RHETORICAL STRUCTURE OF STANDARD MARINE COMMUNICATION PHRASES (SMCP) IN VHF RADIO COMMUNICATION AMONG MALAYSIAN SEAFARERS

Abstract

Effective communication in maritime operations is crucial for safety, particularly during emergencies when rapid and accurate information exchange can determine survival. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) established the Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) to standardize English usage at sea, yet miscommunication continues to cause accidents. This study investigates the rhetorical structure of special-purpose SMCP—specifically distress acknowledgment and distress alert messages—used in Very High Frequency (VHF) radio communication among near-coastal and foreign-going seafarers. Drawing on Swales’ (1990) genre theory and Bocanegra-Valle’s (2010) move-step model, the research applies a genre analysis to authentic VHF transmissions recorded during Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) training. Findings reveal that while the core move structure of SMCP is largely maintained, several steps—such as indicating assistance required or ship position—are frequently omitted or re-sequenced. These deviations demonstrate pragmatic adaptation of standardized discourse under real-time, high-pressure conditions. The study highlights the need for explicit instruction in the rhetorical realization of SMCP to enhance communicative competence and operational safety in maritime English education.