Today the maritime industry plays a key role in supporting global trade and is serving as the main mode of international transport of goods. Its internationality and global connectivity make it a multicultural and multilingual industry, which at the same time creates a need for effective and unambiguous international communication. Past research has shown that incorrect communication is a significant factor contributing to shipping accidents, as lack of clarity and consistency can lead to misunderstandings and subsequent errors. Although the most important international conventions in the maritime sector, such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), mandate the necessary knowledge and correct use of Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP), and also educational institutions have emphasized the importance of maritime English in recent decades, the field remains under-researched. In addition, past research still indicates numerous deviations from standard procedures in practice. The aim of this paper was to determine the extent to which deviations from standard procedures occur in practice in routine verbal communication in the North Adriatic area and to identify potential shortcomings in existing standards. The results of the linguistic analysis of the use of standard marine communication phrases reveal that their correct use is still severly lacking. At the same time, the obsolescence and inadequacy of the existing Standard Maritime Communication Phrases calls for an appropriate renewal, updating and extension. The development of new phrases and the improvement of the training and education system, which would ensure greater adherence to the standards by the speakers, would reduce the risks of miscommunication, thus contributing to greater safety and efficiency in maritime affairs.
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