MCA Signals

Study Guide
 SIGNALS STUDY NOTES

1. TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Contents Pg 1

2. Background Pg 2

3. The Phonetic Alphabet Pg 3

4. The Morse Code Pg 4

5. Flags and their Meanings Pg 5

6. Signalling (by Flag & by Light) Pg 10

7. Procedure Signals (Flag & Light) Pg 13

8. Medical Signal Code Pg 14

9. Distress Signals Pg 15

10. The Signals Exam Pg 16

1
2. BACKGROUND

Communications between ships at sea and ships and the shore has been
taking place for centuries. It was more formally put into use during the late
18th Century, when the Royal Navy devised its own code of signals for
working a group of ships in battle. Merchant ships communicated by various
methods, which tended to be based on nationality, and more importantly,
different companies had different methods. With the advent of wireless, a
more codified form was devised e.g. CQD which stood for “Come Quick,
Distress” and was replaced by SOS. SOS was first used by the Titanic, but
even she was initially sending CQD. Other methods of signalling were not
uniform across companies either nationally or internationally, such as rocket
signals.

The International Code of Signals was internationally ratified in 1969

and is a method of communicating with ships of all nationalities and
languages. It is printed in 9 different languages including English,
French and Greek. Similarly, the phonetic alphabet is also internationally
recognised and must be learnt. The use of phonetics enables you to be able
to communicate by voice, to spell place or ship names in a way that
everyone will understand. Its use is to enable a person or persons of
differing nationalities to understand what it is you are trying to say and
vice-verse, no matter how strong their local dialect or accent is.

Morse code sent by flashing light is still widely used by naval vessels, but is
very much in decline in merchant vessels due to the preponderance of other
communicating devices. However, the Morse code is not limited solely to
communicating, but is utilised in the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea as well as buoyage and so is still important that
a good understanding is obtained.

You cannot be taught signals. You will have to learn the flags, their
meanings and the Morse code by yourselves. All the college will be able to
do to assist, is to give hints on how to remember them and to exercise you
skills by sending you the blocks of 20 letters and numbers, that will be the
main part of your signals exam.

2
3. THE PHONETIC ALPHABET

LETTER WORD PRONOUNCED

A ALPHA Al Fah
B BRAVO Brah voh
C CHARLIE Char lee
D DELTA Dell tah
E ECHO Eck oh
F FOXTROT Foks trot
G GOLF Golf
H HOTEL Hoh tell
I INDIA In dee ah
J JULIETT Jew lee ett
K KILO Key loh
L LIMA Lee mah
M MIKE Mike
N NOVEMBER No vem ber
O OSCAR Oss cah
P PAPA Pah pah
Q QUEBEC Key beck
R ROMEO Row me oh
S SIERRA See air rah
T TANGO Tang go
U UNIFORM You nee form
V VICTOR Vik tah
W WHISKEY Wiss key
X X-RAY X-Ray
Y YANKEE Yang key
Z ZULU Zoo loo
Be aware that there are phonetics for the numbers as follows,
but these are rarely if ever, used.
1 UNAONE Oo-nah-wun
2 BISSOTWO Bees-soh-too
3 TERRATHREE Tay-rah-tree
4 KARTEFOUR Kar-tay-fower
5 PANTAFIVE Pan-tah-five
6 SOXISIX Sok-see-six
7 SETTESEVEN Say-tay-seven
8 OKTOEIGHT Ok-toh-ait
9 NOVENINE No-vay-niner
0 NADAZERO Nah-dah-zay-roh

3
4. THE MORSE CODE

It is recommended that you learn the Morse code in the following

order (i.e. the Morse character and then what letter/number it
corresponds to).

MORSE LETTER MORSE NUMBER

._ A .____ 1
_... B ..___ 2
_ ._ . C ...__ 3
_.. D ...._ 4
. E ..... 5
.._. F _. . . . 6
__. G __... 7
.... H ___.. 8
.. I ____. 9
.___ J _____ 0
_._ K
._.. L
__ M
_. N
___ O
.__. P
__._ Q
._. R
... S
_ T
.._ U
..._ V
.__ W
_.._ X
_.__ Y
__.. Z

4
5. FLAGS AND THEIR MEANINGS

This section contains information regarding the Primary and

Secondary meanings for the 40 standard IMO Code of Signal flags, as
well as the meaning when flown by fishing vessels, ‘operating in
close proximity, on the fishing grounds.’

Flag Alpha:
(P) I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.
(S) Followed by 3 numerals – Azimuth or Bearing.

Flag Bravo:
(P) I am taking in, or discharging or carrying dangerous
goods.

Flag Charlie:
(P) Yes (Affirmative or “the significance of the previous
group should be read in the affirmative”)
(S) Followed by 3 numerals – Course.

Flag Delta:
(P)Keep clear of me; I am manoeuvring with difficulty.
(S) Followed by 2,4,or 6 numerals – Date.

