Maritime Safety Information
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Contents
Introduction
GMDSS Maritime Safety Information (MSI) is the internationally and nationally coordinated network of broadcasts containing information which is necessary for safe navigation, received on ships by equipment which automatically monitors the appropriate transmissions, displays information which is relevant to the ship and provides a print capability. MSI includes navigational warnings, weather forecasts and weather warnings, search and rescue notices and similar 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 auspices of the IMO/World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World-Wide Met-ocean Information and Warnings Service (WWMIWS) in accordance with the requirements of IMO resolution A.1051(27).
Broadcast methods
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:
- NAVTEX: broadcasts to coastal waters; and
- 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.
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.
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.
There are four types of navigational warnings: NAVAREA warnings, Sub-Area warnings, coastal warnings and local warnings.
Shipboard equipment
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.
The NAVTEX receiver should operate in accordance with the technical specifications set out in Recommendation ITU-R M.540, as amended. Resolution MSC.148(77) recommends Governments to ensure that NAVTEX receiver equipment, if installed on or after 1 July 2005, conforms to performance standards not inferior to those specified in resolution MSC.148(77), and if installed before 1 July 2005, conforms to performance standards not inferior to those specified in the annex to resolution A.525(13).
The SafetyNET receiver should conform to the Maritime Design and Installation Guidelines(DIGs), annex B, issue 6 of April 2008 published by Inmarsat. Resolution MSC.306(87) recommends Governments to ensure that EGC equipment, if installed on or after 1 July 2012, conforms to performance standards not inferior to those specified in the annex to resolution MSC.306(87), and if installed before 1 July 2012, conforms to performance standards not inferior to those specified in the annex to resolution A.664(16).
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.
Provision of information
Navigational warnings should be provided in accordance with the standards, organization and procedures of the WWNWS under the functional guidelines of the IHO through its World-Wide Navigational Warning Service Sub-Committee. Details of NAVAREA Coordinators are maintained on the IHO website and are also published by an IMO Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communication and Search and Rescue (NCSR) circular.
Meteorological information should be provided in accordance with the WMO technical regulations, recommendations, and procedures defined for the World-Wide Met-ocean Information and Warning Service (WWMIWS) monitored and reviewed by the Expert Team on Maritime Safety Services of the Joint WMO/IOC 9 Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM).
Other urgent safety-related information should be provided by the relevant national or international authority responsible for managing the system or scheme.
