Communications Under Stress
Communications Under Stress Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Why Stress Attacks Communication First When stress increases, the brain reallocates resources. Priority shifts to: Language is not prioritised. This is why communication degrades before technical skill or intent. People still want to act — they just lose the ability to […]
Distress
Why delayed escalation costs more than false alarms Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Why Escalation Exists as a System Distress, urgency, and safety calls are not emotional labels. They are graduated control signals designed to: Escalation exists because waiting for certainty is unsafe. 2. The Three Escalation Levels Explained […]
Closed-Loop Communications & Readback
Why hearing is not understanding — and how accidents slip through the gap Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. What Closed-Loop Communication Really Means Closed-loop communication is a verification process, not a conversation style. It ensures that: Until the loop is closed, communication is incomplete. Silence does not mean agreement.It […]
SMCP
When shared language matters more than fluent language Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. What SMCP Really Is Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) are not a language course. They are a safety control system for spoken words. SMCP exists to ensure that: SMCP does not aim to sound natural.It aims […]
VHF & DSC
How radios actually keep ships safe — and how misuse creates accidents Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. What VHF and DSC Really Are VHF radio is the primary short-range safety communication system at sea. DSC is not a replacement for voice radio.It is a digital alerting system designed to: […]
Common Pilotage & Port Entry Failures
Why experienced crews still get caught out in routine entries Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Why Pilotage Accidents Are Rarely About Skill Most pilotage and port-entry accidents involve: They do not involve ignorance of rules or lack of technical knowledge. They occur because normalisation of routine erodes vigilance. Familiarity […]
Abort Criteria During Pilotage
Knowing when to stop before stopping becomes impossible Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. What an Abort Actually Is An abort is not a failure. It is a deliberate decision to preserve safety margins by stopping, holding, or withdrawing from a manoeuvre before control is lost. During pilotage, an abort […]
Port Entry as a Manoeuvre Sequence
Why port entry is not a moment — but a chain of commitments Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Why Port Entry Must Be Treated as a Sequence Port entry is often treated as a single event: “The pilot boards — then we go in.” In reality, port entry is […]
VTS Interaction & Reporting
Why VTS provides information — not control Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. What VTS Actually Is Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) exist to improve situational awareness within defined port and coastal areas. Their primary functions are: VTS operators observe traffic patterns using radar, AIS, cameras, and reports — but they […]
Authority & Responsibility During Pilotage
Why command never transfers — even when control feels shared Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Why Authority During Pilotage Is Commonly Misunderstood Pilotage is one of the few shipboard situations where authority, control, and responsibility appear separated. The pilot gives directions.The ship responds.The Master observes. This visual arrangement creates […]