Flag Echo:
(P) I am altering my course to Starboard.

Flag Foxtrot:
(P) I am disabled; communicate with me.

Flag Golf:
(P) I require a pilot.
(S) Followed by 4 or 5 numerals – Longitude.
(FV) I am hauling nets

5
 Flag Hotel:
(P) I have a pilot on board

Flag India:
(P) I am altering my course to Port.

Flag Juliet:
(P) Keep clear of me. I am on fire and have dangerous
cargo on board, or I am leaking dangerous cargo.

Flag Kilo:
(P) I wish to communicate with you.

Flag Lima:
(P) You should stop your vessel instantly.
(S) Followed by 4 numerals – Latitude.

Flag Mike:
(P) My vessel is stopped and making no way through the
water.

Flag November:
(P) No (negative or “the significance of the previous
group should be read in the negative”).

Flag Oscar:
(P) Man overboard.

6
 Flag Papa:
(P) In Harbour, all persons should report on board, as the
vessel is about to proceed to sea.
(FV) My nets are caught fast upon an obstruction.

Flag Quebec:
(P) My vessel is healthy and I request free pratique.

Flag Romeo:
(P) No single letter meaning.
(S) Followed by 1 or more numerals – Range or Distance in
Nautical Miles.

Flag Sierra:
(P) I am operating astern propulsion.
(S) Followed by 1 or more numerals – Speed in Knots.

Flag Tango:
(P) Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling.
(S) Followed by 4 numerals – Time (local).

Flag Uniform:
(P) You are running into danger.

Flag Victor:
(P) I require assistance.
(S) Followed by 1 or more numerals – Speed in K.P.H.

Flag Whiskey:
(P) I require medical assistance.

7
 Flag X-ray:
(P) Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my
signals.

Flag Yankee:
(P) I am dragging my anchor.

Flag Zulu:
(P) I require a tug.
(S) Followed by 4 numerals – Time (UTC)
(FV) I am shooting nets.

Numeral Pendants:

Numeral Numeral Numeral

Pendant – 1 Pendant – 2 Pendant – 3

Numeral Numeral Numeral

Pendant – 4 Pendant – 5 Pendant - 6

Numeral Numeral Numeral

Pendant – 7 Pendant – 8 Pendant - 9

Numeral
Pendant – 0

8
Substitute & Code and Answering Pendant

1st Substitute. 2nd Substitute. 3rd Substitute.

Code and Answering Pendant. IMPORTANT - Also depicts
a full stop or decimal place when used in a group
Use of Substitutes:
These are used to enable the same flag to be repeated one or more
times in the same group, if only one set of flags is carried. The 1st
Substitute always repeats the uppermost signal flag of that class of
flag, which immediately precedes the substitute. Likewise, the 2nd
and 3rd Substitute flags repeat the second and third flags counting
from the top of that class of flags, which immediately precede
them. IMPORTANT - when used with a secondary meaning flag group,
the letter flag gives context to the numbers (eg speed in knots), and
should therefore not be considered the first flag within the group.
a) V V sent as: b) HANNAH sent as: c) 1100 sent as: d) Lat 23°35’ sent as

9
Single Letter Signals with Complements
(AKA - Secondary Meanings)

Vessels Engaged in Fishing

When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on the
fishing grounds

10
6. SIGNALLING BY FLAGS.

DEFINITIONS

GROUP: One or more flags which together compose a signal.

HOIST: One or more groups displayed on a single halyard

AT THE DIP: When a signal or hoist is hoisted about half of the

full extent of the halyard.

CLOSE UP: When a signal or hoist is hoisted to the full extent of

the halyards.

TACKLINE: A 2 metre length of halyard used to separate groups.

STANDARD SET

A full standard set of flags consists of 40 flags, made up of 26

alphabetical flags, 10 numeral pendants, 3 substitutes and the code
and answering pendant.

PROCEDURE FOR FLAG SIGNALLING

Hoist signal letters of station you wish to address followed by the

signal group separated by a tackline. The transmitting station
should also hoist its own signal letters on a separate halyard.

As soon as the hoist is seen, the station addressed hoists the

answer pendant at the dip, then, when the signal is decoded and
understood the answer pendant is hoisted close up.

The transmitting station then hauls the hoist down and the receiving
station dips the answer pendant. The transmitting station will then
hoist the next part of his message and when understood, the
receiving station hoists the answer pendant close up.

When the transmitting station has no further traffic to transmit,

she will hoist the Code and Answer pendant close up, which is
replied to by the receiving station doing likewise. Both stations
then haul the code flag down.

11
NOTE: When warships are signalling with merchant ships they will
always fly the code pendant either above the code group she is
using, or on a separate halyard. This is to indicate to other vessels,
including warships, that she is communicating using the
International Code of signals.

SIGNALLING BY LIGHT

There are four basic components to a message sent by Flashing

Light, these are:-

CALL Consists of the general call or callsign of the station

called – it is answered by the answering signal.

