1310 Revised joint IMO/IHO/WMO manual on MSI

MSC/Circ.1310

Revised joint IMO/IHO/WMO manual on Maritime Safety Information (MSI)

1. The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its eighty-sixth session (27 May to 5 June 2009), noted and approved the revised Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information (MSI), as prepared by WMO and IHO and agreed by the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR), at its thirteenth session (19 to 23 January 2009).
   
2. MSC 86 noted that section 7 provides extensive guidance and examples on the structure and text to be used in navigational warnings and that, to ensure greater uniformity, this section would be provided in the English language in an additional annex in the circulars and publications in the Spanish and French languages.
   
3. The Committee was of the opinion that the widest possible use of the manual should be encouraged and invited Member Governments to bring the annexed Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual to the attention of mariners and those involved in the promulgation of navigational warnings and meteorological forecasts and warnings.
   
4. This circular supersedes COMSAR/Circ.15.
   
5. The Committee decided that the amendments will come into force on 1 January 2011.

Annex Preface

Preface

SOLAS regulation IV/12.2 states that “Every ship, while at sea, shall maintain a radio watch for broadcasts of maritime safety information on the appropriate frequency or frequencies on which such information is broadcast for the area in which the ship is navigating”.

At the request of the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a joint document on the drafting of maritime safety information broadcasts was produced (the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information). The document was circulated to IHO Member States under IHB CL 10/1994 and as COMSAR/Circ.4 by the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR) after its first session in February 1996, which action was endorsed by the Maritime Safety Committee at its sixty-sixth session in May/June 1996.

The publication contained sections from IMO resolution A.706(17), “World-Wide Navigational Warning Service”, as amended, and relevant sections of the WMO Publication “Manual on Marine Meteorological Services”.

At its seventh meeting in September 2005, the IHO’s Commission on the Promulgation of Radio Navigational Warnings (CPRNW) established a Working Group to review all World-Wide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS) documentation. The Working Group included representation from the WMO and prepared at first, revisions to IMO as amended resolutions A.705(17), “Promulgation of Maritime Safety Information” and A.706(17), “World-Wide Navigational Warning Service”. The proposed revisions of the resolutions were circulated to IHO Member States under IHB CL 104/2007, endorsed by COMSAR at its twelfth session in April 2008 and subsequently approved by the Maritime Safety Committee at its eighty-fifth session in November/December 2008.

The IHO CPRNW Working Group then prepared the revised Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information incorporating the revised information from resolutions A.705(17), as amended and A.706(17), as amended. The revised text of the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information was circulated to IHO Member States under cover of IHB CL 70/2008, endorsed by COMSAR at its thirteenth session in January 2009 and subsequently approved by the Maritime Safety Committee at its eighty-sixth session in May/June 2009.

Although this is an IMO publication, it is intended that the responsible organizations will maintain their respective sections of this Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual.

01 General information

1. General information

This manual provides a practical guide for anyone who is concerned with drafting navigational warnings or with the issuance of meteorological forecasts and warnings under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). Maritime Safety Information (MSI) is promulgated in accordance with the requirements of IMO resolution A.705(17), as amended. Navigational warnings are issued under the auspices of the IMO/International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) World-Wide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS) in accordance with the requirements of IMO resolution A.706(17), as amended. Meteorological forecasts and warnings are issued under the patronage of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In order to achieve the necessary impact on the mariner it is essential to present timely and relevant information in a consistent format  that is clear, unambiguous and brief. Within this manual, it is particularly intended to provide the best form of words for use in all types of navigational warnings and meteorological forecasts and warnings that are required to be broadcast in the English language¹. Note has been taken of the IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases (resolution A.918(22)), where appropriate. This manual cannot provide specimen texts for every type of event which may occur. However, the principles illustrated herein may be applied in general to drafting messages for every kind of navigational warning and covering all types of hazards and for the issuance of meteorological forecasts and warnings.

Resolution A.706(17), as amended on the World-Wide Navigational Warning Service (MSC.1/Circ.1288) at section 5.3.1, requires that “All NAVAREA, Sub-Area and coastal warnings shall be broadcast only in English in the International NAVTEX and SafetyNET services”. Where this manual has been produced in languages other than English then the message examples given in section 7 are also provided in the English language in an additional annex.

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¹.See WMO Publication Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO No 558).

02 Promulgartion of Maritime Safety Information

2. Promulgartion of Maritime Safety Information

2.1 Introduction

2.1 Introduction

2.1.1 The maritime safety information service of the GMDSS is the internationally and nationally coordinated network of broadcasts containing information which is necessary for safe navigation, received in ships by equipment which automatically monitors the appropriate transmissions, displays information which is relevant to the ship and provides a print capability. This concept is illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1 - The maritime safety information service of the
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

2.1.2 Maritime safety information is of vital concern to all ships. It is therefore essential that common standards are applied to the collection, editing and dissemination of this information. Only by doing so will the mariner be assured of receiving the information he needs, in a form which he understands, at the earliest possible time.

2.1.3 The purpose of IMO resolution A.705(17), as amended “Promulgation of Maritime Safety Information” is to set out the organization, standards and methods which should be used for the promulgation and reception of maritime safety information.

2.2 Definitions

2.2 Definitions

2.2.1 For the purposes of this manual, the following definitions apply:

1. Coast Earth Station (CES) means a fixed terrestrial radio facility acting as a gateway between terrestrial networks and the Inmarsat satellites in the maritime mobile-satellite service. This may also be referred to as a Land Earth Station (LES).
   
   
2. Coastal warning means a navigational warning promulgated as part of a numbered series by a National coordinator. Broadcast shall be made by the International NAVTEX service to defined NAVTEX service areas and/or by the International SafetyNET service to coastal warning areas. (In addition, Administrations may issue coastal warnings by other means.)
   
   
3. Coastal warningarea means a unique and precisely defined sea area within a NAVAREA/METAREA or Sub-Area established by a coastal State for the purpose of coordinating the broadcast of coastal maritime safety information through the SafetyNET service.
   
   
4. HF NBDP means High Frequency narrow-band direct-printing, using radio telegraphy as defined in Recommendation ITU-R M.688.
   
   
5. In-force bulletin means a list of serial numbers of those NAVAREA, Sub-Area or coastal warnings in force issued and broadcast by the NAVAREA coordinator, Sub-Area coordinator or National coordinator during at least the previous six weeks.
   
   
6. International NAVTEX service means the coordinated broadcast and automatic reception on 518 kHz of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using the English language².
   
   
7. International SafetyNET service means the coordinated broadcasting and automated reception of maritime safety information via the Inmarsat Enhanced Group Call (EGC) system, using the English language, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.
   
   
8. Local warning means a navigational warning which covers inshore waters, often within the limits of jurisdiction of a harbour or port authority.
   
   
9. Main Shipping Lanes means those routes used by international shipping.
   
   
10. Maritime safety information (MSI)³ means navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety-related messages broadcast to ships.
    
    
11. Maritime safety information service means the internationally and nationally coordinated network of broadcasts containing information which is necessary for safe navigation.
    
    
12. METAREA means a geographical sea area⁴ established for the purpose of coordinating the broadcast of marine meteorological information. The term METAREA followed by a roman numeral may be used to identify a particular sea area. The delimitation of such areas is not related to and shall not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.
    
    
13. Meteorological information means the marine meteorological warning and forecast information in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.
    
    
14. National coordinator means the national authority charged with collating and issuing coastal warnings within a national area of responsibility.
    
    
15. National NAVTEX service means the broadcast and automatic reception of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using frequencies other than 518 kHz and languages as decided by the Administration concerned.
    
    
16. National SafetyNET service means the broadcasting and automated reception of maritime safety information via the Inmarsat EGC system, using languages as decided by the Administration concerned.
    
    
17. NAVAREA means a geographical sea area⁴ established for the purpose of coordinating the broadcast of navigational warnings. The term NAVAREA followed by a roman numeral may be used to identify a particular sea area. The delimitation of such areas is not related to and shall not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.
    
