MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PROVISION OF WEATHER ROUTEING SERVICES
Anyweatherrouteingserviceprovidedfortheuseofmastersshouldcomplywiththefollowing minimumrequirements:
1 Themastershouldbeprovidedwithmeteorologicalinformationfortheproposedroute.The first information should, when possible, be provided prior to the ship sailing fromher port of departure to enable the master to plan the voyage and if necessary, adjust the passage plan accordingly.
2 Themastershouldbeprovidedwiththesourceofdata,wherepossible,thelevelofaccuracy ofthe data and the probability ofchanges in the weather patterns indicated.
3 Informationprovidedshouldincludeseaandswelldataintheformofsignificantwaveheight and, if possible, direction of swells.
4 Any weather routeing advice should take full account of the speed and handling characteristicsoftheship. Considerationshouldbegiventotheship'sabilitytoavoidweather systems posing a threat that are moving fast in relation to the ship's speed.
5 Priortosailing,clearinstructionsshouldbeprovidedtothemasterforthecommunication channels available between the ship and the weather routeing service.
6 Weatherrouteingadviceshouldbeprovidedatregularintervalsappropriatetotheweather conditionsattheship'spositionandinwayofitsprojectedroute. Theintervalshouldbevaried according to the rate of change of conditions.
7 The service should enable masters to make requests for advice at interimperiods.
8 Thesystemusedshouldbeinteractive. Allsubmissionsofadvicefromtheweatherrouteing serviceshouldrequirearesponsebythemaster. Theminimumresponseshouldincludetheship's position,courseandspeed. Theformatoftheresponseshouldalsoencouragethemastertofeed backinformationregardingtheweatherconditionsattheship'slocation. Mastersshouldalsobe encouragedtoindicatetheirpreferredroutetakingintoconsiderationprofessionaljudgementwith regardtothesafetyoftheship.In makinganyresponse, mastersshouldpayparticularattentionto
the sea-keeping characteristics of the ship.
9 Weather routeing service advice should take account of:
.1 relevant ships'routeing systems to be encountered during the voyage;
.2 sufficient sea roomfor the ship to make safe passage throughout the voyage;
.3 all known navigational hazards and adverse weather conditions;
.4 the need for the ship to operate in accordance with constraints imposed in the interests of environmental protection;
.5 theneedfortheshiptooperatewithinconstraintsresultingfromcompliancewiththe
International Load Line Convention; and
.6 theneedforessentialmaintenancethataffectstheship'ssafeoperationthatmaybe compromised by environmental conditions.