The words "can" and "may" describes either the possibility
or the capability of doing something. In the IMO Standard
Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) the situations where
phrases using the word "can" or "may" appear make it clear
whether a possibility is referred to. In an ambiguous
context, however, misunderstandings frequently occur. What
is correct standard phrase, from the IMO SMCP, that the ship
engineer has to use to ask to the barge master if is it
possible to start pumping oily water from the ship to a
barge alongside?