    
18. NAVAREA coordinator means the authority charged with coordinating, collating and issuing NAVAREA warnings for a designated NAVAREA.
    
    
19. NAVAREA warning means a navigational warning or in-force bulletin promulgated as part of a numbered series by a NAVAREA coordinator.
    
    
20. Navigational warning means a message containing urgent information relevant to safe navigation broadcast to ships in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.
    
    
21. NAVTEX means the system for the broadcast and automatic reception of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy.
    
    
22. NAVTEX service area means a unique and precisely defined sea area for which maritime safety information is provided from a particular NAVTEX transmitter.
    
    
23. NAVTEX coordinator means the authority charged with operating and managing one or more NAVTEX stations broadcasting maritime safety information as part of the International NAVTEX service.
    
    
24. Other urgent safety-related information means maritime safety information broadcast to ships that is not defined as a navigational warning, meteorological information or SAR information. This may include, but is not limited to, significant malfunctions or changes to maritime communications systems, and new or amended mandatory ship reporting systems or maritime regulations affecting ships at sea.
    
    
25. SafetyNET means the international service for the broadcasting and automatic reception of maritime safety information through the Inmarsat EGC system. SafetyNET receiving capability is part of the mandatory equipment which is required to be carried by certain ships in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.
    
    
26. SAR information means distress alert relays and other urgent search and rescue information broadcast to ships.
    
    
27. Sea Area A1 means an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC⁵ alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.
    
    
28. Sea Area A2 means an area, excluding sea area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.
    
    
29. Sea Area A3 means an area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an Inmarsat geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available.
    
    
30. Sea Area A4 means an area outside sea areas A1, A2 and A3.
    
    
31. Sub-Area means a sub-division of a NAVAREA/METAREA in which a number of countries have established a coordinated system for the promulgation of maritime safety information. The delimitation of such areas is not related to and shall not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.
    
    
32. Sub-Area coordinator means the authority charged with coordinating, collating and issuing Sub-Area warnings for a designated Sub-Area.
    
    
33. Sub-Area warning means a navigational warning promulgated as part of a numbered series by a Sub-Area coordinator. Broadcast shall be made by the International NAVTEX service to defined NAVTEX service areas or by the International SafetyNET service (through the appropriate NAVAREA coordinator.)
    
    
34. User defined area means a temporary geographic area, either circular or rectangular, to which maritime safety information is addressed.
    
    
35. UTC means Coordinated Universal Time which is equivalent to GMT (or ZULU) as the international time standard.
    
    
36. World-Wide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS)⁶ means the internationally and nationally coordinated service for the promulgation of navigational warnings.
    
    
37. In the operating procedures coordination means that the allocation of the time for data broadcast is centralized, the format and criteria of data transmissions are compliant as described in the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information and that all services are managed as set out in IMO resolutions A.705(17), as amended and A.(706)17, as amended.

 2.2.2 Delimitation of NAVAREAS

Figure 2 – NAVAREAS for coordinating and promulgating radio navigational warnings
under the World-Wide Navigational Warning Service

The delimitation of such areas is not related to and shall not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.

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². As set out in the IMO NAVTEX Manual.
³. As defined in regulation IV/2 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended.
⁴. Which may include inland seas, lakes and waterways navigable by sea-going ships.
⁵. Digital selective calling (DSC) means a technique using digital codes which enables a radio station to establish contact with and transfer information to another station or group of stations and complying with the relevant recommendations of the International Radio Consultative Committee ((CCIR) – “Radiocommunications Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)” from 1 March 1993).
⁶. As set out in resolution A.706(17), as amended.6

2.3 Broadcast methods

2.3 Broadcast methods

2.3.1 Two principal methods are used for broadcasting maritime safety information in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, in the areas covered by these methods, as follows:

1. NAVTEX: broadcasts to coastal waters; and
   
2. SafetyNET: broadcasts which cover all the waters of the globe except for Sea Area A4, as defined by IMO resolution A.801(19), Annex 3, as amended.
   

2.3.2 Information should be provided for unique and precisely defined sea areas, each being served only by the most appropriate of the above methods. Although there will be some duplication to allow a vessel to change from one method to another, the majority of messages will be broadcast either on NAVTEX or SafetyNET.

2.3.3 NAVTEX broadcasts shall be made in accordance with the standards and procedures set out in the NAVTEX Manual.

2.3.4 SafetyNET broadcasts shall be made in accordance with the standards and procedures set out in the International SafetyNET Manual.

2.3.5 HF NBDP may be used to promulgate maritime safety information in areas outside Inmarsat or NAVTEX coverage (SOLAS regulation IV/7.1.5).

2.3.6 In addition, Administrations may also provide maritime safety information by other means.

2.3.7 In the event of failure of normal transmission facilities, an alternative means of transmission should be utilized. A NAVAREA Warning and a coastal Warning, if possible, should be issued detailing the failure, its duration and, if known, the alternative route for the dissemination of MSI.

2.4 Scheduling

2.4 Scheduling

2.4.1 Automated methods (NAVTEX /SafetyNET)

2.4.1 Automated methods (NAVTEX /SafetyNET)

2.4.1.1 Navigational warnings shall be broadcast as soon as possible or as dictated by the nature and timing of the event. Normally, the initial broadcast should be made as follows:

1. for NAVTEX, at the next scheduled broadcast, unless circumstances indicate the use of procedures for VITAL or IMPORTANT warnings; and
   
2. or SafetyNET, within 30 minutes of receipt of original information, or at the next scheduled broadcast.
   

2.4.1.2 Navigational warnings shall be repeated in scheduled broadcasts in accordance with the guidelines promulgated in the NAVTEX Manual and International SafetyNET Manual as appropriate.

2.4.1.3 At least two scheduled daily broadcast times are necessary to provide adequate promulgation of NAVAREA warnings. When NAVAREAs extend across more than six time zones, more than two broadcasts should be considered to ensure that warnings can be received. When using SafetyNET in lieu of NAVTEX for coastal warnings, Administrations may need to consider an increase in the number of scheduled daily broadcasts compared with the requirement for NAVAREA warnings.

2.4.2 Schedule changes

2.4.2 Schedule changes

2.4.2.1 Broadcast times for NAVTEX are defined by the B1 character of the station, allocated by the coordinating Panel on NAVTEX Services of the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue.

2.4.2.2 Times of scheduled broadcasts under the International SafetyNET service are coordinated through the International SafetyNET coordinating Panel.

2.5 Shipboard equipment

2.5 Shipboard equipment

2.5.1 Ships are required to be capable of receiving maritime safety information broadcasts for the area in which they operate in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

2.5.2 The NAVTEX receiver should operate in accordance with the technical specifications set out in Recommendation ITU-R M.540-2, as amended, and should meet the performance standards adopted by IMO resolution MSC.148(77), as amended.

2.5.3 The SafetyNET receiver should conform to the Maritime Design and Installation Guidelines (DIGs) published by Inmarsat, and should meet the performance standards adopted by IMO resolution A.664(16).

2.5.4 In Sea Area A4, outside of the coverage of NAVTEX, where MSI is received using HF NBDP, the HF NBDP receiver should operate in accordance with the technical specifications set out in Recommendation ITU-R M.688, as amended, and should meet the performance standards adopted by IMO resolution A.700(17), as amended.

2.6 Provision of information

2.6 Provision of information

2.6.1 Navigational warnings shall be provided in accordance with the standards, organization and procedures of the WWNWS under the functional guidelines of the IHO through its Commission on Promulgation of Radio Navigational Warnings. Details of NAVAREA coordinators are maintained on the IHO Web site www.iho.org>committees> and are also published by an IMO COMSAR circular.

2.6.2 Meteorological information shall be provided in accordance with the WMO technical regulations and recommendations, monitored and reviewed by the Expert Team on Maritime Safety Services of the Joint WMO/IOC⁷ Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM).

2.6.3 SAR information shall be provided by the various authorities responsible for coordinating maritime search and rescue operations in accordance with the standards and procedures established by the IMO.

