Lovers of reference books will have a field day with Marcel Oliver's "Communication on board". Indeed, this book is a technical bible on communications at sea.

Being able to call is one of the main factors of safety at sea. That's why the VHF and all communication devices fall under this umbrella. It is therefore essential to know how to use it as soon as you leave the port. However, these aircraft are subject to worldwide and French legislation, which is different for commercial and pleasure craft.

This book covers all areas of the various safety systems (COSPAS-SARSAT beacons, AIS, DSC radio) up to the installation of a VHF device on board with physical explanations of the waves and their propagation.

The book ends with the phrasing of the different possible exchanges by VHF for distress situations. All discussions and statements are offered in French with their English translation.

In approaching this book, the reader should not be impressed by the barbaric abbreviations included in the first description (GMDSS, SOLAS, IMO, Area A1...). Fortunately, the rest of the book is punctuated with lexicons and boxes on the vocabulary you need to know to continue reading.
Even if it is well ventilated thanks to the numerous boxes and the various diagrams, the author has resolutely chosen not to present any brand in pictures (nor to quote any model of camera). As a result, VHF drawings, for example, are succinct enough not to say basic.

Communication on board - Marcel Oliver
- Éditions Vagnon
- 16 x 22 cm
- 104 pages
- 19.95 euros