ttnderstanding English 0nboard Ship

In this video clip, you will notice that there is heavy use of technical English. This is typified by
senrences
containing a lot of nouns and adjectives, to describe a particular technical feature o. pio""rr.

Remember the following points.

(a) In English, the noun
Y":.g talking about comes last in the word group. For example; Bunker line valve
or anti-polluion materials. Some languages work the other way *ound, putting the ntun
first, so be careful.

O) It is not clever to be complex. Keep it simple. Use the minimum number of words that you think that the
other person will'understand. If you oi" ,.ry iomplicated, lengthy technical phrases you
may not be
understood.

Synopsis.

The ship is at anchor. The chief engineer (C/E) prepares to take bunkers. The various
preparatory operations are
seen and the bunkering operation starts. The Chief Engineer sets up the
operation, the hourth Engineer (4lE), the
Bosun and a bargeman are in attendance.

UE(ro 4lE) "Fourth, the bridge has told me the bunker barge is alongside. And we
are going to load five
hundred tonnes in the forward tank and four hundred in ihe aft tank. Sound
all iire tanks,
please. (Note l)

(lourth- The bridge has told me the bunker barge is alongside. And we are going
to loadfive
hundred tonnes in the forward tanks andfour hindred inlhe afi tanks. Sound
alt tant<s,
. please)

4tE "Yes, Sir, sound all bunker tanks". (Note 2)

C/E (to Bo'sun) " First check that the scuppers are plugged. Check that the bunker line valve is closed,
and
then take the blank off the line.', (Note 3)

(First check that the scuppers are plugged)

(check that the bunker line valve ii closed, then take the blank off the tine)

Bo'sun "Yes, Sir. check that the scuppers are plugged,check bunker line valve
is closed.
Then take the blank off the line."

CIE " when you've done that, get four bags of sawdust and two shovels"
(
Bo'sun "Please repeat that, Sir. I did not understand" (Note
4)

\4\
C/E .'l\
(Please repeat

"l
that,
said; get four
sald;
Sir t did not understond.)
shovels".
shovels".
\ '\
-D tbur bags of sawdust and two Ai
-{ \
\
(t spa; get four bags of sawdust and rwo shovels) $
\-P
Y\O
F
tT
Understanding English 0nboard Ship

Bo'sun "Yes, Sir. Get four ba-gs of sawdust ancl two shovels"

Bargeman "Good morning to you Chief. You have nine hundred tonnes of fuel oil" (Note 5)

(Good morning to you Chief. You have nine hundred tonnes of fuel oil)

tr
lr
CIE

Bargeman

CIE
"Yeah. Good morning. Yes, that is correct"

"Let's go through the checklist" ( Note 6)

"sufficient deck watch has been established with particular attention to moorings, fenders
and manifold observation, and an engine room watch, the main engines are on standby."

T Bargeman "Okay"

r? CIE "The usual emergency procedure" Scuppers have been checked. Anti-pollution materials are
ready." ( Note 7)

II
Bargeman
(The usual emergency procedure. Scuppers have been checked Anti pollution materials are
ready)

t'My fire fighting

equipment is in position. I will start at the rate of five tonnejs per minute"

i (Note 8) '

t
(My firefighting equipment is in position. I will start at a rate of five tonnes a minute)

ctE 'tAgreed.:lVe have water on deck. The equipment has been checked. Please'sign the

t t
Bargeman
(Agreed. We have water on deck. The equipment

"Please sign mine, as well".

has been checked. Please sign my checklist)

I
I
:
C/E (to Bo'sun) "Bosun ,when the connection is made, make sure the joints are properly tightened."

tI
Bo'sun
(Bosun, when the connection is made, make sure the joints are properly tightened)

"Yes, Sir. Check that the joints are properly tightened."

t I C/E(to 4tE) "Right Fourth. When all is secure, open the bunkering valves on both tanks and the bunker
manifold valve." (Note l0)

r
I
i (When all is secure, open the bunkering valves on both tanks and the bunker mandold valve)

t
Bo'sun "Ready to receive bunkers,Sir" (Note 1l)

(Ready to receive bunkers, Sir)

r
CTE "Thank you, Bo'sun" "'Arabiyah'. Chief Engineer to bridge. We are ready to start
t
I bunkering"

(Chief Engineer to bridge.We are ready to start bunkering)

I:
C/E (on radio)

Deck Officer
"'Arabiyah'. Bridge. Yes, Sir. Ready to start bunkering"

"'Arabiyah'. St.Elmo. Are you ready to receive bunkers?" (Note l2)

I
:
:

CIE "Chief Engineer to St.Elmo. we are ready, Bargeman. stand by to start bunkdrs".
:

I
a- (Chief Engineer to st.Elmo. we are ready, Bargentan. stand by to start bunkers)

I.'
Understanding English 1nboard Ship

Bargeman "We are starting now." (Note 13)

CIE "Oil is coming through. Thank you."

