Compiled by

Zaenul Wafa, M.Pd.

Shipping English 1
 ON BOARD A TANKER
Self-Introduction – The Captain’s Cabin

(After knocking at the door of the Captain’s cabin)

C/off : Captain, Third Mate Conrad Cruz and Third Engineer Manuel Santos are
here, sir.
Capt : Come in. I’ve been expecting you.
C/off : Let’s go in. captain, I’d like to introduce you to Third Mate, Mr. Conrad
Cruz and Third Engineer, Mr. Manuel Santos.
Cruz : Nice to meet you, Captain. I’m Third Mate Conrad Cruz from Manila. I am
22 years old and I am determined to do my best.
Santos : Nice to meet you, sir. I’m Third Engineer Manuel Santos. I’m also
from Manila. I am 23 years old and I hope to do my best, too.
Capt : (Shaking hands) Nice to meet you both. I’m Captain Shimoda. Welcome
aboard The Perian Adventure. Please have a seat. Cruz / Santos: Thank you, sir.
Capt : Is this your first time on a Japanese ship?
Cruz : Yes, it is, and I’m a little nervous. I’ve never been on such a large ship
Capt : Oh, don’t worry. Everyone is nervous the first time. Just watch your step
and don’t get into any trouble. I expect everyone to work hard, but if you don’t
understand something, just ask one of us. In Japan, we have a saying: “Asking for
help is a momentary shame, but never asking for help is a lifetime shame”. The
worst situation is when you pretend that you understand when you really don’t,
and then you fail to do your work right.
Cruz/Santos: We’ll keep that in mind, sir.

Vocabulary
C/off : chief officer
Expect : wait for …., to look forward to something
… determined to do my best: will try hard to do the best I can nervous: worried, uneasy
watch your step : be careful, look where you are going get into trouble: have or cause
problems
saying : proverb, adage, motto momentary: short, brief, temporary shame: disgrace,
loss of honor
lifetime : for your whole life, until you die, throughout your life pretend: act as if, make
believe
fail : not succeed, be unable to accomplish something
Shipping English 2
 THE COC ROOM OF THE TANKER
2/off : Hi, you’re the Third Mate, Mr. Cruz, aren’t you? Welcome on board. I’m the
Second Mate and my name is Tanaka. Nice to have you with us.
Cruz : Nice to meet you. My name is Conrad Cruz. I’m 22 years old and I’m from
Manila.
2/off : Is this your first time on a tanker?
Cruz : Yes, it is. I’ve been on 1 200,00-ton bulk carrier before, and I received
tanker training in the Philippines, which was mainly lectures. I also trained using a
tanker simulator at one of the Japanese shipping company’s training centers. It
was quite helpful.
2/off : I did that simulator training, too. Training is different from the real job, but
it’s quite helpful. By the way, I’m from Hiroshima. I have a wife and three children.
The eldest one is 13. he is a junior high school student. My family comes to see me
whenever my ship arrives in Japan. They have already been to my cabin and made
a big fuss.
Cruz : That’s great. I’m single and my parents live with my elder brothers. Both
of my brothers work for Japanese companies in the Philippines. There are a lot of
differences in culture and in social structure between Japan and the Philippines.
I’m dying to learn about Japan.
2/off : That’s a great attitude Learning about each other’s culture helps us
understand each other better. That’s the first step towards having a pleasant and
peaceful time on board.
Vocabulary
COC : Cargo oil control
2/off : second officer, also called second mate (the rank that comes after first mate)
second mate: a friendly way of addressing the second officer bulk carrier: large ship that
carriers raw goods in its hold simulator: machine for practice
shipping company: large company that owns and operates boats
Hiroshima: large port city in Western Japan
… made a big fuss: made a big issue about something single: unmarried
elder brother(s): older brother(s)
difference(s): things that are not the same or similar culture: arts, philosophies, products of
any society social structure: organization of a society
I’m dying to …: want to do something very much attitude: way of thinking, behavior and
manners