2.6.4 Other urgent safety-related information shall be provided by the relevant national or international authority responsible for managing the system or scheme.

2.6.5 Relevant national or international authorities shall take into account the need for contingency planning.

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⁷IOC is the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

2.7 Coordination procedures

2.7 Coordination procedures

2.7.1 In order to make the best use of automated reception facilities and to ensure that the mariner receives at least the minimum information necessary for safe navigation, careful coordination is required.

2.7.2 In general, this requirement for coordination will be met by the standard operational procedures of IMO, IHO, WMO, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO). Cases of difficulty should be referred, in the first instance, to the most appropriate parent body.

2.7.3 Administrations broadcasting maritime safety information should provide details of services to the IMO, which will maintain and publish this as part of the GMDSS Master Plan.

2.7.4 The coordination of changes to operational NAVTEX services and of the establishment of new stations is undertaken by the Coordinating Panel on NAVTEX Services of the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue on behalf of the Maritime Safety Committee.

2.7.5 The coordination of changes to operational SafetyNET services and of the authorization and registration of information providers is undertaken by the International SafetyNET Coordinating Panel of the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue on behalf of the Maritime Safety Committee.

2.7.6 Administrations should design their broadcasts to suit specific service areas⁸. The designation of service areas is an important part of the coordination process since it is intended that a ship should be able to obtain all the information relevant to a given area from a single source. The Maritime Safety Committee approves NAVAREAs/METAREAs and service areas for the International NAVTEX and SafetyNET service as advised by IHO and WMO. 

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⁸Coordination of HF NBDP broadcasts in the Arctic should be undertaken by relevant MSI Service Providers.

03 Coordinator resources and reponsibilities

3. Coordinator resources and reponsibilities

3.1 NAVAREA coordinator resources

3.1 NAVAREA coordinator resources

3.1.1 The NAVAREA coordinator must have:

1. the expertise and information sources of a well established national hydrographic service;
   
2. effective communications, e.g., telephone, e-mail, facsimile, internet, telex, etc., with Sub-Area and National coordinators in the NAVAREA, with other NAVAREA coordinators, and with other data providers; and
   
3. access to broadcast systems for transmission to the navigable waters of the NAVAREA. As a minimum, this shall include those described in paragraph 2.3.1. Reception should normally be possible at least 300 nautical miles beyond the limit of the NAVAREA (24 hours sailing by a fast ship).

3.2 NAVAREA coordinator responsibilities

3.2 NAVAREA coordinator responsibilities

3.2.1 The NAVAREA coordinator must:

1. endeavour to be informed of all events that could significantly affect the safety of navigation within the NAVAREA;
   
2. assess all information immediately upon receipt in the light of expert knowledge for relevance to navigation in the NAVAREA;
   
3. select information for broadcast in accordance with the guidance given in paragraph 4.2;
   
4. draft NAVAREA warnings in accordance with the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information;
   
5. direct and control the broadcast of NAVAREA warnings, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended;
   
6. forward NAVAREA warnings and relevant associated information which may require wider promulgation directly to adjacent NAVAREA coordinators and/or others as appropriate, using the quickest possible means;
   
7. ensure that NAVAREA warnings which may remain in force for more than six weeks are made available immediately to NAVAREA coordinators, other authorities and mariners in general, as appropriate;
   
8. ensure that information concerning all navigational warning subject areas listed in paragraph 4.2.2 that may not require a NAVAREA warning within their own NAVAREA is forwarded immediately to the appropriate National and NAVAREA coordinators affected by the event;
   
9. broadcast in-force bulletins not less than once per week at a regularly scheduled time;
   
10. promulgate the cancellation of NAVAREA warnings which are no longer valid;
    
11. act as the central point of contact on matters relating to navigational warnings within the NAVAREA;
    
12. promote and oversee the use of established international standards and practices with respect to the promulgation of navigational warnings throughout the NAVAREA;
    
13. when notified by the authority designated to act on reports of piracy and armed robbery against ships, arrange for the broadcast of a suitable NAVAREA warning. Additionally, keep the national or regional piracy control centre informed of long-term broadcast action(s);
    
14. when notified by the appropriate authorities, arrange for the broadcast of suitable NAVAREA warnings to promulgate World Health Organization (WHO) health advisory information; and tsunami-related information;
    
15. monitor the broadcasts which they originate to ensure that the messages have been correctly broadcast;
    
16. maintain records of source data relating to NAVAREA warnings in accordance with the requirement of the National Administration of the NAVAREA coordinator;
    
17. coordinate preliminary discussions between neighbouring Member States, seeking to establish or amend NAVTEX services and with other adjacent Administrations, prior to formal application;
    
18. contribute to the development of international standards and practices through attendance and participation in the IHO Commission on the Promulgation of Radio Navigational Warnings (CPRNW) meetings, and also participate in relevant IMO, IHO and WMO fora as appropriate, e.g., Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and (COMSAR), Expert Team on Maritime Safety Services (ETMSS) and other regional conferences, etc., as required; and
    
19. take into account the need for contingency planning.

3.3 Sub-Area coordinator resources

3.3 Sub-Area coordinator resources

3.3.1 The Sub-Area coordinator must have, or have access to:

1. the expertise and information sources of a well established national hydrographic service;
   
2. effective communications, e.g., telephone, e-mail, facsimile, internet, telex, etc., with National coordinators in the Sub-Area, with the NAVAREA coordinator, and with other data providers; and
   
3. access to broadcast systems for transmission to the entire Sub-Area.

3.4 Sub-Area coordinator responsibilities

3.4 Sub-Area coordinator responsibilities

3.4.1 The Sub-Area coordinator must:

1. endeavour to be informed of all events that could significantly affect the safety of navigation within the Sub-Area;
   
2. assess all information immediately upon receipt in the light of expert knowledge for relevance to navigation in the Sub-Area;
   
3. select information for broadcast in accordance with the guidance given in paragraph 4.2;
   
4. draft Sub-Area warnings in accordance with the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information;
   
5. direct and control the broadcast of Sub-Area warnings, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended;
   
6. forward Sub-Area warnings and relevant associated information which may require wider promulgation directly to their own NAVAREA coordinator using the quickest possible means;
   
7. broadcast in-force bulletins not less than once per week at a regularly scheduled time;
   
8. promulgate the cancellation of Sub-Area warnings which are no longer valid;
   
9. act as the central point of contact on matters relating to navigational warnings within the Sub-Area;
   
10. promote the use of established international standards and practices in the promulgation of navigational warnings within the Sub-Area;
    
11. monitor the broadcasts which they originate to ensure that the messages have been correctly broadcast;
    
12. maintain records of source data relating to Sub-Area warnings in accordance with the requirement of the National Administration of the Sub-Area coordinator;
    
13. contribute to the development of international standards and practices through attendance and participation in the IHO CPRNW meetings, and also participate in relevant IMO, IHO and WMO fora as appropriate, e.g., COMSAR, ETMSS, and other regional conferences, etc., as required; and
    
14. take into account the need for contingency planning.

3.5 National coordinator resources

3.5 National coordinator resources

3.5.1 The National coordinator must have:

1. established sources of information relevant to the safety of navigation within national waters;
   
2. effective communications, e.g., telephone, e-mail, facsimile, internet, telex, etc., with the NAVAREA/Sub-Area coordinator and adjacent National coordinators; and
   
3. access to broadcast systems for transmission to their area of national responsibility.

