Navtex Speak

We are anchored off Culatra and the island is still delightfully unspoiled. Which means there isn't much news to write about, so instead of a blog, this time something different.

 

Sometimes the messages on the navtex are in such very special English that I started to write them down.

 

(For landlubbers: a navtex is a box with a screen on which messages are displayed sent off by coastguards and weather stations, telling you about navigation hazards and issuing weather forecasts etc.)

 

 

What do you make of these (all copied literally):

 


THE BUOY NUMBER … IS UNBERTHED.
Never saw any buoys berthed anywhere anyway.

 

THERE IS A PARTIALLY FLOATING BUOY DANGEROUS NAVIGATIONS.
Is the other part sinking? Is it navigating dangerously?

 

GREEN ELASTIC BEACON NUMBER … IS NOT WORKING.
Elastic? So you bounce off when you hit it?

 

SAILORS ARE INFORMED ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF A BEAM 3 METERS LONG ADRIFT IN POSITION … KEEP SHARP LOOK.
Which boat is missing a beam?

 

AFTER IMPACT IN WATER OF ONE BULLETS UNEXPLODED IS IMMEDIATELY BANNER NAVIGATION.
Ehm...well...

 

AS DEPLOYED TWO BUOYS ON THE FOLLOWING POSITION: … WITH WHITE FLASHING LIGHT IN THE NIGHT. WILL REMAIN YELLOW UNTIL 24 MAY.
How to explain? This means the white light at night flashes yellow during the day?

 

SPACE ROCKET FALLOUT HAZARD MAY EXIST DUE 1848 TO 0356 UTC DAILY FROM 24 JUL TO 08 AUG IN AREA LIMITED BY THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS...
Right, set you alarm for 18:48.

 

SIGNALLED A TRUNCK ABOUT 10 METERS, ADRIFT, DANGEROUS TO NAVIGATION, SHIPS AND FLOATING IN TRANSIT BEWARE.
All floating debris should keep a lookout?

 

 

Well, we still know what they mean, don't we.

 

Actually, in a way, this one's a good laugh as well:
NATO IS CONDUCTING OPERATION ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT SEA AND TO HELP DETER, DEFEND, DISRUPT AND PROTECT AGAINST TERRORISM. YOU ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THE NATO MARITIME COMMANDER.

 

But seriously, the enormous amount of messages like “firing exercises“, “gunnery exercises”, “aircraft training exercise with white smoke” etc etc makes you realize how much money is just literally shot away by every country.
Another example of shooting being done: SPEARFISHING COMPETITION CONTEST BEING HELD AT CASCAIS. Does this mean the fishing is done with just a spear and not a speargun and so it isn't something illegal?

 

Okay, blogs should have pictures, so here a few Culatra impressions.

 

 

And to show off some work:

Newly painted decks and newly sewn fender covers.