Shipping English 3
 SELF-INTRODUCTION ON A PASSAGE
Santos : (To a Japanese crewmember passing by) Hello! I’m Third Engineer,
Manuel Santos. I just came on board.
2/Eng : Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m Second Engineer, Suzuki. I was checking a pump
so I couldn’t come to the Engine Control Room when the Chief Engineer introduced
you.
Santos : Boy, I was surprised by the size of the engine. It’s the first time that
I’ve seen such a big one!
2/Eng : This ship keeps us busy and she’s a good one to learn many different jobs
on. Santos : I’m sure I’ll learn a lot. The small number of crew also surprised me.
2/Eng : Well, it means that each crewmember takes on a lot of responsibility. I do
hop you’ll become familiar with the ship quickly, and do your job well. We all count
on each other. I’ll help you whenever there’s something that you don’t understand.
Your hands, feet, and body. You know, hands-on experience. That’s the way
Japanese people work.
Santos : I see. I was told the same back home
2/Eng : It’s important to work hard. Doing a good job helps you gain confidence.
Oh, by the way, I should tell you more about myself. I’m 30 years old. I’m single
and I come from Yamaguchi. I like fishing. Pretty handy when you work on a boat,
don’t you think?
Santos : Sure. I’m 23 years old and I come from Manila. I don’t have any
hobby. I just like reading.

Vocabulary
Crew member: a member of a crew (all the people working on a boat, airplane, train, etc.)
2/eng : second engineer
Chief Engineer: the highest-ranking engineer on a ship responsibility: duty, work a person
has to do
become familiar with… : to come to know something well count on: depend on, rely on,
expect somebody else’s help
instruction book(s) : a book that shows or teaches things, procedures, etc. hesitate: be
slow to act, speak or decide, for example, as a sign of uncertainty hands-on experience:
learning by doing or through active participation
confidence: trust, feeling sure, feeling of assurance
handy : convenient, easy to use or apply

Shipping English 4
 BEING TAKEN TO A CABIN

2/off : OK, I’ll take you up to your cabin. Just follow me. We are on D-Deck now.
your cabin is on B-Deck, two floors above. Let’s take the elevator.
Cruz : Is the elevator in service all the time?
2/off : Except during an emergency. And you should always use good manners.
Shut the door quietly but trimly, that sort of thing. Here we are. This is your cabin.
Cruz : Thank you.
2/off : The next cabin is the Chief Mate’s. and the first Engineer, Second
Engineer, and Third Engineer’ cabins are also on this floor.
Cruz : Is the Chief Engineer on the same deck as the Captain?
2/off : That’s right. There’s a water fountain over there for when you are thirsty.
Next to it is the laundry room. There are two washing machines. One is for
underwear and slightly dirty clothes. The other is for heavily-stained clothing such
as oily coveralls. Please tell the Chief Officer if they go out of order.
Cruz : OK. By the way, your English is very good.
2/off : Thank you. I’m very glad to hear that. I often read English newspapers
and try to brush up on my English all the time. Here, why don’t you settle down in
your cabin?
Cruz : Thank you.

Vocabulary

in service: working, in operation

emergency: a sudden, urgent development of a serious matter
First Engineer: a ship’s crew in charge of the engines
water fountain: a device for supplying fresh drinking water
washing machine(s): a machine which washes clothes automatically
underwear: undergarment, clothes worn directly on a person’s body heavily-stained: badly
soiled, very dirty
coverall(s): loose, one-piece garment worn by workmen (to protect clothes)
out of order: not working, broken brush up: to improve, to polish up
settle down: to live in an ordinary way, to feel relaxed, to become less nervous

Shipping English 5
 GETTING TO KNOW THE SHIP – COMMUNICATION FACILITIES

Santos : Excuse me. May I come in? Capt: Sure. Come in.
Santos : I brought my passport, my mariner’s license, and my seamen’s book.
Capt : Thank you. The expiration date of your passport is in 2010, so you
have ten more years. Is this seamen’s license Filipino? This ship’s Panamanian, so
we need a Panamanian license. Do you have one?
Santos : Yes, I do, but I left it in my cabin.
Capt : I need to see it. Will you bring the license and the seamen’s book later,
please? Do you have vaccination certificates?
Santos : I have a cholera certificate. I’ll bring it later, too.
Capt : Oh, we don’t need the cholera certificate. Do you have a yellow fever
certificate? Santos : No, I don’t.
Capt : That’s not good. You won’t need it for this voyage, but you might need it
for the next one. You should get your yellow-fever vaccination done next time you
are in Japan. It is too late to get it now.
Santos : I’m sorry. I wasn’t told about it. By the way, the radio equipment seems
completely different.
Capt : It was changed when we started using the GMDSS. Santos: So all
information is exchanged with the GMDSS?
Capt : Yes, you can say that. Most messages sent between the ship and
headquarters are done by INMARSAT. In the waters around Japan, we use the
coastal telephone system, which covers a wide area since it also recently started
using the satellite system. Another communications system we use is the VHF
telephone for contacting pilots and other vessels. You can use INMARSAT for
private telephone calls, too.
Vocabulary
mariner’s license: a license issued to seamen expiration: coming to a close or end or
termination Filipino: of or native of the Philippines Panamanian: of or native of Panama
vaccination: immunization using vaccines certificate: a paper proving or certifying
something
cholera: an acute infection with watery diarrhea, vomiting, cramps (often fatal)
yellow fever: an acute disease transmitted by mosquitoes, characterized by the body
turning yellow
Shipping English 6
(jaundice)
headquarters: main office, head office
INMARSAT: International Maritime Satellite
satellite: man-made flying object on the Earth’s orbit serving various purposes