3.6 National coordinator responsibilities

3.6 National coordinator responsibilities

3.6.1 The National coordinator must:

1. endeavour to be informed of all events that could significantly affect the safety of navigation within their area of national responsibility;
   
2. assess all information immediately upon receipt in the light of expert knowledge for relevance to navigation in their area of national responsibility;
   
3. select information for broadcast in accordance with the guidance given in paragraph 4.2;
   
4. draft coastal warnings in accordance with the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information;
   
5. direct and control the broadcast of coastal warnings, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended;
   
6. forward coastal warnings and relevant associated information which may require wider promulgation directly to their NAVAREA coordinator and/or adjacent National coordinators as appropriate, using the quickest possible means;
   
7. broadcast in-force bulletins not less than once per week at a regularly scheduled time;
   
8. promulgate the cancellation of coastal warnings which are no longer valid;
   
9. act as the central point of contact on matters relating to navigational warnings within their area of national responsibility;
   
10. promote the use of established international standards and practices in the promulgation of navigational warnings within their area of national responsibility;
    
11. monitor the broadcasts which they originate to ensure that the messages have been correctly broadcast;
    
12. maintain records of source data relating to coastal warnings in accordance with the requirement of the National Administration of the National coordinator; and
    
13. take into account the need for contingency planning.

04 Navigational warnings for the world-wide navigational warning service

4. Navigational warnings for the world-wide navigational warning service

4.1 General

4.1 General

4.1.1 Navigational warnings are issued in response to SOLAS regulation V/4 and carry information which may have a direct bearing on the safety of life at sea. It is the fundamental nature of navigational warnings that they will often be based on incomplete or unconfirmed information and mariners will need to take this into account when deciding what reliance to place on the information contained therein.

4.1.2 In order to achieve the necessary impact on the mariner it is essential to present timely and relevant information in a consistent format that is CLEAR, UNAMBIGUOUS and BRIEF. This is ensured by using structured messages in standard formats, as shown in sections 6 and 7 of this manual.

4.1.3 The resources employed by administrations and the mariner are extremely limited. Thus only information which is vital to the safe conduct of vessels should be transmitted. Notices to Mariners and other means exist for passing less urgent information to ships after they have reached port. Information of a purely administrative nature should never be broadcasted on the regular international navigational warning schedules.

4.1.4 There are four types of navigational warnings: NAVAREA warnings, Sub-Area warnings, coastal warnings and local warnings. The WWNWS guidance and coordination are involved with only three of them:

1. NAVAREA warnings,
   
2. Sub-Area warnings, and
   
3. Coastal warnings.
   

4.1.5 Navigational warnings shall remain in force until cancelled by the originating coordinator. Navigational warnings should be broadcast for as long as the information is valid; however, if they are readily available to mariners by other official means, for example in Notices to Mariners, then after a period of six weeks they may no longer be broadcast.

4.1.6 The minimum information in a navigational warning which a mariner requires is “hazard” and “position”. It is usual, however, to include sufficient extra detail to allow some freedom of action in the vicinity of the hazard. This means that the message should give enough extra data for the mariner to be able to recognize the hazard and assess its effect upon his navigation.

4.1.7 If known, the duration of the event causing a navigational warning should be given in the text.

4.1.8 Some of the subjects for navigational warnings listed in paragraph 4.2.2 (e.g., drifting ice, tsunami warnings, negative tidal surges) may also be suitable for promulgation as METAREA forecasts or warnings. In this event, appropriate coordination between the relevant NAVAREA coordinator and METAREA Issuing Service must occur.

4.2 NAVAREA warnings

4.2 NAVAREA warnings

4.2.1 NAVAREA warnings are concerned with the information detailed below which ocean-going mariners require for their safe navigation. This includes, in particular, new navigational hazards and failures of important aids to navigation as well as information which may require changes to planned navigational routes.

4.2.2 The following subjects are considered suitable for broadcast as NAVAREA warnings. This list is not exhaustive and should be regarded only as a guideline. Furthermore, it presupposes that sufficiently precise information about the item has not previously been disseminated in a Notice to Mariners:

1. casualties to lights, fog signals, buoys and other aids to navigation affecting main shipping lanes;
   
2. the presence of dangerous wrecks in or near main shipping lanes and, if relevant, their marking;
   
3. establishment of major new aids to navigation or significant changes to existing ones when such establishment or change, might be misleading to shipping;
   
4. the presence of large unwieldy tows in congested waters;
   
5. drifting hazards (including derelict vessels, ice, mines, containers, other large items, etc.);
   
6. areas where search and rescue (SAR) and anti-pollution operations are being carried out (for avoidance of such areas);
7. the presence of newly discovered rocks, shoals, reefs and wrecks likely to constitute a danger to shipping, and, if relevant, their marking;
   
8. unexpected alteration or suspension of established routes;
   
9. cable or pipe-laying activities, the towing of large submerged objects for research or exploration purposes, the employment of manned or unmanned submersibles, or other underwater operations constituting potential dangers in or near shipping lanes;
   
10. the establishment of research or scientific instruments in or near shipping lanes;
    
11. the establishment of offshore structures in or near shipping lanes;
    
12. significant malfunctioning of radio-navigation services and shore-based maritime safety information radio or satellite services;
    
13. information concerning special operations which might affect the safety of shipping, sometimes over wide areas, e.g., naval exercises, missile firings, space missions, nuclear tests, ordnance dumping zones, etc. It is important that where the degree of hazard is known, this information is included in the relevant warning. Whenever possible such warnings should be originated not less than five days in advance of the scheduled event and reference may be made to relevant national publications in the warning;
    
14. acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships;
    
15. tsunamis and other natural phenomena, such as abnormal changes to sea level;
    
16. World Health Organization (WHO) health advisory information; and
    
17. security-related requirements⁹.

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⁹In accordance with the requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code only.

4.3 Sub-Area warnings

4.3 Sub-Area warnings

4.3.1 Sub-Area warnings broadcast information which is necessary for safe navigation within a Sub-Area. They will normally include all subjects listed in 4.2.2 above, but will usually affect only the Sub-Area.

4.4 Coastal warnings

4.4 Coastal warnings

4.4.1 Coastal warnings broadcast information which is necessary for safe navigation within areas seaward of the fairway buoy or pilot station, and should not be restricted to main shipping lanes. Where the area is served by NAVTEX, it should provide navigational warnings for the entire NAVTEX service area. Where the area is not served by NAVTEX, it is necessary to include all warnings relevant to the coastal waters up to 250 miles from the coast in the International SafetyNET service broadcast.

4.4.2 Coastal warnings should include at least the subjects in 4.2.2.

4.5 Local warnings

4.5 Local warnings

4.5.1 Local warnings broadcast information which cover inshore waters, often within the limits of jurisdiction of a harbour or port authority. They are broadcast by means other than NAVTEX or SafetyNET, and supplement coastal warnings by giving detailed information within inshore waters.

05 The structure of navigational warnings

5. The structure of navigational warnings

5.1 Numbering

5.1 Numbering

5.1.1 Navigational warnings in each series shall be consecutively numbered throughout the calendar year, commencing with 1/YY at 0000 UTC on 01 January.

5.1.2 Navigational warnings shall be transmitted in reverse numerical order on scheduled broadcasts.

5.2 Language

5.2 Language

5.2.1 All NAVAREA, Sub-Area and coastal warnings shall be broadcast only in English in the International NAVTEX and SafetyNET services in accordance with IMO resolution A.706(17), as amended.

5.2.2 In addition to the required broadcasts in English, NAVAREA, Sub-Area and coastal warnings may be broadcast in a national language using national NAVTEX and SafetyNET services and/or other means.

5.2.3 Local warnings may be issued in the national language and/or in English.

5.3 “No warnings” message

5.3 “No warnings” message

5.3.1 When there are no navigational warnings to be disseminated at a scheduled broadcast time, a brief message shall be transmitted to identify the broadcast and advise the mariner that there is no navigational warning message traffic on hand.

5.4 Standard elements of messages

5.4 Standard elements of messages

5.4.1 The minimum information which a mariner requires to avoid danger is:

 

HAZARD + POSITION

It is usual, however, to include amplifying remarks in order to provide sufficient extra details to clearly identify the significance of the hazard and to assist mariners in recognizing and assessing its effect upon their navigation. The time, date and duration of the event shall be included if known.

5.4.2 A message can have up to three parts: Preamble, Warning, and Postscript. Sections 6 and 7 of the Manual give guidance on the correct way of phrasing each part of the warning to achieve maximum impact with minimum broadcast time.

