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Ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore communication can be established using various kinds of signals. The signals comply with international standards so that messages can be reliably interpreted.

Signals may involve anything from Morse code to phonetic alphabets to signal flags and distress signals at sea. 

 Morse code
 Phonetic alphabets
 Numeric charts
 One-flag signals

Morse code
 

• Alphabet
[ A ]   · – [ I ]   · · [ Q ]   – – · – [ Y ]   – · – –
[ B ]   – · · · [ J ]   · – – – [ R ]   · – · [ Z ]   – – · ·
[ C ]   – · – · [ K ]   – · – [ S ]   · · ·
[ D ]   – · · [ L ]   · – · · [ T ]   –
[ E ]   · [ M ]   – – [ U ]   · · –
[ F ]   · · – · [ N ]   – · [ V ]   · · · – [ Å ]   · – – · –
[ G ]   – – · [ O ]   – – – [ W ]   · – – [ Ä ]   · – · –
[ H ]   · · · · [ P ]   · – – · [ X ]   – · · – [ Ö ]   – – – ·
• Numerals • Signs
[ 1 ]   · – – – – [ 6 ]   – · · · · [ Over ]       · – · – ·
[ 2 ]   · · – – – [ 7 ]   – – · · · [ Wait ]    · – · · ·
[ 3 ]   · · · – – [ 8 ]   – – – · · [ Period/full stop, comma ]    · – · – · –
[ 4 ]   · · · · – [ 9 ]   – – – – ·
[ 5 ]   · · · · · [ 0 ]   – – – – –

 

Phonetic alphabet table 

Letter Word used when spelling Pronunciation1


Letter Word used when spelling Pronunciation1
A Alfa AL-fah N November no-VEM-bur
B Bravo BRAH-voh O Oscar OSS-kur
C Charlie CHAR-lee P Papa pah-PAH
D Delta DELL-tah Q Quebec kay-BECK
E Echo ECK-oh R Romeo ROH-me-oh
F Foxtrot FOKS-trot S Sierra see-AIR-ah
G Golf GOLF T Tango TANG-go
H Hotel hoh-TELL U Uniform YOU-nee-form
I India IN-dee-ah V Victor VIK-tah
J Juliett JEW-lee-ett W Wiskey WISS-kee
K Kilo KEY-loh X X-ray ECKS-ray
L Lima LEE-mah Y Yankee YANG-kee
M Mike MIKE Z Zulu ZOO-loo

1) The stress is on the syllable shown in all capitals.

 

Figure spelling table  

Figure or mark to be transmitted Word2 Pronunciation1
0 NADAZERO NAH-DAH-ZAY-ROH
1 UNAONE OO-NAH-WUN
2 BISSOTWO BEES-SOH-TOO
3 TERRATHREE TAY-RAM-TREE
4 KARTEFOUR KAR-TAY-FOWER
5 PANTAFIVE PAN-TAM-FIVE
6 SOXISIX SOK-SEE-SIX
7 SETTESEVEN SAY-TAY-SEVEN
8 OKTOEIGHT OK-TOH-AIT
9 NOVENINE NO-VAY-NINER
Decimalkomma DECIMAL DAY-SEE-MAL
Punkt STOP STOP

1) Each syllable should be equally stressed.
2) The last part of each word is the word used in air traffic control.

 

One-flag signals

A I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.
B* I am taking in or discharging or carrying dangerous goods.
C* Yes (Affirmative or “The significance of the previous should be read in the affirmative”).
D* Keep clear; manoeuvering with difficulty.
E* I am altering my course to starboard.
F Disabled; communicate with me.
G* I require a pilot. When this signal is given by fishing vessels in close proximity on the fishing grounds, it means “I am hauling nets”.
H* I have a pilot.
I* I am altering my course to port.
J I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on board; keep well clear of me.
K I wish to communicate with you.
L You should stop your vessel instantly.
M My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water.
N No (Negative or “The significance of the previous group should be read in the negative”). This signal may only be given optically or with sound. In speech or radio transmission, the signal must be “NO”.
O Man overboard.
P In harbour: All personnel return to ship; proceeding to sea. At sea: May also be used as a sound signal to mean: “I need a pilot.”
At sea: May be used by fishing vessels to mean: “My nets have come fast upon an obstruction”.
Q Ship meets health regulations; request clearance into port.
S* My engines are going astern.
T* Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling.
U You are running into danger.
V I require assistance.
W I require medical assistance.
X Stop what you are doing (or intend to do) and pay attention to my signals.
Y I am dragging my anchor.
Z*

I require a tug. When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on the fishing grounds, it means: “I am shooting nets.”

 

Notes: 1. When the signals marked with an asterisk are given with sound, they may only be used in accordance with COLREGS, rules 34 and 35, and by fishing vessels operating in close proximity.

2. The signals “K” and “S” have special meanings as land approach signals for small craft with crew or passengers in distress (the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, SOLAS, of 1974, Chapter V, rule 16).

Dressing the ship
On ceremonial and festive occasions, all signal flags are hoisted from stem to stern via the tops of the masts. This is called “dressing the ship.” The flags are hung in the following order, starting from the prow: A, B, C, 1, D, E, F, 2, G, H, I, 3, J, K, L, 4, M, N, etc.

 

Updated: 2012-03-05