SIGNALS AT SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1934, Page 2

SIGNALS AT SEA.

INTERNATIONAL CODE. CHANGE-OVER YESTERDAY. MESSAGES BY RADIO. Marino:* the world over yesterday discarded their old set of flag signals and signal books, and adopted the revised system which has been evolved to meet the demand for a flully efficient and really international code. A year's warning was given of tho impending change, and for the past six months most of the vessels in New Zealand waters have been using their new flags and books. Speaking on the subject to-day, an official stated that the new system would remove many of the disadvantages of the old and introduce a needed uniformity. The old system was tested under the* most rigorous conditions during the war years, and it was found wanting. Since then representatives of all maritime nations met at Washington, and the new system is the result of their deliberations.

New Visual Code. The recent publication of the international code consists of two volumesvolume one for visual and sounds signalling. and volume two for radio signalling. While mainly for the use of ships, the new code al.-r> provides a considerable number of signals suitable for the use of aircraft. The new visual code makes use of twenty-six alphabetical flags, ten numeral flags and three flags known as "substitutes," in place of the twentysix alphabetical flags of the existing code. It thus enables numbers to be signalled directly. Further, by means of the "substitutes," signals can be made in which there are repeated letters or numbers. Such signals cannot, as a l-tile, be made by the present code unless a ship has two or more complete sets of the existing signalling flags. In the new codc. new square flags have been introduced for tho letters C, D, E, F and G, and the pendants (or pennants), which in the existing code represent these letters, are used to denote the numerals 1 to 5 respectively, new pendants having been introduced to denote the remaining numerals 0 and 0 to 9. Single-Letter Signals. Certain alterations in the meaning* of the single-letter signals have been made in the new code, and tiie twoletter signals have been completely revised, though certain important twoletter signals, such as NC, JD and TI, retain their old and well-established meanings. The three-letter signals have been completely revised and brought up to date. The geographical section has been entirely re-written. A notice to mariners, issued b.v the Marine Department, draws special attention to the'fact that the existing pilot signal S ("I want a pilot ) is replaced by the letter 0 ("I require a pilot '). In the quarantine signals, the fla<r signal Q v.-ill indicate a clean bill of "health, while tho two flag signals, QQ and QL, will indicate an infected ship. The new night signal (to baused only when within the precincts of a port), will consist oT a red light over a white light, the lights being not more than six feet apart. "A suitable procedure, when it is desired to exchange communications by tho new code," states the notice, "would be to hoist tile code pendant with the fly tied to the halyards, to which signal the answering ship; if able to communicate in the new code, would reply by a similar hoist. 'Should the answering ship only be able to communicate in tlv: old code, she would hoist the code pendant as at present." Radio Signalling.

The volume 011 radio signalling is tlie first official international wireless telegraphy code issued specially for the Hi-'i of the merchant and air services. It contains full instructions for use, including advice as to the best methods of compiling code messages so as to avoid difficulties of translation, a table for correcting corrupt groups, a general vocabulary awl a geographical section. An interesting feature of this volume is the case stating system embodied in the medical section. The object of this system is to enable ships which do not carry a doctor to send code messages to othcl - ships or const stations, asking for medical advice or assistance. This system is complete in itself, and is so arranged that, when all the conditions of the code are in operation, it will enable communications regarding medical matters to be made between f-hips, of different nationalities, thus avoiding difficulties of language.