5.4.3 The text of a navigational warning shall contain specific message elements, identified and ordered by the reference numbers shown in Figure 3 and expanded in Section 6. The format and structure of a message should ensure that each message element begins on a new line.

5.4.4 The first words of the text of every warning message shall always be the message series identifier, followed by the consecutive number; this may be preceded on a separate line by the time of origin of the message.

5.5 Message Elements Table

5.5 Message Elements Table

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¹⁰Reference number is NOT to be included as part of the message text.

06 Message format of navigational warning

6. Message format of navigational warning

Part 1 Preamble

Part 1 - Preamble

Standard Message Element Reference 1 – MESSAGE SERIES IDENTIFIER

The first words of the text of every warning message shall always be message series identifier followed by the consecutive number (N/YY) NAVAREA WARNING: NAVAREA III 496/09; NAVAREA VII 42/09 SUB-AREA WARNING: BALTIC SEA NAV WARN 009/09 COASTAL WARNING: AVURNAV TOULON 1015/09; WZ 345/09 Notes: 1) The consecutive number re-starts each calendar year at 1/YY (Leading zeros are not mandatory). 2) For coastal warnings the consecutive number is not the same as the NAVTEX Number B3B4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Message Element Reference 2 – GENERAL AREA

The general area shall be sufficient to identify which broad geographic region the message affects. The geographical name which is selected for the general area should be one that can be found on charts and in nautical publications. NAVAREA WARNING: “NORTH SEA” or “MALACCA STRAIT” would be correct; “NORTH AMERICA, EAST COAST” is too general. SUB-AREA WARNING: GULF OF FINLAND COASTAL WARNING: BAY OF BISCAY; CANTABRICO Notes: 1) If appropriate the established meteorological forecast areas as defined in WMO publication No. 9 Volume D and also published in various nautical publications may be used. 2) For a NAVAREA-wide event, e.g., failure of satellite or terrestrial positioning systems, a navaid identification acronym “GPS”, “LORAN”, etc., shall by used instead of a general area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Message Element Reference 3 – LOCALITY

The locality shall be stated in terms which allow the mariner to identify warnings which affect his passage without having to plot them. Locality will only need to be stated when it is considered necessary to refine the general area. The geographical name which is selected as locality should be one that can be found on charts and in nautical publications. NAVAREA WARNING: NORTHERN GRAND BANKS; PINANG APPROACH SUB-AREA WARNING: STORA MIDDELGRUND COASTAL WARNING: BARRA DE PARANAGUA – CANAL DA GALHETA Note: 1) If appropriate the established meteorological forecast areas as defined in WMO publication No. 9 Volume D and also published in various nautical publications may be used.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Message Element Reference 4 – CHART NUMBER

For charted features, reference shall be made to a national chart (not necessarily the largest scale) identified by the State abbreviation and chart number. Reference shall also be made to an international chart number if one exists; NAVAREA WARNING: Chart INDIA 32 (INT 754) Notes: 1) Warnings may refer to an Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC). In such cases, ENC cell numbers may be quoted, e.g., ENC: US3AK7RM 2) Chart or ENC cell numbers are not mandatory for coastal warnings which are only broadcast in the vicinity of the hazard.

Part 2 Warning

Part 2 - Warning

Standard Message Element Reference 5 – KEY SUBJECT

Key subjects referenced in paragraph 4.2.2 are considered suitable for broadcast as NAVAREA, SUB-AREA, or COASTAL Warnings. See examples in Section 7.

 

 

Standard Message Element Reference 6 – GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION

Geographical positions shall always be given in Degrees and Minutes or in Degrees, Minutes and decimal minutes in the form: Latitude: DD-MMN or DD-MMS Longitude: DDD-MME or DDD-MMW or Latitude: DD-MM.mmN or DD-MM.mmS Longitude: DDD-MM.mmE or DDD-MM.mmW e.g.,   07-08N 039-17W           32-18.65S 165-02.81E Note that leading zeros shall always be included. Three digits are used for reporting degrees of longitude. For warnings concerning the presence of dangerous wrecks or newly discovered rocks, shoals and reefs (ref: 4.2.2.2 and 4.2.2.7), the word LOCATED should only be used when the position of the hazard has been confirmed by a hydrographic survey. In all other cases the word REPORTED should be used. Positions shall only be quoted to the accuracy required. In many cases this will be less than the known accuracy. For example, it will often be sufficient to quote the position to the nearest whole minute of latitude and longitude when indicating the location of a charted feature. The best accuracy available (to a maximum of 0.01 minutes) shall be used when broadcasting the position of new hazards. The same level of accuracy shall always be quoted for both latitude and longitude. When defining the limits of a polygon, positions should be listed in a clockwise direction starting from the North West corner. Circular areas should be defined by a radius in nautical miles from a single point. The use of the word “POSITION” or “POS” is not necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Message Element Reference 7 – AMPLIFYING REMARKS

Amplifying remarks may be used to provide sufficient extra details to clearly identify the significance of the hazard and to assist mariners in RECOGNIZING and ASSESSING its effect upon their navigation. Distances shall be quoted in Nautical Miles and decimals. The time, date and duration of the event shall be included if known. The time standard for Navigational Warnings shall always be UTC (ref: 2.2.1.34) The accepted format for a Date Time Group (DTG) in the text of a message is as follows: DDHHMM UTC MoMoMo YY; e.g., 231642 UTC JUN 09

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 3 Postscript

Part 3 - Postscript

Standard Message Element Reference 8 – CANCELLATION DETAILS

Cancellation details shall be provided in a message that includes a definitive time frame; the cancellation time shall be one hour after the event completes or one day later if the time is not accurately known. A reason for the cancellation should only be included if it is of benefit to the mariner, and can be stated concisely. Cancellations messages may be “stand alone” and only concern the cancellation of a previous message, as in examples A and B below. When cancellation details relating to the subject of the message are included, it is recommended that paragraph numbers are used in order to clearly distinguish between the subject of the message and the cancellation details, as in example C below. The word Examples Comments A. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 123/09 AND THIS MSG. B. CANCEL ESTONIAN NAV WARN 87/08. ESTONIAN NOTICES TO MARINERS 520/09 REFERS. C. 1. MESSAGE TEXT – EVENT OF KNOWN DURATION. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG DDHHMM UTC MoMoMo YY. Choose a time for self-cancelling messages (example C) one hour after the event completes or one day later if time is not accurately known. “MESSAGE” can be abbreviated to MSG. “MESSAGE” can be abbreviated to MSG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07 Guidance and examples for navigational warnings by type of hazard

7. Guidance and examples for navigational warnings by type of hazard (as listed in 4.2.2)

Note: All NAVAREA, Sub-Area and coastal warnings shall be broadcast only in English in the International NAVTEX and SafetyNET services in accordance with IMO resolution A.706(17), as amended.

01 Casualties to lights, fog signals, buoys and other aids to navigation...

1. Casualties to lights, fog signals, buoys and other aids to navigation affecting main shipping lanes

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Buoyage Glossary of terms

Buoyage-Glossary of terms

 

IALA BUOYAGE	Comments
PORT HAND BUOY STARBOARD HAND BUOY NORTH CARDINAL BUOY EAST CARDINAL BUOY SOUTH CARDINAL BUOY WEST CARDINAL BUOY ISOLATED DANGER BUOY SAFE WATER BUOY SPECIAL BUOY EMERGENCY WRECK MARKING BUOY	Full description of light and colour not required for IALA standard buoys. “Lightbuoy” may be used to indicate that the buoy is lit.

