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Pipe Sounds

As far back as the 13^th century, crewmembers onboard Navy ships had to find a way to communicate quickly with other sailors on board. Without the modern technology of speakers or sirens to help them, they began using pipe whistles. Their high-pitched, loud tone could easily be heard over bad weather and crashing waves.

The Boatswain's (Bosun's) Call, or whistle.

Today, even though modern navies have speakers and megaphones, the Canadian Navy ships continue to use the pipe whistle, or Bosun's whistle, to make announcements on board ship. The long, silver pipe is played over a ship's speakers to announce dinner, to warn sailors of bomb threats, and even to inform sailors that a helicopter is about to land on deck. A visitor to a ship will hear many whistle calls that may sound similar, but it is a sailor's duty to learn and memorize what each difference in pitch and length means.

Click on each link to hear a sample of some pipes.

Wakey Wakey	Wakey Wakey is used to wake the ship's company at 0700 each morning.
Hands to dinner	The dinner pipe is made at 1200 when the Ship's Company secures and commences the mid-day meal, referred to as dinner. It is never made for any other meal-time. The pipe is an order in itself and does not require any verbal addition.
Pipe down	The pipe down is made at 2230 or at any other time specified by the routine daily orders, when the Ship's Company retire for the evening and the silent hours period commences. The pipe is an order in itself and does not require any verbal addition. When this pipe is made during the middle of the day, it means that the ship is adopting a "Sunday Routine" for the remainder of the day.
Side	The "Side" is piped to pay compliments to designated distinguished personages, senior naval officers and other personnel with a strong naval affiliation. It serves to draw attention to the arrival at or departure from HMC Ships of those individuals. On hearing the "Side", personnel are to assume the position of "attention", and if in the vicinity of the embarking/disembarking personage, salute. The completion of the salute/pipe permits personnel to carry on about their duties.
Still	The "Still" is an order to stop all work/activity and assume the position of attention. On the upper deck, it is customarily followed by an announcement (pipe) to face in a specific direction i.e. Port or Starboard etc. It can be used to halt all activity while senior personnel, not entitled to the "Side", come on board/depart HMC Ships, or to pay compliments to a passing warship.
Carry on	The "Carry on" is an order to carry on about your business and return to work.
General call	The general call precedes any broadcast order; it draws attention to the order. The general call is used when passing out-of-routine orders or information of general interest.