NAV-002 - Danger Messages: Hydrographic And Meteorological Information; Cooperation With Hydrographic Services And Meteorological Organizations

TO: ALL SHIPOWNERS, OPERATORS, MASTERS AND OFFICERS OF

MERCHANT SHIPS, AND AUTHORIZED CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES

SUBJECT: Danger Messages; Hydrographic and Meteorological Information: Cooperation with Hydrographic Services and Meteorological Organizations

Reference: _(a) Maritime Regulations 2.35;

1. SOLAS Chapter V, Regulations 2, 3, 4 and 5
2. IMO Resolution A.706(17) as amended by MSC.1/Circ.1288/Rev.₁
3. IMO Resolution A.528(13) (e) IMO MSC.1/Circ.1293/Rev.1

Supersedes: Marine Notice NAV-002, dated 06/12

The following changes have been included:

It updates website and contact information for National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

PURPOSE:

This Notice serves as a reminder to all mariners that most of the navigational information appearing on charts and in such publications as Light Lists, Sailing Directions and Coast Pilots is obtained through an exchange of information by the Hydrographic Offices of many maritime nations.

Additionally, meteorological organizations, other ships and organizations depend on observations and reports from ships for a range of information, including danger messages, that is not readily obtained from weather satellites. Data from on-location sources including ships will remain essential to provide “ground truthing” and for weather routing services, climate studies and other weather prediction models for real time weather reports of importance to the mariner, via GMDSS.

APPLICABILITY:

This Notice applies to Masters and Deck Watch Officers of ships at sea, who provide a vital portion of the required information.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.0 The World's Hydrographic services have an urgent need for reports of changes in aids to

Inquiries concerning the subject of this Notice should be directed to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Republic of

Liberia, the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, 22980 Indian Creek Drive., Suite 200, Dulles, VA 20166, USA. The most current version of all Marine Notices are available in the Online Library at: http://www.liscr.com

navigation and other hydrographic data in order to produce and maintain navigation chart and publications. On a worldwide basis, most Hydrographic Offices issue warnings of dangers to navigation by radio broadcast, by NAVTEX service areas and/or by the International SafetyNET service, and publish notices to mariners to enable the mariner to correct and maintain his charts and publications. All floating and drifting dangers to navigation, such as mines and wrecks, uncharted shoals, and the failure of important aids to navigation such as major coastal lights should be reported.

2.0 The International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, requires the Master of every ship observing dangerous ice, derelicts, tropical storm or any other imminent danger to navigation, to report the danger. The Master must first warn ships in the vicinity and must then report the danger to the first coastal station to which communication can be made, with a request that it be transmitted to the appropriate authorities.

3.0 The international scheme by which ships at sea are recruited for taking and transmitting meteorological observations is called the WMO Voluntary Observing Ships Scheme, VOS Scheme. There are no charges to the ship or to the ship owner/operator for participating or reporting. Therefore, to help improve the quality of forecasts and warnings and contribute to the enhancement of Safety of Life at Sea please contact a National Meteorological Services (NMS), or a local Port Meteorological Officer (PMO), and nominate your ship(s) for recruitment into the VOS Scheme. For more information please contact:

Ocean Affairs Division

World Meteorological Organization

7 bis, avenue de la Paix Case Postale No. 2300

CH-1211, GENEVA 2

Switzerland

Telephone: +41-22 730 82 37

Telefax: +41-22 730 81 28

E-mail: mmo@wmo.int

Or visit the website: http://www.bom.gov.au/jcomm/vos/index.html.

4.0 Reports of other hydrographic information should be made normally by mail, electronic mail, satellite, or by radio communications to the appropriate NAVAREA Coordinator via coastal radio station. These reports might include observed changes in aids to navigation, such as lights, buoys, electronic aids, beacons and soundings found to be different from those charted, magnetic disturbances, ocean currents, changes in port facilities, and any immediate hazards to navigation, including security related requirements.

5.0 The United States Government disseminates hydrographic information worldwide and encourages Masters and Deck Officers of Liberian flag ships to submit hydrographic observations for transmission to the maritime community.

The Worldwide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS) is a global radio and satellite broadcast system for the dissemination of Maritime Safety Information that provides timely long-range and coastal warning messages, promoting the safety of life and property at sea, and Special Warnings that advise mariners of potential political or military hazards that may affect the safety of US shipping.

NAV-002 2 of 3 Rev. 07/20

The Republic of Liberia

The broadcast desk is staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. To submit information for inclusion in a Broadcast Warning message, contact the Worldwide Navigational Warning Service broadcast desk at:

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Phone: +1 571-557-5455

Toll-free: +1 800-455-0899

DSN: 693-4864

Internet e-mail: MCDWWNWS@nga.mil

Appropriate forms for recording observations and making reports are available online on the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency website https://msi.nga.mil/ and are included in each Weekly Notice to Mariners.

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NAV-002 3 of 3 Rev. 07/20

The Republic of Liberia