OTHER BUOYS

COLOURS RED BLACK WHITE GREEN YELLOW BLUE

PATTERN CHEQUERED HORIZONTALLY STRIPED VERTICALLY STRIPED

SHAPE/TYPE CAN CONICAL (not OGIVAL or NUN) PILLAR SPAR SPHERICAL WRECK CABLE (not TELEGRAPH) MOORING DANGER ZONE ODAS SPM DART

Buoys, lanbys, superbuoys

Buoys, lanbys, superbuoys

Standard Remarks	Comments
UNLIT	Use UNLIT in place of: Out, Extinguished, Not Burning, Not Working. See Note iv.
LIGHT UNRELIABLE	Use LIGHT UNRELIABLE in place of: Weak, Dim, Low power, Fixed, Out of Character, Irregular, Reduced power.
DAMAGED	No action for Topmark or Radar Reflectors. Use only for major damage, e.g., loss of significant functionality.
OFF STATION	Not in charted position, but still in the vicinity of original location. The actual position may be informed, if known.
MISSING	Completely absent from position.
TEMPORARILY CHANGED
MOVED	Only use for established minor changes of position
PERMANENTLY DISCONTINUED	Use for removed
TEMPORARILY REMOVED	Use when an aid is temporarily removed (i.e. for maintenance purposes).
RE-ESTABLISHED	Use for previously charted or listed as DESTROYED or TEMPORARILY REMOVED. See Note viii.

Notes: POSITION normally quoted to nearest whole minute for existing buoys, lanbys, superbuoys. Use light descriptions as given in the LIGHTS - GLOSSARY OF TERMS Table. Do NOT describe the type of buoy, e.g., North Cardinal buoy, Port Hand buoy, unless the buoy is unnamed. UNLIT may be used to amplify “DAMAGED” as in “DAMAGED AND UNLIT”. “LANBY” (Large Automated Navigational Buoy) or “SUPERBUOY” may be used in lieu of “BUOY” where appropriate. Chart INT 1 Abbreviations for light characters are only suitable for NAVTEX or SafetyNET transmissions. Voice broadcasts shall be drafted using the terms for lights in the LIGHTS - GLOSSARY OF TERMS Table The term “REPORTED” may be used for unconfirmed reports regarding buoys. RE-ESTABLISHED is only appropriate for buoys which have previously been CHARTED or LISTED as DESTROYED or TEMPORARILY REMOVED. Navigational Warnings concerning such buoys are cancelled when the buoy is re-established. A new Navigational Warning is only required if the characteristics or position has changed.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.1

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.1

Lighthouses, beacons, light vessels

Lighthouses, beacons, light vessels

Standard remarks	Comments
UNLIT	Use UNLIT in place of: Out, Extinguished, Not Burning, Not Working.
LIGHT UNRELIABLE	Use LIGHT UNRELIABLE in place of: Weak, Dim, Low Power, Fixed, Flashing Incorrectly, Out of Character, Incorrect colour of light, Sector limits unreliable. See Note iv.
DAMAGED	Use only for major damage, e.g., loss of significant functionality. See Note vi.
DESTROYED	Do not use “Temporarily destroyed”.
RACON INOPERATIVE
CHANGED TO FLASH THREE 20 SECONDS 14 METRES 16 MILES	PERMANENT change of character. See Notes v and viii.
TEMPORARILY CHANGED TO QUICK YELLOW 12 MILES	TEMPORARY change. Do not use for listed reserve light. See Note ix
MOVED 0.3 MILES NORTH TO 63-14.8N 022-15.6E	Do not quote former geographical position. Indicate former position by approximate direction and distance. See Note x.
RE-ESTABLISHED	For previously charted or listed as DESTROYED or TEMPORARILY REMOVED. See Note xi.
PERMANENTLY DISCONTINUED	Use for removed.
TEMPORARILY REMOVED	Use when an aid is temporarily removed (i.e. for maintenance purposes.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes: Use CHARTED names, not LISTED names. LIGHT LIST number is not required. POSITION normally quoted to nearest whole minute for existing lights. Due to the fundamental nature of navigational warnings that they will often be based on incomplete or unconfirmed information, the use of “REPORTED” is unnecessary for casualties to lights. If the report is unconfirmed, use LIGHT UNRELIABLE. Always quote FULL LIGHT CHARACTERISTIC to avoid confusion over what has been changed. Damage to DAYMARKS is not usually worthy a navigational warning. Do not initiate a navigational warning to request reports on an unwatched light. Use light descriptions as given in the LIGHTS - GLOSSARY OF TERMS Table. Temporary use of a listed reserve light is to be expected. A warning would only be required due to a change of character, i.e. reduction of Range. Distances shall be quoted in nautical miles and decimals. RE-ESTABLISHED is only appropriate for lights which have previously been CHARTED or LISTED as DESTROYED or TEMPORARILY REMOVED. Navigational Warnings concerning such lights are cancelled when the light is re-established. A new Navigational Warning is only required if the character or position has changed. Chart INT 1 Abbreviations for light characters are only suitable for NAVTEX or SafetyNET transmissions. Voice broadcasts shall be drafted using the terms for lights in the LIGHTS - GLOSSARY OF TERMS Table.

 

Lights Glossary of terms

Lights - Glossary of terms

CLASS OF LIGHT	Description for TEXT broadcasts	Description for VOICE broadcasts
Fixed (steady light)	F	Fixed
Occulting (total duration of light longer than total duration of darkness) Single-occulting Group-occulting          Composite group-occulting	OC OC(2) OC(2+3)	Occulting Occulting two Occulting two plus three
Isophase (equal periods light and dark)	ISO	Iso
Flashing (total duration of light shorter than total duration of darkness) Single-flashing Long-flashing  Group-flashing        Composite group-flashing	FL LFL FL(3) FL(2+1)	Flash Long flash Flash three Flash two plus one
Quick (50 to 79 – usually either 50 or 60 flashes per minute)         Continuous quick         Group quick         Interrupted quick	Q Q(3) IQ	Quick flash Quick flash three Interrupted quick flash
Very quick (80 to 159 – usually either 100 or 120 flashes per minute)         Continuous very quick         Group very quick          Interrupted very quick	VQ VQ(3) IVQ	Very quick flash Very quick flash three Interrupted very quick flash
Ultra quick (160 or more usually 240 or 300 flashes per minute)         Continuous ultra quick         Interrupted ultra quick	UQ IUQ	Ultra quick flash Interrupted ultra quick flash
Morse Code	MO(K)	Morse Kilo
Fixed and Flashing	FFL	Fixed and flashing
Alternating	ALWR	Alternating

ELEVATION in METRES or FEET, e.g., 14 METRES or 21 FEET

PERIOD in SECONDS, e.g., 15 SECONDS or 15 SEC (Not S)

RANGE in nautical miles		International abbreviations	RANGE for broadcast
Single range 2 ranges 3 or more ranges	e.g. e.g. e.g.	15M 14/12M 22–18M	15 MILES 14 AND 12 MILES 22 TO 18 MILES (Shortest range only will be sufficient)

 

02 The presence of dangerous wrecks in or near main shipping lanes...

2.  The presence of dangerous wrecks in or near main shipping lanes and, if relevant, their marking

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Standard Remarks	Comments
DANGEROUS WRECK REPORTED	Reported position unconfirmed. See Note i.
DANGEROUS WRECK LOCATED	Position confirmed, usually by survey.

