Our mission as ESP teachers of ME

The regulations about the use of English language on maritime settings, with a compulsory character, established by the International Maritime Organization, which are reflected on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code 78/95 (STCW 78/95), are the main source of information that allow us to know how are the language needs of non- English  speaking seafarers to develop their professional duties. At sight of such competence minimums, maritime English should mainly have a communicative purpose. Communication  here meets survival and safety matters.

On the other hand, on a ship or in a harbour, listening skills are used three more times than speaking skills, and four or five more times than writing and reading skills(Plucinska, 2003: 1). Seafarers need practice in listening in many different types of communication, including formal and informal conversations; VHF radio communications; telephone conversations; travel announcements and radio reports.   

Oral communication is one of the most important requirements for all seafarers as well. They should be able to communicate with other ships and coast stations and perform the officer’s duties also with a multilingual crew, including the ability to use and understand different varieties and accents.

 Although the proper command of English language is basic to develop professional duties on board, due to international nature of maritime trade and the multiculturalism and multilingualism of crews, communications problems can affect ship safety, both directly as source of maritime accidents where one or more ships are involved, or indirectly because of the stress and workload derived from lack of understanding amongst crew members which –at the same time- can affect their work performance.