IDENTITY The transmitting station sends DE followed by its

callsign.

TEXT Consists of plain language text or Code Groups.

ENDING Consists of the Ending signal AR

E.G. TRANSMITTING SHIP RECEIVING

SHIP GMPP GCQP

__ __ __ _____
CALL AA AA AA TTTT

IDENTITY DE GMPP DE GMPP

GCQP GCQP

TEXT CAN T
YOU T
SPARE T
FRESH T
WATER T
__
ENDING AR R

12
7. PROCEDURE SIGNALS (PROSIGNS)

Procedures signal are used to facilitate the rapid and correct

transmission and reception of signals. A bar over the letters
indicates that the prosign has to be sent as one symbol. The
following list contains the more commonly used prosigns:-
____ ___ ____

AA AA AA Unknown station call or general call up.

EEEEEEEEEEEE Erase (error)
_________
AAA Full stop or decimal point.
_________
TTTT Answering signal.
T Word or group received.
____

AR Ending signal or end of transmission.

____

AS Wait.
DE From…. Or this is…
K Invitation to transmit.
OK It is correct (after a correct repeat back).
R Received.
RQ Request. (This can also be sent by flags,
to turn a signal into a question).
RPT Repeat (whole signal).
If the whole signal is not to be repeated, the repeat signal may be
used in conjunction with the following prosigns:-
RPT AA Repeat All After……
RPT AB Repeat All Before…….
RPT BN Repeat all Between …….
RPT WA Repeat Word After……
RPT WB Repeat Word Before……

13
8. MEDICAL SIGNAL CODE

General

Covered within Chapter 3 of the International Code of Signals (ICS),

this whole section details the codes to be employed in medical
situations. Furthermore, to assist it making them readily identifiable
from any standard code groups, medical signal code utilises a unique
structure. Whereby, the communication will always consist of 3
letters in a group, the first being M. IMPORTANT – Compliments
(numbers placed after the core signal) may also be used to denote
items such as regions of the body, common diseases and medication,
see the below examples for a greater understanding.

Examples

MAP – General condition of the patient is serious

MBA – Patient has suffered from …
MBP – Onset was sudden
MCI – The breathing is irregular
MFT – Wound is due to explosion
MTD 32 – You should give aspirin tablets
MTU 4 – You should apply every 4 hours

IMPORTANT – For the written exam, you only need to acknowledge

that the signal is associated with a medical situation or explain how
you can identify a medical signal code. You will not have to decode
the signal presented.

14
9. DISTRESS SIGNALS

Refer to ANNEX 4 of COLREGS

VERY IMPORTANT – A distress signal question may be found within the

written paper. You must be able to correctly identify this signal as
being related to a distress situation. Inability to do so will result in an
immediate failure of the whole exam!

15
10. THE SIGNALS EXAM - Consists of 5 parts

a) RECEIVE VISUAL MORSE BY LIGHT AT 3 WPM

The practical examination consists of a mixture of 20 letters and

numbers sent as a block test. The pass mark is 90%, which allows
only 2 errors. Additionally, be aware that letters and numbers may
be repeated in the block.

b) FLAGS

Twenty flags, consisting of a mixture of letters and numbers will be

shown to you as a block test. For this stage of the exam, you will
be required to confirm only the letter or number depicted by
the flag. Once again, the pass mark is 90%, which allows for 2
errors. Additionally, be aware that letters and numbers may be
repeated in the block.

c) SIGNALS KNOWLEDGE

A written test is given to each candidate, which examines his

or her knowledge of procedures and distress signals. The pass
mark is 90% and not recognising a distress signal will result in an
automatic failure of the whole examination. The written paper
consists of 10 short answer questions and is not timed, concluding
only when the last candidate has completed their paper.

d) TRANSMIT MORSE

You must demonstrate to the examiner your ability to send readable

Morse at whatever speed. This test will consist of a block of 10 and
will be a mixture of letters and numbers. The pass mark is 90%,
which allows for only 1 error. It is generally easier to send Morse
than to receive it, but as a word of caution, you should never send
Morse faster than you can receive it.

e) SINGLE LETTER FLAG MEANINGS

You must lastly demonstrate to the examiner your understanding of

the primary meaning associated with a selection of 10 letter flags.
The pass mark is 90%, which allows for only 1 error.

16
Written Paper Mock

1. Decode the following flag hoist:

T
1
1st Sub
0
3rd Sub

2. What is a decimal point in Morse?

3. You have called another ship by lamp. It sends AS. What

does this mean?

4. A warship has the Code Pendant hoisted. What does this

mean?

5. Decode the following flag hoist:

R
1
Code Pendant
5

6. How many flags are there in a full standard set?

7. How is a group made into a question?

8. You see the following flag group. What does it signify?

MCR

9. What letters signal Local Time and UTC?

10. What is a tackline?

17