Notes: Position Approximate (PA) is not appropriate since all ‘‘reported’’ hazards will be of this nature by definition. Remarks may be amplified e.g.: “. . . MARKED BY SOUTH CARDINAL BUOY 0.2 MILES SOUTHWARD’’ or “GUARD VESSEL VALIENT STATIONED CLOSE SOUTH EXHIBITING RACON MO(D)” The appropriate action to be taken on receipt of wreck information will depend on its location as well as its depth (and therefore relative danger to navigation). Generally, any wreck with a least depth of 30 metres or less will need a navigation warning. Only quote position and depth to an accuracy of which you can be confident. For example, a wreck which has been fully surveyed may have its position quoted to two decimal places and depth to 0.1m. On the other hand, in cases of reports of a vessel which has been abandoned (in a known position) and has then sunk some hours later, the position and depth of water may be vague. The inclusion of the name of the wreck is not necessary; however, details of the type of vessel may be included in the amplifying remarks if it is considered relevant, i.e. Super Tanker or Fishing Vessel with nets, etc.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.2

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.2

03 Establishment of major new aids to navigation...

3. Establishment of major new aids to navigation or significant changes to existing ones when such establishment or change, might be misleading to shipping

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.3

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.3

04 The presence of large unwieldy tows in congested waters

4. The presence of large unwieldy tows in congested waters

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7,
identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.4

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.4

05 Drifting hazards ...

5. Drifting hazards (including derelict vessels, ice, mines, containers, other large items, etc.)

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.5

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.5

06 Areas where search and rescue (SAR)...

6. Areas where search and rescue (SAR) and anti-pollution operations are being carried out (for avoidance of such areas)

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.6

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.6

07 The presence of newly discovered rocks, shoals, reefs and wrecks ...

7. The presence of newly discovered rocks, shoals, reefs and wrecks likely to constitute a danger to shipping, and, if relevant, their marking

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.7

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.7

08 Unexpected alteration or suspension of established routes

8. Unexpected alteration or suspension of established routes

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.8

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.8

09 Cable or pipe-laying activities ...

9. Cable or pipe-laying activities, the towing of large submerged objects for research or exploration purposes, the employment of manned or unmanned submersibles, or other underwater operations constituting potential dangers in or near shipping lanes

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.9

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.9

10 The establishment of research ...

10. The establishment of research or scientific instruments in or near shipping lanes

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in sextion 4.2.2.10

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.10

11 The establishment of offshore structures in or near shipping lanes

11. The establishment of offshore structures in or near shipping lanes

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.11

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.11

12 Significant malfunctioning of radio-navigation services...

12. Significant malfunctioning of radio-navigation services and shore-based maritime safety information radio or satellite services

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 5, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.12

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.12

13 Information concerning special operations ...

13. Information concerning special operations which might affect the safety of shipping, sometimes over wide areas, e.g., naval exercises, missile firings, space missions, nuclear tests, ordnance dumping zones, etc. It is important that where the degree of hazard is known, this information is included in the relevant warning. Whenever possible such warnings should be originated not less than five days in advance of the scheduled event and reference may be made to relevant national publications in the warning

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.13

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.13

14 Acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships

14. Acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.14

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.14

15 Tsunamis and other natural phenomena, such as abnormal changes to sea level

15. Tsunamis and other natural phenomena, such as abnormal changes to sea level

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 5, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.15

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.15

16 World Health Organization (WHO) health advisory information

16. World Health Organization (WHO) health advisory information

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 3, 5, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.16

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.16

17 Security-related requirements

17.     Security-related requirements

The text of a navigational warning in this category shall contain message elements 1, 2, 5, identified and ordered, as in Message Elements Table Figure 3.

a Examples of warnings in section 4.2.2.17

EXAMPLES OF WARNINGS IN SECTION 4.2.2.17

b Bulletins

Bulletins

c Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

d ENC Concerns

ENC Concerns

e Avoidance of certain fisheries areas

Avoidance of certain fisheries areas

f Web site out of service

Web site out of service

08 Meteorological warnings and forecasts

Meteorological warnings and forecasts

8.1 Provision of warnings and weather and sea bulletins (GMDSS application)

8.1 Provision of warnings and weather and sea bulletins (GMDSS application)

8.1.1 The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) application which is compatible with and required by the radiocommunication provisions of the 1988 SOLAS amendments via the NAVTEX, International SafetyNET and HF MSI services. Principles

8.1.2 The principles for the preparation and issue of warnings and weather and sea bulletins are as follows:

1. For the purpose of the preparation and issue of meteorological warnings and the regular preparation and issue of weather and sea bulletins, the oceans and seas are divided into areas for which national Meteorological Services assume responsibility.
   
2. The areas of responsibility together provide complete coverage of oceans and seas by meteorological information contained in warnings and weather and sea bulletins.
   
3. The issue of meteorological warnings and routine weather and sea bulletins for areas not covered by NAVTEX shall be broadcast by the International SafetyNET Service for the reception of maritime safety information (MSI) in compliance with SOLAS chapter IV “Radiocommunications”, as amended.
   
   Note: In addition, national Meteorological Services may have to prepare and/or issue warnings and routine forecasts for transmission by an HF-direct printing telegraphy maritime safety information service for areas where such a service is provided for ships engaged exclusively on voyages in such areas.
   
4. The preparation and issue of warnings and weather and sea bulletins for areas of responsibility are coordinated in accordance with the procedures mentioned in the Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO No. 558) and the Guide to Marine Meteorological Services (WMO No. 471), and summarized in the following section.
   
5. The efficiency and effectiveness of the provision of warnings and of weather and sea bulletins are monitored by obtaining opinions and reports from marine users.
   
6. Maritime Safety Information broadcasts are monitored by the originating Issuing Service to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the broadcast.

8.2 Procedures

8.2 Procedures

Definitions

8.2.1 A Preparation Service is a national Meteorological Service which has accepted responsibility for the preparation of forecasts and warnings for parts of, or an entire, designated Maritime Safety Information (MSI) area in the WMO system for the dissemination of meteorological forecasts and warnings to shipping under the GMDSS and for their transfer to the relevant Issuing Service for broadcast.

8.2.2 An Issuing Service is a national Meteorological Service which has accepted responsibility for ensuring that meteorological forecasts and warnings for shipping are disseminated through the Inmarsat and SafetyNET service to the designated area for which the Service has accepted responsibility under the broadcast requirements of the GMDSS. The Issuing Service is responsible for composing a complete broadcast bulletin on the basis of information input from the relevant Preparation Services, and for inserting the appropriate EGC header, as specified in annex 4(b) of the International SafetyNET Manual. The Issuing Service is also responsible for monitoring the broadcasts of information to its designated area of responsibility.

Preparation and issue of weather and sea bulletins


8.2.3 Weather and sea bulletins shall include, in the order given hereafter:

1. Part I: Storm warnings;
   
2. Part II: Synopsis of major features of the surface weather chart and, to the possible extent, significant characteristics of corresponding sea-surface conditions; and
   
3. Part III: Forecasts.
   

8.2.4 Weather and sea bulletins may, in addition, include the following parts:

1. Part IV: Analysis and/or prognosis in IAC FLEET code form;
   
2. Part V: Selection of reports from sea stations; and
   
3. Part VI: Selection of reports from land stations.
   
   Notes:
   1. The reports included in part VI should be for a fixed selection of stations in a fixed order.
      
   2. Parts IV, V and VI may be issued at a separate scheduled time.
      

8.2.5 For area(s) for which an Issuing Service has assumed responsibility, the Service should select the appropriate CES to service that area. In particular, the following procedures should be adopted:

1. For scheduled broadcasts: These should be issued for broadcast over at least a single nominated satellite, in accordance with a pre-arranged schedule, coordinated by WMO.
   
2. For unscheduled broadcasts: These should be issued for broadcast under the SafetyNET Service through all Inmarsat ocean region satellites covering the Issuing Service’s area of responsibility.
   

8.2.6 Weather and sea bulletins shall be prepared and issued at least twice daily.

8.2.7 The issue of the weather and sea bulletins shall be at a scheduled time and be in the following sequence: part I to be followed immediately by part II and then part III. A schedule of transmission start times for these bulletins has been compiled for all MSI areas and the CESs which serve the areas and takes into consideration, inter alia, the existing WMO synoptic times for observations, data analysis and forecast production. Additionally, as these broadcast schedules for the International SafetyNET Service have to be coordinated, under the aegis of WMO, with other organizations such as IHO, Issuing Services should not independently change or request WMO to arrange frequent alterations to these coordinated and published schedules.

8.2.8 Issuing Services must ensure that the correct EGC message addressing formats are adhered to for all warning and forecast messages intended for broadcast by a CES.

8.2.9 Warnings shall be given in plain language. Synopses and forecasts should be given in plain language, however some abbreviations may be used, especially when the size of the bulletin needs to be reduced for dissemination by a low bandwidth system, such as the NAVTEX Service (ref: 8.2.13).

