Ship Emergency Codes

[loubetti]

That web site with the flags (clors) was very interesting. I am wondering if those are the same flags that are hoisted on cruise ships in port. I have often wondered what all those flags mean. I thought they were just decoration, but now I see they may have some meaning or message.

 

Yes, the same signal flags, and they are usually just decoration, and they will put them up in random order. Of course, they could always spell a message out on them too.

[Mary Ellen]

Want to laugh? At Disney World when 'Proteen spill' with loction is announced, it means someone has thrown up, crew, go clean it up!

Actually, the code phrase is "Protein Spill". Sounds the same, but a different meaning. ;)

[lydnsyd]

The only times I've heard "Bravo Bravo Bravo" on board, it has always been preceeded by the announcement "For practice only, for practice only" for which I'm glad!

 

Other codes :

Whiskey Whiskey Whiskey: The bar is open.

Yankee Yankee Yankee: The New York Harbour Pilot is now aboard.

Tango Foxtrot: Let's dance!

 

VP

Those 'codes' are so funny ..it made me laugh out loud :D:D

Edited April 18, 2012 by lydnsyd

[navybankerteacher]

Yes, the same signal flags, and they are usually just decoration, and they will put them up in random order. Of course, they could always spell a message out on them too.

 

When the signal flags are strung the length of the ship, they are solely decorative. When one or more flags are hoisted on the mast, they convey particular meanings. The ones most often seen are: The red flag (with swallow-tail indentation) is B for "Bravo" - indicates fueling operations; the red and white vertical striped flag is H for "Hotel" - indicates pilot is on board; the all yellow flag - Q for "Quebec" indicates the ship is still in quarantine awaiting port clearance; less often seen is the blue flag with a white center square - P for "Papa" indicates personnel are being recalled - prior to ship sailing; it goes on --- "Oscar" means man overboard, "Five" (number flag) means engine breakdown. These are from the international signal book -a universal communication system.

[bbwex]

Someone asked what the various flags mean, and there are a bunch, but here are the most common ones:

 

A ship will fly a four flag hoist of letters that are the ship's call sign as it enters and exits port.

 

From the list of individual flags already mentioned, the ship will hoist the red Bravo (B) flag when it is taking on fuel. It will hoist the Hotel (H) flag when a pilot is on board.

 

If there is a man overboard, they will hoist or break the Oscar (O) flag. Some ships have one raised on a hoist but all folded and wrapped, but pulling a string will "break" it and open it up.

 

You are really unlikely to see any of the other international code single signal flags.

 

Presuming your ship is registered elsewhere (big flag on stern), they will fly the local flag on a hoist.

 

Then of course there could be the line's flag, etc.

[jcl410]

Another International "letter" flag is the "A" blue/white flag... It indicates divers in the water adjacent to the vessel.

 

Aloha,

 

John

[boogs]

I was recently on board an RCCL cruise when the call "Echo Echo Echo" was repeated a couple times. We happened to be getting ready to depart a port and the seas were a bit rough, if that was a clue.

 

But I never figured out what had occurred.

 

Echo Echo Echo was called several times when the Carnival Legend collided with the RCCL Enchantment this past Wednesday. We were indeed in port and the seas were rough. The Legend was blown right into the EOS and Echo was called before, during and after the collision.

 

Would be interesting to know what it means, didn't think to ask a crewmember.

 

It is the nautical emergency code for a possible collision with another ship or the shore.

 

I understand that it is being changed to "Schettino, Schettino, Schettino".

Edited April 19, 2012 by boogs

[ts2004]

I have heard "Charlie Papa" on the MSC Seaside which means there is a possible Flooding on the Lower Decks and the ship needs to be prepared to abandon ship.

