peterb26
New member
Heard on the VHF on Sunday. Apologies for the length of the post. But it did make me smile.
A merchant ship "Nina" had engine problems about 20 miles off the portuguese coast and called another ship to request that they give them a wide berth. This call was intercepted by a Portuguese Warship.
The radio comms went like this:-
Merchant vessel Nina this is Port Warship, come in please.
Port Warship, this is Nina, over
we understand you have engine failure, do you require assistance over?
negative
I have engineers on my warship who could probably assist you.
thank you but negative we will deal with the engines
what is your position
I am in international waters
my position is 22 miles south of portimao - are you in my vicinity?
I am in international waters
(The captain then thought he would try another tack!!)
Do you have an estimated time when you will have fixed your engines?
Negative - but we can fix them.
Can you give me your position please.
I am in international waters, 8 miles outside Portuguese borders.
(There was then another long pause from the warship and the captain of the warship took on a new style - one of "please I need your help")
Nina - this Port Warship - please can you pass me your GPS position - I need this for my report for my senior commander, it 'as to be radio'ed to 'im as part of my report. I cannot do report without GPS position. There is nothing bad about wanting position OVER
(Long Pause, then Nina replied)
Port Warship - this is Nina - my position is etc etc.
(It was then like the flood gates were opened and the Warship Captain went for it)
- And what was your last post of call and when did you leave?
- And what is your next port of call and when will you get there once engines are ok?
A very fed up Merchant Ship captain gave the information (Seem to recall he was going to Dakar, Senegal)
The warship captain was by no means finished.
"And what is your cargo please?"
- We carry 4800 metric tonnes.
"Of what please?"
....... And so it went on - about another 5 minutes of questions by the warship captain and grudging answers by the merchant skipper.
I couldnt help thinking "I bet he wished he'd kept his GPS position to himself at the start of the conversation and stuck to "International Waters".
A merchant ship "Nina" had engine problems about 20 miles off the portuguese coast and called another ship to request that they give them a wide berth. This call was intercepted by a Portuguese Warship.
The radio comms went like this:-
Merchant vessel Nina this is Port Warship, come in please.
Port Warship, this is Nina, over
we understand you have engine failure, do you require assistance over?
negative
I have engineers on my warship who could probably assist you.
thank you but negative we will deal with the engines
what is your position
I am in international waters
my position is 22 miles south of portimao - are you in my vicinity?
I am in international waters
(The captain then thought he would try another tack!!)
Do you have an estimated time when you will have fixed your engines?
Negative - but we can fix them.
Can you give me your position please.
I am in international waters, 8 miles outside Portuguese borders.
(There was then another long pause from the warship and the captain of the warship took on a new style - one of "please I need your help")
Nina - this Port Warship - please can you pass me your GPS position - I need this for my report for my senior commander, it 'as to be radio'ed to 'im as part of my report. I cannot do report without GPS position. There is nothing bad about wanting position OVER
(Long Pause, then Nina replied)
Port Warship - this is Nina - my position is etc etc.
(It was then like the flood gates were opened and the Warship Captain went for it)
- And what was your last post of call and when did you leave?
- And what is your next port of call and when will you get there once engines are ok?
A very fed up Merchant Ship captain gave the information (Seem to recall he was going to Dakar, Senegal)
The warship captain was by no means finished.
"And what is your cargo please?"
- We carry 4800 metric tonnes.
"Of what please?"
....... And so it went on - about another 5 minutes of questions by the warship captain and grudging answers by the merchant skipper.
I couldnt help thinking "I bet he wished he'd kept his GPS position to himself at the start of the conversation and stuck to "International Waters".
