Is The International Code Relevant ?

I'm very sad (in more ways than one); I flew FA all last weekend and nobody noticed - incidentally the chap who designed the codes must have been a bit of a wag. It reminded me of the old song including the F**A'we tribe who lived in Africa where the grass was tall and they were short (etc, etc), but nobody noticed.

The irony was that I was on a big ditch at the time so saying "I'm lost" was not very important.

Still it makes one feel superior to all those AWB motors who wear an ensign but never, never go to Sea.
 
Strangely. I could have used MMU a couple of years ago. I was crossing to Cherbourg with a novice crew and one of the guys(well it would be wouldn't it) asked for a private word. He described the MMU condition. I said it sounded like thrush and I wasn't going to examine it! I said he should see a quack in Cherbourg. Doctor gave him cream for thrush.

He trained home a couple of weeks later from L'Orient, saw his doc, ended up in hospital with a circumcision (at 41 yrs of age). Could have been fatal it turned out. I now carry "Ship's Captain's Medical Guide"! Reminds me, I must stock up on rubber gloves.
 
I am sad to see that much of the discussion has assumed an esoteric nature and has little relevance.

But........when sailing at night you see someone flashing dot dot dash and you do nothing about it you might subsequentlywish that you had noted some of the more relevant single letter signals!
 
Talking to myself?

I thought that it might be.

Realising that I'm beginning to sound like a lone voice in the wilderness but am I the only one that thinks that all this talk of flags, morse and light signals is nice for buffs but of no practical significance in an age of gps and modern communications?

Before this thread it wouldn't have occurred to me that a vessel was trying to communicate on any other than VHF or loudhailer, so the flags would be bunting to my eyes and any flashing lights with the possible exception of ...---..., I'd put down to someone fooling around with a flashlamp.
 
Re: Talking to myself?

progress :-(

I remember ......... when some large ports abroard only used flags, when the blue peter meant more than prats on tv
when ships regularily sent msg by morse light - all british deck officers had to be able to send 6 words a minute
when the radio ops used morse code
when semaphore was used

and now .......
 
Re: Talking to myself?

[ QUOTE ]
.
Before this thread it wouldn't have occurred to me that a vessel was trying to communicate on any other than VHF or loudhailer,[ QUOTE ]


Chris,
Could be that he has no radio, or is ashore, or your VHF is not switched on. You recognise SOS, so why not extend your communication skills a little?
 
Re: Talking to myself?

It's not so long ago that Yachtmaster candidates had to be able to send and receive at 4 wpm on the lamp. They were also required to know all single flag codes. It was dropped in about 1985 along with oral examinations I seem to remember.
 
Re: Talking to myself?

yo - in the mn exams semaphore was dropped in the 70's I seem to remember, morse in the 90's ...... I dunno but I presume the flags are still in - took my last exams early 80's so a bit out of touch .......
 
Re: Talking to myself?

I take your point and as a result of this discussion I might get a book to interpret other signals. I'm not convinced tho' that I'd ever use it or that others around me, with the possible exception of professionals, would recognise my signals.

Regarding YM syllabus, I'm no expert on this but don't recall looking at flags or morse for my YM exam in '98.
 
Re: Talking to myself?

[ QUOTE ]
Realising that I'm beginning to sound like a lone voice in the wilderness but am I the only one that thinks that all this talk of flags, morse and light signals is nice for buffs but of no practical significance in an age of gps and modern communications?

[/ QUOTE ]

Surely the big advantage of the International Code comes when communicating between two vessels without a common language? It doesn't matter what language or signalling system is being used, "Uniform" should convey the message that you are running in to danger.

It may not be the only danger, though, as the following signals might imply:

Extract from the "International Code of Signals"

QR1 May I come alongside?

BB2 You may alight on my deck, I am ready to receive you amidships.

FC You should indicate your position by visual or sound signals.

EY My position is doubtful.

RT1 What manoeuvres do you intend to carry out?

SQ3 You should heave to, I am going to board you.

CU1 I can assist you.

CN You should give all possible assistance.

WH I can only assist if you will make all attempts to follow.

PH1 You should steer towards me.

PH2 I am steering towards you.

LX The canal is clear.

NE You should proceed with caution.

LI1 Increase speed.

JW I have sprung a leak.

HX2 I have received serious damage below the water line.

RC1 I have broken adrift.

OS3 Are you out of the dangerous zone?

MY1 It is dangerous to remain in present position.

ZH Exercise has been completed.

FO1 I will keep close to you during the night.

ZV I believe I have been in an infected area during the last 30 days.
 
Re: Talking to myself?

It's not a common language tho. Few understand it, other than the very few peeps who understand the 'diver down' flag that most dive boats don't display according to regs
 
Re: Talking to myself?

[ QUOTE ]
Before this thread it wouldn't have occurred to me that a vessel was trying to communicate on any other than VHF or loudhailer, so the flags would be bunting to my eyes and any flashing lights with the possible exception of ...---..., I'd put down to someone fooling around with a flashlamp.

[/ QUOTE ]

That really is my point.

Why is he waving at me ?
Why is he flashing lights at me ?
Why is he messing about with flags?

Leading to ;
Why is my boat wrecked ?
Why are my crew dead ?
 
Re: Talking to myself?

I take your point and would, and have responded to people waving and shining lights at me and so far have yet to lose a boat or a member of crew.

I manage it tho' if I was down below interpreting a string of bunting /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Talking to myself?

I would have thought that most folk could learn the single flag meanings easily enough, although having a crib sheet to hand would do.
As for the more esoteric two and three letter hoists, I recall that we were expected to know a handful of common ones, and the stock answer in DoT orals when being shown a hoist was, " I would look it up in the ICS." That book was always to hand on the bridge.
I have been called by morse lamp by shore authorities (Moji), and ships (Nimitz, various other USN idiots).
I have flown multi-letter hoists in US rivers and on the Japanese coast. Admittedly, all over 20 years ago!!
Today, even if I saw a flag on a yacht, I would in all probability ignore it completely, even if I remembered it's meaning without looking it up. If I saw one on a ship, though, I would take it seriously. On any day in the Clyde, you will see B,G,H and possibly Q - these flags are still used religously, so there is a strong possibility of the rest getting an airing from time to time.
Like a lot of professional maritime practice, it does not translate terribly well down to the leisure sector, and there is no great harm in that, really, but I would think that a quick look at the yards of any ship we get near to would be a wise move.
 
Re: Talking to myself?

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Before this thread it wouldn't have occurred to me that a vessel was trying to communicate on any other than VHF or loudhailer, so the flags would be bunting to my eyes and any flashing lights with the possible exception of ...---..., I'd put down to someone fooling around with a flashlamp.

[/ QUOTE ]

That really is my point.

Why is he waving at me ?
Why is he flashing lights at me ?
Why is he messing about with flags?

Leading to ;
Why is my boat wrecked ?
Why are my crew dead ?

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, this thread has converted me, for one. One of my nightmare scenarios (prob in common w many others) is crossing those shipping lanes when said s.l's are v busy. I know that the chances are pretty slim that an oncoming ship has any knowledge I am there, and my responses in extremis (translate how you will, there are plenty of extremis in my book) would be to shine my handheld searchlight at his bridge. Now, I can consider using deliberate signals, such as PP, RU or even SO, and if all else fails SQ3. Seriously tho', I am sure that a flashing signal appearing (day or night) where unexpected, would quickly be translated as a pattern, and I bet that they have books on the bridge which would enable them to translate, even if they don't recognise directly. Or am I incredibly naive??
 
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