Everyday radio work
Prowords and message markers
Prowords are the traffic signs of radio speech: fixed words with fixed meanings, so both sides always know whose turn it is and what kind of sentence is coming.
Key facts
- A proword replaces a whole sentence. OVER means "my transmission is finished, I invite you to reply", and nothing else, every time.
- The SMCP way to ask for a repetition is SAY AGAIN, and the confirmation that you got the message is UNDERSTOOD. Roger, wilco and copy drifted in from aviation and land radio; you will hear them at sea, but the SMCP versions are the safe choice in tests and with VTS.
- Radio tradition avoids the bare word "repeat" for repetition requests: in naval gunfire support it means "fire the same mission again". SAY AGAIN carries no such baggage.
- Message markers announce the kind of sentence before it comes: INSTRUCTION, ADVICE, WARNING, INFORMATION, QUESTION, ANSWER, REQUEST, INTENTION. One word up front, and the listener knows whether to act, answer or just take note.
- When you make an error, say MISTAKE, then CORRECTION, then the right version. Never just restart the sentence and hope the other side noticed.
- PLEASE READ BACK asks the other station to repeat your message word for word; READ BACK IS CORRECT closes the loop. Standard practice for positions, times and anything with numbers in it.
The core prowords
| Proword | Meaning |
|---|---|
| THIS IS | The words that follow are the name of the station speaking |
| OVER | My transmission is finished; I invite you to reply |
| OUT | The exchange is finished; no answer expected |
| SAY AGAIN | Repeat your message (or a part: "say again your position") |
| I SAY AGAIN | I repeat what I just said |
| MISTAKE ... CORRECTION | I made an error; the corrected version follows |
| STAND BY | Wait; I will call you again |
| PLEASE READ BACK | Repeat my message back to me exactly as received |
| READ BACK IS CORRECT | Your read-back matches what I sent |
| UNDERSTOOD | I received your message and understand it |
The eight SMCP message markers
| Marker | It flags |
|---|---|
| INSTRUCTION | You are being told to do something by a station with the authority to order it, such as a VTS |
| ADVICE | A recommendation; the decision stays with you |
| WARNING | A danger follows |
| INFORMATION | Facts about traffic, weather, movements; no action implied |
| QUESTION | A question follows |
| ANSWER | The reply to a question |
| REQUEST | I need something from you: a tug, clearance, supplies |
| INTENTION | What I am about to do with my ship |
Watch out
INSTRUCTION and ADVICE sound close and are worlds apart: an instruction comes from a station with authority to give it, advice leaves the decision and the responsibility on your bridge. The marker tells you who owns the next move.
Listen: the standard phrases
Recordings from our SMCP trainer, in the accents you actually hear on the air.
I say again. Mihaylo · Ukrainian accent
Mistake. Correction, my present speed is one two knots. Shelley · British accent
INSTRUCTION. Do not cross the fairway. Mihaylo · Ukrainian accent
ADVICE. Advise you stand by on VHF Channel six nine. Shelley · British accent
WARNING. Uncharted rocks ahead. James · British accent
INFORMATION. Two vessels are leaving the fairway. Mihaylo · Ukrainian accent
QUESTION. What is your present speed? Shelley · British accent
ANSWER. My present speed is one two knots. James · British accent
REQUEST. I require a tug. Mihaylo · Ukrainian accent
INTENTION. I will overtake you on your port side. Shelley · British accent
Over. Shelley · British accent
Out. James · British accent
Where this comes from
IMO SMCP (message markers and procedure words).
This is not a legal text: when in doubt, the current wording of the Radio Regulations and the SMCP decides.
See also: SMCP trainer: all 435 phrases with audio