GETTING TO KNOW THE SHIP – THE DINING HALL

C. Stew: Here’s the Third Mate table, and there is the Third Engineer’s table.
Cruz : Thank you. Breakfast is served at seven o’clock, lunch at twelve o’clock,
and dinner’s served at five-thirty?
C. Stew: That’s right. But the Third Mate’s dinner is served at five o’clock because
you have to relieve the Chief Mate when he eats dinner. It is a self-serve dining
room, so make sure that you return your dirty dishes to the basin in the galley
after you finish your meal.
Cruz : I will. What kind of food do you serve here?
C. Stew: Mainly Japanese food for the Japanese, and Filipino food for the
Filipinos. But sometimes, we serve the same meal for everyone, such as when we
have steak. Can you eat Japanese sashimi or sushi?
Cruz : No problem. I like sukiyaki I’m interested in Japanese food, so I cut some
Japanese recipes out of a newspaper and brought them with me.
C. Stew: That’s good! I’ll prepare something special for you someday. I think that
we will serve sukiyaki for the welcome party after we’re off at sea.
Cruz : That’s splendid! Will we be able to drink beer?
C. Stew: We have a company policy about alcohol. You can drink, but there’s a
limit. In any case, just enjoy yourself and don’t get drunk.

Vocabulary
C. Stew: Chief steward
is served: (meals are) offered or presented relieve: to release a person from duty galley: the
kitchen of a ship or an airplane
sashimi: a typical Japanese dish of sliced fresh, raw fish
sushi: a typical Japanese dish of sliced raw fish placed on balls of seasoned rice sukiyaki: a
typical Japanese dish cooked with sliced beef and vegetable recipe(s): a list of ingredients and
procedures for preparing food, medicine. Etc.
off at sea: sailing in high waters not moored in a port
drunk: physical and mental weakness caused by taking too much alcohol

Shipping English 7
 GETTING TO KNOW THE SHIP – THE TOILET

2/off: Let me show you the toilet.

Cruz: Are there common toilets only in front of the COC?
2/off: No. there are some in front of the workers’ room on the Upper Deck, and
others in the crew quarters on C-Deck. The deck crew does the cleaning, but we
must also make an effort to keep them clean.
Cruz: Is the flush water seawater?
2/off: Yes, it is provided by the GS pump in the Engine Room. You must
immediately report any problem to the Chief Officer, for example, if the toilet clogs
up or if the water doesn’t stop running. That way repairs can be done quickly. We
are all responsible for the maintenance of the ship.
Cruz: Yes, sir. What should I do if I flush and water doesn’t come out?
2/off: In that case, you can wash up using tap water by connecting the hose to the
fresh water faucet. If that doesn’t work, use the bucket to pour water in the toilet.
It usually works that way.
Cruz: I hope it never happens to me.
2/off: This ship is OK. When you are on an old ship, there are many problems with
pipes and filters getting clogged, and it makes flushing difficult, it not impossible.
Cruz: I heard that the toilet paper is stored in the Deck Store. When may I take
some?
2/off: There are rolls in that locker. When they run out, ask the Assistant Officer
for more. You may take some to your cabin, too.

Vocabulary
crew quarter(s): living areas spaces for members of the crew make and effort to … : try to
do something
flush: to wash away with water as in flush toilet immediately: right away, promptly
clogs up: obstruct the movement of something
faucet: tap, a device for regulating the flow of liquid, such as water impossible: not possible,
something that cannot be done
run out: to completely use up and have nothing more left

Shipping English 8