Code for Unplanned Encounters

at Sea
(CUES)

Kdr (M) Mohamad Soharto bin Mat Said

Ketua Penolong Pengarah
Cawangan Penguatkuasaan Dan Eksesais

Introduction
Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea
History 23 April 2014 Publication of the Western
Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS). Endorsed by the
Symposium in Qindgao, China.
Commonly referred to as CUES.
Design as a co-ordinated means of communication to
maximise safety at sea and limit uncertainty.
Based on the global COLREGS of 1972 with inclusions ICS
and ATP (all fundamental as knowledge base to watch
keepers).
Applicable to naval ships including warships, naval
auxiliaries, naval aircraft and submarines.

What are Confidence Building

Measures (CBMs)?
Means to address, prevent or resolve uncertainties
among states.
Means to built mutual trust.
Step towards resolution in political stale-mates.
Can be formal or informal, uni/bi/multi-lateral.
Can be military or political.

Why do we need Maritime

Confidence Building Measures
(MCBMs)?
Problems at sea regularly do not respect national
boundaries, and the sea is a common asset,
therefore:
- Medium for International commerce.
- Freedom of safety of navigation.
- Maritime pollution.
- Conservation of fish stock.

Purpose
- CUES provides safety navies safety procedures,
a basic communications plan and basic
manoeuvring instructions for naval ships and naval
aircraft during unplanned encounters at sea.
- To reduce the chance of an incident at sea between
the countries in the agreement, and - in the event
that one occurred - to prevent it from escalating.
- Twenty one countries have joined the agreement,
including Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada,
Chile, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia,
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The
Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea,
Thailand, Tonga, the United States and Vietnam.

Legal Considerations
- CUES is not legally binding nations will use it
voluntarily.
- Naval ships and naval aircraft enjoy sovereign
immunity.
- CUES does not supersede international civil
aviation rules or rules applicable under
international agreements or treaties or
international law.

CUES - Analysis
Strengths Why it works
Based on internationally recognized and respected
maritime law and procedures.
CUES is voluntary and non-binding.
Not geographically defined.
Weaknesses
Applicability to Coast Guard Vessels? Boarder
Patrol? Fisheries? Other vessels.
Voluntary and non-binding.

Contents of CUES
(Version 1.0)

25 pages including first page, 3 main topics

(Intoduction, Safety Procedures, Comunications
Procedures) and 1 annex (Annex A Elected Signals
Vocabulary And Basic Manoeuvring Instructions).
1.0 INTRODUCTION Contains 6 topics covering
Purpose; Scope; Definitions; Status and Adoption;
Legal Considerations; and Arbitration, Consultation
and Review.

Contents of CUES
(Version 1.0)

2.0 SAFETY PROCEDURES Contains 10 topics

covering Action to Avoid Collision at Sea; Breakdown;
Formations and Convoys; Manoeuvres in Traffic
Separation Schemes; Safe Speed; Safe Distance;
Exercises with Submarines; Assurances Measures for
Naval Ships; Interference with Command and Control
Systems; and Notices to Mariners and Airmen.
3.0 COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES Contains 12
topics covering Applicability to Naval Aircraft; Sound,
Light and Flag Signals; Radio Communications; Call
Signs; Voice Procedures; Exchange of Key Information;
Tack Line; Execution of Voice and Flag Signals; Delayed
Executive Method of Signalling; Designation (DESIG)
Signal; Time; and Radio Communication Plan.

Contents of CUES
(Version 1.0)

ANNEX A
ELECTED SIGNALS VOCABULARY AND BASIC
MANOEUVRING INSTRUCTIONS
Contains 8 topics covering Single Letter Meanings;
Emergency Signals; Special Groups; Submarine
Pyrotechnics Signals; Governing Groups; Tactical
Signal Groups; Basic Formations; and Special Tactical
Signal Groups.

Scenario Run 1
This scenario involves a Maritime Law
Enforcement vessel (Blueland Coastguard)
and Greyland warship encounter each other
in the South China Sea. Blueland
Coastguard is conducting patrol duties
while the Greyland warship is on normal
passage in the area. Both ships are
expected to implement CUES in
establishing communications and exchange
information between them.

Scenario Run 2
This scenario involves two Maritime Law
Enforcement (MLE) vessel (Blueland &
Greyland) encountering each other in the
South China Sea. Both vessels are on patrol
in their respective operations area and they
will implement the CUES procedures in
exchanging information during maritime
operations.

Example: Establish Comm

Greyland Warship / CoastGuard ship, this
Blueland Warship / CoastGuard ship
pennant number BL 13, at your (relative
bearing position), calling on channel 16.
You are now entering Blueland territorial
water, request to state your intention.
Over

Example: Establish Comm

Blieland Warship / CoastGuard ship, this
Greyland Warship / CoastGuard ship.
We are transittingn this area to the next
port of call, my tracking is 270, speed 15
Over

Feedback From Previous

CUES Discussions
CUES alone not sufficient for full deconfliction.
CUES implementation will need to be carefully
monitored as the claimant states will have different
issues and difficulties with using it.
Language training and CUES comprehension training
will be helpful.
Bilateral training and table tops will be helpful.
Improvement of internal communication and the
need for SOPs and information relating to CUES to
be cascaded downwards from the policy makers
was deemed necessary.

Recommendations
Continue to convene the regional maritime law
enforcement agencies and other related agencies of the
four claimants in meetings to further brainstorm the ways
in which CUES and other standard regional interaction
procedures can be further developed and implemented in
order to enhance operational predictability and reduce
tensions. These discussions should take place with a view
to developing a set of standard regional operating
procedures between the maritime law enforcement
agencies of the four claimant states and ultimately
improving communications in complex situations in the
South China Sea.
Continue to identify specific training gaps and meet
requests for information according to needs and
demonstrated by the relevant agencies and institutions of
the claimant states.

Conclusions
CUES concept is informal and can be broadened as
a concept from Naval co-operation to Maritime cooperation.
CUES has some qualities of a non-binding
multilateral Confidence Building Measures (CBM)
which has already proven to be successful
mechanism elsewhere.

23