signal distinctif

English translation: call sign

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:signal distinctif
English translation:call sign
Entered by: Apple Green

12:54 Oct 27, 2010
French to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Ships, Sailing, Maritime
French term or phrase: signal distinctif
This terms appears in an "acte de francisation", as part of a list of features describing the vessel in question.

Does this refer to a "unique signal" emmitted by the vessel (i.e. for use in the event of emergencies) or a designation for the vessel (I found a couple of non-marine sources where signal seems to be used in this way.

Many thanks in advance!
Apple Green
Local time: 19:07
call sign
Explanation:
Le signal distinctif est le groupe de lettres et de chiffres assigné à chaque station par son administration. Par station, on entend un navire, un aéronef, ...
www.shom.fr/fr_page/fr_prod.../32_1.002_19032010.pdf

Merchant vessels are assigned call signs by their national licensing authorities... call signs for larger vessels consist of the national prefix plus three letters (for example, 3LXY, and sometimes followed by a number, i.e. 3Lxy2). United States civilian vessels are given call signs beginning with the letters "W" or "K". Originally both ships and broadcast stations were given call signs in this series consisting of three or four letters, but as demand for both marine radio and broadcast call signs grew, gradually American-flagged vessels were given longer call signs with mixed letters and numbers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_sign#Ships_and_boats
Selected response from:

Graham macLachlan
Local time: 20:07
Grading comment
Many thanks for the detailed answer.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4call sign
Graham macLachlan


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
call sign


Explanation:
Le signal distinctif est le groupe de lettres et de chiffres assigné à chaque station par son administration. Par station, on entend un navire, un aéronef, ...
www.shom.fr/fr_page/fr_prod.../32_1.002_19032010.pdf

Merchant vessels are assigned call signs by their national licensing authorities... call signs for larger vessels consist of the national prefix plus three letters (for example, 3LXY, and sometimes followed by a number, i.e. 3Lxy2). United States civilian vessels are given call signs beginning with the letters "W" or "K". Originally both ships and broadcast stations were given call signs in this series consisting of three or four letters, but as demand for both marine radio and broadcast call signs grew, gradually American-flagged vessels were given longer call signs with mixed letters and numbers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_sign#Ships_and_boats

Graham macLachlan
Local time: 20:07
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 352
Grading comment
Many thanks for the detailed answer.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michel F. Morin: Absolument...
57 mins
  -> merci

agree  Yvonne Gallagher: yes, that's the correct term
1 hr
  -> thanks

agree  Jennifer Levey
8 hrs
  -> thanks

agree  GeoS
1 day 4 hrs
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