Cruise Ship Communications
Understanding Sounds
Marine Communications
Horns / Whistles
1 short blast means "I am changing course to starboard."
1 long blast every two minutes when operating in fog
2 short blasts mean "I am changing course to port."
3 short blasts mean "I am operating astern." or dismissal of drill
3 long blasts means Man Over Board
7 or more short blasts on the ship's whistle followed by one long blast go to muster stations, or abandon ship.
Verbal
Mr. Skylight
This is paged over the PA system. It is an alert for the crew onboard and means there is a minor emergency somewhere.
Mr. Mob
This means Man OverBoard.
Code Blue
Medical Emergency onboard
Bravo, Bravo, Bravo
Fire or serious accident onboard
Pan-pan or Pan-pan medico
There has been an emergency, but it is not life threatening at the moment. These may go out during the first three minutes of the top of the hour, and three minutes at the last of the hour, over the marine radio, such as 2:00-2:03am and 2:30-2:33am. This is given for engine failure, out of fuel, fire is not put out but damage onboard, medical emergency onboard that is not life-threatening but assistance is needed.
Mayday Mayday Mayday
Grave and imminent danger such as sinking ship, fire out of control, passengers and crew abandoning ship. If communications are down, Morse code may be used instead, such as using a pounding noise or light flashes.
Other Terms
AFT - ALSO KNOWN AS STERN
The rear of the ship or anywhere behind the bow
BILGE
The lower most point on the ship's hull. This is the area where the crew lives on most cruise ships.
BLACKWATER
This is waste water that is sewage
BLOODS
The ship's passengers
BOW
The front of the ship
COMPANIONWAY
This is a stairwell
DRAFT
This is the distance between the water and the bilge area of a ships hull.
FORE
This is the front of the ship
FREEBOARD
This is the distance between the water line and the deck.
GRAYWATER
This is waste water produced by showers, basins and in food preparation
KNOT
A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile
LEAGUE
A measurement of distance- approximately 3.45 nautical miles.
LEEWAY
This is the side of the ship sheltered from the wind.
MESS
The crew dining area
MOOR
To secure a ship to a fixed place.
NAUTICAL MILE
6,080.2 feet, versus a land mile of 5,280 feet
PITCH
This is the rise and fall of a ship’s bow that may occur while sailing
POOPED
Means that a wave hits you from over the stern
PORT SIDE
When facing forward, the left side of the ship
ROLLING
Motion of ship from side to side
SCENDING
Rolling and Pitching at the same time
STARBOARD SIDE
When facing forward, the right side of the ship
TENDER
A small vessel that is used to transport people and necessary supplies to and from the ship when it is anchored.
WILLIWAW
Refers to the strong gusts of wind that can occur at sea
WINGER
Dining Room Steward
YAWS
To deviate from the ship’s intended course
