On www.kensblog.com, Ken wrote about an experience with a ship that felt its size and speed (14 knots) gave it the right to ignore the International Rules Of The Road. I wondered aloud if that vessel's bridge complement spoke English as they had been repeatedly hailed on VHF 16. Ken then posed the question, "Is English the required language of the sea as it is in the air?" In my reading of the Australian accident investigation of Jessica Watson's collision with a Panamax coal carrier bound for China, I found citations confirming that English is in fact the required language of the sea. It has been implemented by the IMO after it was decided by UN treaty and SOLAS. The IMO requirement embraces certain standard phrases and I thought that some of you would like to know them. I found one website where you do not have to pay for them: < http://www.matchrace.es/mediapool/48/483767/data/SMCP.pdf > You may wish to download this document so that you might be able to converse with vessels whose bridge staff have a very restricted knowledge of English. That was the situation on the Chinese vessel Silver Lady whose second officer did not stop his vessel after the collision. Ron Rogers