Bargeman "Understood"

C/E (to bargeman) "Understood. Bunkering started at ten thirty" (Note l4)

CiE (To Bo'sun) "Bosun, the oil is coming through now. Keep a good lookout for leaks. Check the entire Iine
and watch the pipe seals carefully." (Note 15)

(Bosun, the oil is coming through, now)

(Keep a good lookout for leaks. Check the entire line and watch the pipe seals carefully)

Bo'sun. "Yes Sir. Keep a good lookout for leaks. Check the entire line, and watch the pipe seals
carefully"

UE (to 4tE) "Any change in level yet?"

4tE "Yes ,the level is rising."

clB "Right Fourth. When the sounding is six metres, close the valve to the forward tank and let
, the bargeman know we are loading into the after tank only"" (Note 16)

(Rtght Fourthr. When the sounding is six metres, close the valve
1o the forward.tank and let
the bargeman know we are loading into the afi tank only).

4tE "When the sounding is six metres, close the valve to the forward tank and tell the bargeman
we are loading into the after tank only."

AE "Thank you, Fourth"

Note l. 'Bunkers' means fuel, no matter what grade it is.

'Tonne' is a metric ton of 1000 kilogrammes. The spelling is different to distinguish it from the 'ton',
an obsolete term except in USA, where it is 2000 pounds.

'To Sound', the verb, is the action of determining how much liquid is in a compartment. 'The sounding'
(a noun) is the amount of liquid so found, that is, the depth of liquid in the tank.

"Ullage" (not used in this text) is the space (depth) between the top of the liquid in a tank and the place
from which the ullage is taken. It is the free space above the liquid

"Fore' and 'Aft' are used exclusively to describe the ends of the ship.

Note 2 Notice how the word 'The" is dropped in this sentence. This is quite acceptable when repeating an
ordeq or in circumstances when there is little time. It should not be done in normal conversation.

Note 3 There are three orders at one time in this group. It is even more essential to check that they have been
heard correctly.

Note 4 'Please repeat' can be used in these circumstances. "Say again" cari also be used.

Note 5 The Chief Engineer does not have the oil. The bargeman has. This is a quick way of saying 'I have a
.delivery of 900 tonnes of bunkers for you".
 Understanding Engtish Onboard Ship

Note 6' Saf-ety checklist-s are an essential part

of complex operations, particularly when several persons are
involved. The checklist makes sure all precautions ire taken.

Note 7 'Anti-pollution rnaterials' in this case means four bags of sawdust

and lwo shovels.

Note 8 As in most oil transfer operations, it is usual to start slowly, to test the lines.

Note 9 "Wateron deck" does not rnean what it says. It means that the ship's
fire Iines are pressurizecl, with the
delivery pumps running, and the water ready for instant use.(As in the case
of a fire)
Note 10 A "Manifold" is the ship's pipeline to which the shore (or barge's)
flexible pipeline is connected.
Note 11 The phrase 'Ready to receive bunkers' is the 'all clear' to say"thai
all is ready" No transfer must
commence belore this

Note 12 The bargeman double checks that the ship is ready. Much
better than a polluting oil spill.

Note 13 There must be no confusion at this time. It is the SHIP that gives
the order 'Start Bunkers,, so that
does not start before the ship is completely ready. ihe video
" does not make this absolutely
:l;#t
Note 14 The 24 hour clock should always be used on board. Thus 'ten
thirty' can only be in the morning.
Note 15 a good lookout' is usually used when watching for other
,'Kee-11 ships at sea. It can be used equally well
to tell someohe to Iook for oil leaks.

Note 16 rtis necessary to tell the bargeman because he will notice a changq
in the pressure in the line. unless
toldthatonetankisshut,hemaythinksomethingiswrong.

This section begins with the phrase 'lrF.ha, Fourth". This is another
way of saying "okay,; and can, in
this usage, be interpreted as- meaning 'okuy, everything has gonaaccording
to plan so far. Now for our
next move'. Be very careful how and when you use thi *o.J'Right'.It
can have a lot of different
meanings, depending on the context in whic-h it is used.