8.2.10 Warnings, synopses and forecasts intended for the International SafetyNET and the International NAVTEX Services shall be broadcast in English.

Note: Additionally, if a national Meteorological Service wishes to issue warnings and forecasts to meet national obligations under SOLAS, broadcasts may be made in other languages. These broadcasts will be part of national SafetyNET or NAVTEX Services.

8.2.11 In order to ensure the integrity of the warnings and forecasts being received by mariners, it is essential that Issuing Services monitor the broadcasts which they originate. Monitoring is especially important in a highly automated system which is dependent on careful adherence to procedure and format. This may be accomplished by the installation of an EGC receive-capability at the Issuing Service’s facility.

Note: Each Issuing Service may use the EGC receiver to check the following:

1. That the message has been broadcast;
   
2. That the message is received correctly;
   
3. That cancellation messages are properly executed; and
   
4. Any unexplained delay in the message being broadcast.
   

8.2.12 The language of the synopsis should be as free as possible from technical phraseology.

8.2.13 The terminology in weather and sea bulletins should be in accordance with the “Multilingual list of terms used in weather and sea bulletins”, which is available in Appendix I.2 to the Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO No. 558) and in Annex 2.B to the Guide to Marine Meteorological Services (WMO No. 471). Specific guidelines for the NAVTEX Service, including a list of common abbreviations for weather and sea messages, are available in Appendix II.2 to the Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO No. 558). The list of common abbreviations is also given in 8.6 hereto.

8.3 Warnings

8.3 Warnings

8.3.1 Warnings shall be given for gales (Beaufort force 8 or 9) and storms (Beaufort force 10 or over), and for tropical cyclones (hurricanes in the North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific, typhoons in the Western Pacific, cyclones in the Indian Ocean and cyclones of similar nature in other regions).

8.3.2 The issue of warnings for near gales (Beaufort force 7) is optional.

8.3.3 Warnings for gales, storms and tropical cyclones should have the following content and order of items:

1. type of warning;
   
2. date and time of reference in UTC,
   
3. type of disturbance (e.g., low, hurricane, etc.) with a statement of central pressure in
   hectopascals;
   
4. location of disturbance in terms of latitude and longitude or with reference to
   well-known landmarks;
   
5. direction and speed of movement of disturbance;
   
6. extent of affected area;
   
7. wind speed or force and direction in the affected areas;
   
8. sea and swell conditions in the affected area; and
   
9. other appropriate information such as future positions of disturbance.
   Sub-items .1, .2, .4, .6, and .7 listed above shall always be included in the warnings.
   

8.3.4 When warnings are included for more than one pressure disturbance or system, the systems shall be described in a descending order of threat.

8.3.5 Warnings shall be as brief as possible and, at the same time, clear and complete.

8.3.6 The time of the last location of each tropical cyclone or extra-tropical storm shall be indicated in the warning.

8.3.7 A warning shall be issued immediately the need becomes apparent and broadcasted immediately on receipt, followed by a repeat after six minutes, when issued as an unscheduled broadcast.

8.3.8 When no warnings for gales, storms or tropical cyclones are to be issued, that fact shall be positively stated in part I of each weather and sea bulletin.

8.3.9 Warnings shall be updated whenever necessary and then issued immediately.

8.3.10 Warnings shall remain in force until amended or cancelled.

8.3.11 Warnings issued as part I of a scheduled bulletin do not need to be repeated after 6 minutes.

8.3.12 Warnings for other severe conditions such as poor visibility, severe sea states (such as high swell, risk of abnormal waves, etc.), ice accretion, etc., shall also be issued, as necessary.

8.4 Synopses

8.4 Synopses

8.4.1 The synopses given in part II of weather and sea bulletins shall have the following content and order of items:

1. date and time of reference in UTC;
   
2. synopsis of major features of the surface weather chart; and
   
3. direction and speed of movement of significant pressure systems and tropical
   disturbances.
   

8.4.2 If possible, significant characteristics of corresponding wave conditions (sea and swell) should be included in the synopsis as well as characteristics of other sea-surface conditions (drifting ice, currents, etc.) if feasible and significant.

8.4.3 Significant low-pressure systems and tropical disturbances which affect or are expected to affect the area within or near to the valid period of the forecast should be described; the central pressure and/or intensity, location movement and changes of intensity should be given for each system; significant fronts, high-pressure centres, troughs and ridges should be included whenever this helps to clarify the weather situation.

8.4.4 Direction and speed of movement of significant pressure systems and tropical disturbances should be indicated in compass points and metres per second or knots respectively.

8.4.5 Units used for speed of movement of systems shall be indicated.

8.5 Forecasts

8.5 Forecasts

8.5.1 The forecasts given in part III of weather and sea bulletins shall have the following content and order of items:

1. the valid period of forecast;
   
2. name or designation of forecast area(s) within the main MSI area; and
   
3. a description of:
   
   
   1. wind speed or force and direction;
      
   2. sea state (significant wave height/total sea);
      
   3. visibility when forecast is less than five nautical miles; and
      
   4. ice accretion, where applicable.
      

8.5.2 The forecasts should include expected significant changes during the forecast period,
significant meteors such as freezing precipitation, snowfall or rainfall, and an outlook for a period beyond 24 hours. In addition, phenomena such as breaking seas, cross seas, and abnormal waves should also be included, where possible.

8.5.3 The valid period should be indicated either in terms of number of hours from the time of issue of the forecast or in terms of dates and time in UTC of the beginning and the end of the period.

8.5.4 The following descriptive terms should be used for visibility:

1. very poor (less than 0.5 nautical miles)
   
2. poor (0.5 to 2 nautical miles)
   
3. moderate (2 to 5 nautical miles)
   
4. good (greater than 5 nautical miles)

8.6 Common abbreviations for International NAVTEX Service

8.6 Common abbreviations for International NAVTEX Service

8.7 Delimitation of METAREAS

8.7 Delimitation of METAREAS



Figure 4 – METAREAs for coordinating and promulgating meteorological warnings and forecasts within the GMDSS

The delimitation of such areas is not related to and shall not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.

09 Search and rescue notification

9. Search and rescue notification

9.1 Communications related to search and rescue operations such as distress alerts, coordination of operations, local communications and positioning signals are never MSI, even when (for some shore-to-ship alerts) they use the International SafetyNET or NAVTEX services which are also used for MSI. This guide, therefore, does not apply to them.

9.2 Search and Rescue operations may, however, involve the broadcasting of MSI in the
navigational warning category, described in 4.2.2.6.

10 Procedure for amending the joint IMO/IHO/WMO manual on MSI

10. Procedure for amending the joint IMO/IHO/WMO manual on MSI

10.1 Proposals for amendment or enhancement of the maritime safety information service should be submitted for evaluation to the Maritime Safety Committee through the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue.

10.2 The agreement of the IHO, WMO, IMSO and ITU, as appropriate, and the active participation of other bodies should be sought, according to the nature of the proposed amendments.

10.3 The active participation of IHO, WMO, IMSO and ITU is considered necessary for the coordination of broadcasts of all maritime safety information.

10.4 Amendments adopted by Maritime Safety Committee will be notified to all concerned. At least 12 months notice will be given before implementation and they will come into force on 1 January of the following year.

• Informatietype: Internationaal
• Documentsoort: Circulaire niet in wetten.nl
• Toegangsrechten: Extern
• Identificatie: PUC_1976_14
• Versie: 1
• Datum beschikbaarheid: 24-09-2010
• Geldigheid van: 01-01-2011
• Wijzigingsdatum: 24-11-2016
• Titel: 1310 Revised joint IMO/IHO/WMO manual on MSI
• Organisatie: International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• Taal: Nederlands
• Onderwerp: Veiligheid / Safety
• Hoofdtaak: Koopvaardij / Merchant Shipping
• Thema: Zeevaart / Seagoing ships / Information / IMO Instruments (Informative) / Circulars (Informative) / MSC Circulars (Informative) / 1300 until 1399