[hallasm]

Vesselbo Emergency Codes is standardized to a certain extent 

• Alpha Team, Alpha Team, Alpha Team is the code for a fire emergency aboard Carnival Cruise Line ships.
• Alpha, Alpha, Alpha is the code for Medical Emergency aboard Royal Caribbean ships.
• Assemble at Muster Stations, seven or more short blasts on the ship's whistle and general alarm, followed by one long blast.
• Bravo, Bravo, Bravo, used by many cruise lines to alert crew to a fire or other serious incident on board without alarming passengers.
• Charlie, Charlie, Charlie is the code for a security threat aboard Royal Caribbean ships and the code for upcoming helicopter winch operations aboard c-bed accommodation vessels.
• Code Blue usually means a medical emergency.
• Delta, Delta, Delta is the code for a possible bio-hazard among some cruise lines.
• Echo, Echo, Echo is the code for a possible collision with another ship or the shore aboard Royal Caribbean ships. On board some cruise lines this means danger of high winds while at port. It alerts the crew responsible for the gangway, thrusters etc... to get into position and be ready for new maneuvers.
• Fire and emergency, continuous ringing of the general alarm bell for ten seconds and a continuous sounding of the ship's whistle for ten seconds.
• Kilo, Kilo, Kilo on Royal Caribbean is a general signal for crew to report to emergency stations.
• Mr Mob means man overboard. Man overboard can also be signaled with three prolonged blasts on the ship's whistle and general alarm bell (Morse code "Oscar").
• Mr Skylight paged over the PA system is an alert for the crew on board and means there is a minor emergency somewhere.
• Oscar, Oscar, Oscar is the code for Man Overboard aboard Royal Caribbean ships.
• Purell, Purell, Purell followed by a location is for cleanup (vomit) on Celebrity ships.
• Red Parties, Red Parties, Red Parties, used by Disney Cruise Line over the PA system to alert the crew of a fire or possible fire on board the ship. The message is immediately followed by information about where the fire is.
• Star Code, Star Code, Star Code is a code for Medical Emergency aboard Celebrity ships.
• Zulu, Zulu, Zulu is the code for a fight aboard most cruise lines.

[caffeine_demon]

On ‎9‎/‎8‎/‎2008 at 7:30 PM, nadalina said:

I believe it must be different from cruise line to cruise. The reason I believe this is because I was very recently on ship that had a man who jumped overboard. The PA code announced by the Captain was "Bravo Bravo".

 

 

Maybe he was just impressed at the quality of the dive....

[Toofarfromthesea]

On 5/3/2009 at 2:41 PM, Sea Hag said:

 

There's also the much dreaded:

 

This little piggy went to market: the buffet's out of bacon

So long as I can find the one that has roast beef.

[Hlitner]

My goodness folks.  There are over 20 cruise lines operating in North America and many more around the world.  Codes used over PA systems vary from cruise line to cruise line and many other situations are handled via private pagers and/or cell phones carried by key personnel.  So, one ships "Alpha Alpha Alpha,"  could be another line's Code Chartreuse!   

 

Hank

[Heidi13]

7 hours ago, Hlitner said:

My goodness folks.  There are over 20 cruise lines operating in North America and many more around the world.  Codes used over PA systems vary from cruise line to cruise line and many other situations are handled via private pagers and/or cell phones carried by key personnel.  So, one ships "Alpha Alpha Alpha,"  could be another line's Code Chartreuse!   

 

Hank

Totally true. Any codes on the PA system are company specific and can be changed at any time by amending the company policy manual. Noted they were discussed already, but many years ago, so here is a recap of the approved Merchant Marine signals.

 

The only signal pax need to be aware of, is the General Emergency Signal (GES), which consists of at least 7 short rings + 1 prolonged ring on the General Alarm (frequently now buzzers rather than bells). May also be sounded on the ship's whistle. On hearing this signal, all pax should go to their Muster Station, as posted on the back of the door & elsewhere.

 

Additional, internationally recognised signals:

 - Continuous ringing of the General Alarm (normally considered to be at least 10 secs) - Fire, crew reports to fire stations, pax - no action required.

 - Three prolonged blasts on ship's whistle + 3 prolonged rings on General Alarm - Man Overboard (MOB) this is morse code signal for Oscar "O". Select crew report to MoB station, pax to keep clear of rescue boat.

 

"Abandon Ship" has NO signal and is only initiated by the verbal command of the Ship's Master. 

[sanger727]

Am I the only one who would prefer not to know? I handle emergencies on a daily basis at work. Perfectly happy to allow the trained professionals to handle emergencies and be none the wiser on vacation. I’m sure if they want me to go to muster or get on a lifeboat they will find a way to let me know. 

[Aplmac]

On 4/11/2010 at 1:28 PM, Ship Crew Member said:

 One way to see the crew in action

is to watch the crew drill, normally held once a week.

.

