HE00845 - Developing Standards for Maritime English for Safer Seas

It is acknowledged by all concerned that effective knowledge of English at sea and in ports is a must for all seafarers responsible for safety and security of the ship, its crew and its passengers.

Yet as evidenced by recent reports, articles and papers particularly accidents reports by major and reputable investigation authorities that the standard of English of some seafarers is so bad that they have difficulty communicating not only between themselves but also with agencies outside the ship (Alert, 2007).