This edition of the Code incorporates all amendments adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee up to 2000.

Chapter I Explanations and general remarks

Chapter II Definitions

Chapter III Methods of signalling

Chapter IV General instructions

Chapter V Flag signalling

Chapter VI Flashing light signalling

Chapter VII Sound signalling

Chapter VIII Radiotelephony

Chapter IX Morse signalling by hand-flags or arms

Chapter X Morse symbols – phonetic tables – procedure signals

Chapter XI Single-letter signals

Chapter XII Single-letter signals with complements

Chapter XIII Single-letter signals between ice-breaker and assisted vessels

Chapter XIV Identification of medical transports in armed conflict and permanent identification of rescue craft

General section

I Distress – emergency

Abandon

Accident – doctor – injured / sick

Aircraft – Helicopter

Assistance

Boats – rafts

Disabled – drifting – sinking

Distress

Position

Search and rescue

Survivors

II Casualties – damages

Collision

Damages – repairs

Diver – underwater operations

Fire – explosion

Grounding – beaching – refloating

Leak

Towing – Tugs

III Aids to navigation – navigation – hydrography

Aids to navigation

Bar

Bearings

Canal – channel – fairway

Course

Dangers to navigation – warnings

Depth – draught

Electronic navigation

Mines – minesweeping

Navigation lights – searchlight

Navigating and steering instructions

Tide

IV Manoeuvres

Ahead – astern

Alongside

To anchor – anchor(s) – anchorage

Engines – propeller

Landing – boarding

Manoeuvre

Proceed – under way

Speed

Stop – heave to

V Miscellaneous

Cargo – ballast

Crew – persons on board

Fishery

Pilot

Port – harbour

Miscellaneous

VI Meteorology – weather

Clouds

Gale – storm – tropical storm

Ice – Icebergs

Ice-breaker

Atmospheric pressure – temperature

Sea – swell

Visibility – fog

Weather – Weather forecast

Wind

VII Routeing of ships

VIII Communications

Acknowledge – answer

Calling

Cancel

Communicate

Exercise

Reception – transmission

Repeat

IX International Health Regulations

Pratique messages

Tables of complements

Medical section

Table of contents

Instructions

I Request for medical assistance

II Medical advice

Tables of complements

Medical index

Appendices

Appendix 1 – Distress signals

Appendix 2 – Tables of signalling flags

Appendix 3 – Table of life-saving signals

Appendix 4 – Radiotelephone procedures

General index

Preface

Codes of signals for the use of mariners have been published in various countries since the beginning of the nineteenth century.

The first International Code was drafted in 1855 by a committee set up by the British Board of Trade. It contained 70,000 signals, used eighteen flags and was published by the British Board of Trade in 1857 in two parts, the first containing universal and international signals and the second British signals only. The code was adopted by most seafaring nations.

This edition was revised by a committee set up in 1887 by the British Board of Trade. The committee’s proposals were discussed by the principal maritime powers and at an International Conference in Washington in 1889. As a result, many changes were made, the Code was completed in 1897 and was distributed to all maritime powers. This edition of the International Code of Signals, however, did not stand the test of World War I.

The International Radiotelegraph Conference at Washington in 1927 considered proposals for a fresh revision of the Code and decided that it should be prepared in
seven editorial languages, namely in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and in one Scandinavian language which was chosen by the Scandinavian
Governments to be the Norwegian language. The new edition was completed in 1930 and was adopted by the International Radiotelegraph Conference held in Madrid
in 1932. The new Code was compiled in two volumes, one for use by visual signalling and the other by radiotelegraphy. Words and phrases applicable to aircraft were
introduced in Volume II together with a complete Medical Section and a code for accelerating the granting of pratique. The Medical Section and the pratique signals
were prepared with the assistance and the advice of the Office International d’Hygiene Publique. The Code, particularly Volume II, was primarily intended for use by ships and aircraft and, via coast radio stations, between ships or aircraft and authorities ashore. A certain number of signals were inserted for communications with shipowners, agents, repair yards, etc. The same Conference (MADRID, 1932) established a Standing Committee to review the Code, if and when necessary, to give guidance on questions of use and procedure and to consider proposals for modifications. Secretarial duties were undertaken by the Government of the United Kingdom. The Standing Committee met only once in 1933 and introduced certain additions and amendments.

The Administrative Radio Conference of the International Telecommunication Union suggested in 1947 that the International Code of Signals should fall within the
competence of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization* (IMCO). In January 1959, the first Assembly of IMCO decided that the Organization should
assume all the functions then being performed by the Standing Committee of the International Code of Signals. The second Assembly in 1961 endorsed plans for a
comprehensive review of the International Code of Signals intended to meet the

* The name of the Organization was changed to ‘‘International Maritime Organization’’ by virtue of amendments to the Organization’s Convention which entered into force on 22 May 1982.

present-day requirements of mariners. A Sub-Committee of the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization was established to revise the Code and to consider
proposals for a new radiotelephone code and its relation to the International Code of Signals. The Sub-Committee consisted of representatives of the following countries:
Argentina, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The following international governmental and non-governmental organizations contributed to, and assisted in, the preparation of the revised Code: The International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Labour Organisation, the International Telecommunication Union, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the International Radio-Maritime Committee.

The Sub-Committee completed the revision of the Code in 1964, taking into account Recommendation 42 of the 1960 Conference on Safety of Life at Sea and Recommendation 22 of the Administrative Radio Conference, Geneva 1959.

The revised Code is intended to cater primarily for situations related essentially to safety of navigation and persons, especially when language difficulties arise. It is suitable for transmission by all means of communication, including radiotelephony and radiotelegraphy, and embodies the principle that each signal has a complete meaning.

The Code was adopted by the fourth Assembly of IMO in 1965. Since then, amendments to the Code have been adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee and this publication incorporates all such amendments up to the seventy-third session of the Committee in December 2000.

As a specialised agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

In other words, its role is to create a level playing-field so that ship operators cannot address their financial issues by simply cutting corners and compromising on safety, security and environmental performance. This approach also encourages innovation and efficiency.

Shipping is a truly international industry, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are themselves agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis. And IMO is the forum at which this process takes place.