/HistoryDigitalCollectionDocLibrary/1.43.48.en.101.pdf at pages 383 onwards. Radio procedures, including the "Q" codes are here http://search.itu.int/history/HistoryDigitalCollectionDocLibrary/1.43.48.en.104.pdf at page 267 onwards.
"Q" codes were originally designed for morse telegraphy and are a shorthand way of passing information. "CQ" is the calling code, "DE" is the response code. The two letter codes can also be used where language difficulties make it probable that the standard English words might not be understood.
English is the standard language used for aviation and marine radio worldwide. I recall being told that the use of French pro-words (mayday, pan pan, securitie etc) were agreed to keep the French happy about the primacy of English.... (Remember that securitie is 'safety' in French, not a burly chap in a tight fitting suit.)
Using a vessel type in the call is not required but does help a watchkeeper to spot you at sea.

 

[LadyInBed]

DE (This is) is a morse code proword, as is K (over) See ACP-131. They are also used in Teletype comms but not normal in voice comms. Q and Z codes are used in all three types of comms, normally three letters, sometimes with numerals.
All that from the depth of memory!

 

[JumbleDuck]

Re 3), the Mayday format has been changed and now one must indicate the three: callsign, mmsi, name, *not* one of the three but all of them; it seems unnecessarily long but this had apparently been required by SAR organizations.

Though it's unlikely that they'll refuse to help unless you give all three.

 

[Mark-1]

Re 2), Look for ITU "Radio Regulations", Iirc three volumes, available to download.
http://www.itu.int/pub/R-REG-RR

The basics of marine radio comms are here http://search.itu.int/history/HistoryDigitalCollectionDocLibrary/1.43.48.en.101.pdf at pages 383 onwards. Radio procedures, including the "Q" codes are here http://search.itu.int/history/HistoryDigitalCollectionDocLibrary/1.43.48.en.104.pdf at page 267 onwards.

Thanks both, seems exactly what I was looking for, will take a proper look over the week.

Re 3), the Mayday format has been changed and now one must indicate the three: callsign, mmsi, name, *not* one of the three but all of them;

John 11:35