hand. Radio communcation, for example, has to observe certain rigid
regulations regarding formalities which face-to-face conversation may neglect, and has to
take into account what was meant with non-verbal technological conditions.
The External Communication Phrases comprise six what applied linguists
would call communication fields. They are the general description of the subject matter
covered, e.g. Distress communications or Vessel Traffic Service.
The On-board Communication Phrases are subdivided into four
communication fields, such as Operative Shiphandling, Safety on Board, Cargo and Cargo
Handling, and Passenger Care.
Breaking further down the hierarchy of the SMCP's arrangement we will
come to what may be called communication subjects, i.e. sub-headings of the communication
fields. They amount to 13 for external and 16 for on-board communications. A detailed
structure is given in Annex 1 which also shows the communication topics introducing the
standard phrases proper.
These communication fields, subjects and topics cover themost important
safety related situations of communicative relevance in seafaring, this at least is the
opinion of IMO-NAV 41 when it assessed the work done by the SMCP Working Group and the
intersessional Correspondence Group. Here the Chairman of both the Groups shall not fail
to point out, that apart from more than 20 other IMO-Member parties Japan, i.e. the
Japanese Shipowners' Association, the Japanese Maritime Security Forces and the Japanese
Maritime Safety Agency have shown utmost interest in the progress of the project and
rendered far-reaching co-operation and assistance, this should be expressively
appreciated.
3 The impact of the SMCP on MET
The SMCP most probably will be implemented by an IMO Assembly
Resolution in 1999 as it had been done with the SMNV in 1977.
Furthermore, the SMCP have become part of the competence, knowledge,
understanding, and proficiency to be produced by officers in charge of a navigational
watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more as laid down in the STCW-Convention 1978, as
revised 1995 (6). This kind of legislation will definitely impart a relatively high
binding force to the SMCP when it comes to their implementation at MET institutions.
In addition to the SMCP which understandably cannot cover all maritime
communications, ships' officers of the group mentioned above must be able to perform their
duties also with multi- lingual crews (6), this is an improvement compared to the previous
draft revision of the STCW- Convention - the corresponding suggestion was submitted by the
IMLA-SubCom on Maritime