On one cruise..

we came back on board unexpectedly and kinda early

to find crew drill/practice under way, with emergency direction lights >>>> on

crew standing to attn. at certain places -and announcements over the PA!

 

This was like around 10-11 a.m.-ish?

A sort of eerie feeling, but at the same time, reassuring!

_______________________________

Emergency Lighting in the hallways

looks like this (on Carnival ships)

.

[Aplmac]

On 4/18/2012 at 7:13 PM, jcl410 said:

Another International "letter" flag is the "A" blue/white flag...

It indicates divers in the water adjacent to the vessel.

.

Many Mango Seasons Ago.. mid-1980s..

when I was working as an inspection diver in the Bridgetown Port (Barbados)

I guess they may have had that  blue/white flag flying

for me and my dive buddy!

 

We got called out around 4 p.m.

AMERICANA had pulled into port with bad vibration problems.
Suspected propeller damage?

 

I was the camera-man .. we went in at her stern, checked both props

found nothing exceptional, just the usual little nicks in prop blades, on both props

and came up to report same to the big wigs, and handed-in photos a few hrs. later

- it was the days of film, not digital.

 

At least we satisfied their curiosity: presumably they then turned their attn.

to shaft bearings? but it sure was not propeller damage!

[ts2004]

On 4/11/2010 at 7:49 PM, PennyAgain said:

Mr So and So please come to the office immediately

"Mr SO" tends to mean either a security alert OR calls either a Security officer or the Head of Security to an Incident which would tend to be said over the security radio.

[ts2004]

On 2/28/2019 at 2:28 AM, Heidi13 said:

"Abandon Ship" has NO signal and is only initiated by the verbal command of the Ship's Master. 

Abandon ship can actually be followed either After the GES or the CAS(Crew alert) signalling that the ship is in Imminent danger and EVERYONE should head to the Muster Stations Immediately and when they arrive they will be escorted to the survival craft without delay. 

[ts2004]

On 2/27/2019 at 4:05 PM, caffeine_demon said:

Maybe he was just impressed at the quality of the dive....

Bravo Bravo = Serious incident onboard in which crew attendance is necessary. 

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, ts2004 said:

Abandon ship can actually be followed either After the GES or the CAS(Crew alert) signalling that the ship is in Imminent danger and EVERYONE should head to the Muster Stations Immediately and when they arrive they will be escorted to the survival craft without delay. 

The point being made is that "Abandon Ship" has no internationally recognised signal on the alarm system and/or whistle. Regardless of when it is given, it is only initiated upon the verbal command of the ship's Master.

 

Stating that Abandon Ship is given when the ship is in imminent danger is an over simplification of the process. While every situation is different, the Master is cognisant of the ship's design criteria, with respect to the SOLAS "Safe Return to Port" , which were introduced about 10 years ago. This requirement re-inforces the premise that the ship is the best lifeboat, in many situations.

 

Therefore, as a passenger vessel Master, I would only issue the "Abandon Ship" command when determining the risks of remaining aboard ship were higher than ordering the ship's compliment to the Survival Craft. Even with the ship in "Imminent Danger" the Master may determine the risks of remaining aboard are less than using survival craft, which have risks during launching and use.

[Velvetwater]

Best way to find out is to stay on board during a port day crew drill and listen for that particular voyage. 

 

After a rather good drinking session the night before my husband and I decided to lie in during porting in Sicily (its not a great port) with the view to head ashore later. We had missed all the announcements early in the morning and the night before and I woke up to 'Alpha'

 

Being a bit of a cruise geek I shot straight up in bed thinking fire listening for a minute until I heard the word drill.

 

We also had a whole ship/in all cabins alarm and something else muttered during the 2nd night of another Carnival cruise.

 

Also I read something ages ago about Bright star being medical and then rising star being the patient had passed.

 

 

Edited April 29, 2019 by Velvetwater

[chengkp75]

Much of these codes vary cruise line by cruise line, especially the "bright star" type, which is not used on NCL for instance.

 

While there is no signal for abandon ship, just as there is no signal for the passengers to board the boats and evacuate the ship, there is a signal for the crew to report to their abandon ship stations, a continuous ringing of the general alarm bell.

 

Some lines use "would (blank) report to Guest Services" as a code for the presence of USPH inspectors, who arrive unannounced.