MARITIME SAFETY INFORMATION

MSI means:

Navigational warnings Meteorological warnings Meteorological forecasts

(weather report)

And Other urgent safety related messages (distress relay messages )

1

MSI SERVICE PROVIDERS

National Hydrographic Offices National meteorological Offices

Rescue Co-ordination Centers (RCC) International Ice Patrol

Navigational Aid Organizations etc.

NAVAREA & METAREA

For the purpose of transmission of MSI, the world is divided into 16 Areas. 16 NAVAREAs for navigational warnings. 16 METAREAs for meteorological purposes. Boundaries for both the areas are same.

India is in NAVAREA VIII.

NAVAREA & METAREA (contd)

Information about NAVAREA can be found in ALRS Vol.3 and Vol.5 In each area there is an area coordinator for the purpose of broadcasting of Navigational and Meteorological warnings respectively.

MSI BROADCAST

In Satellite Communication MSI broadcasting is done with the help of EGC Safetynet system via INMARSAT. In Terrestrial Communication MSI broadcasting is done with the help of NAVTEX or HF Telex system via Coast Radio stations.
5

SOLAS REQUIREMENT

Every ship while at sea, shall maintain a MSI radio watch for the area in which the ship is navigating. A written or printed record of mandatory MSI messages shall be kept or recorded in the radio log book.

The mandatory warnings are navigational warnings, meteorological warnings, SAR & safety related messages and additional navigational warnings.

ENHANCED GROUP CALLING (EGC)

With the help of EGC Fleetnet system, multiple-addressed messages can be transmitted to a group of selected vessels of fleet /or area /or flag /or all ships. The EGC system supports two services: 1. SafetyNet 2. FleetNet
7

EGC (contd)

SafetyNet provides the broadcasting of MSI which is free of charge.

FleetNet provides the broadcasting of commercial services like news services, fleet management services etc. which is chargeable.
8

MSI through EGC safetynet service

Main purpose of EGC-MSI is for HIGH SEAS (sea area A3 ) If necessary, coastal areas ( sea area A1 & A2 ) can also be covered. e.g. In Australia no NAVTEX stations available. Coastal areas are covered by EGC-MSI.
9

MSI through EGC Safetynet (contd)

Since INMARSAT coverage is not available in polar regions, the EGC cannot cover the sea area A4. Broadcasting of EGC-MSI is done by NCS of the particular ocean region. Area coordinators of different Navarea & Metarea provide the messages to NCS.
10

MSI RECEPTION

On board the vessel the EGC-MSI is received with the help of : (1) Independent EGC receiver or
(2) SAT-C inbuilt EGC receiver NOTE : EGC cannot be transmitted from ship
11

SAT-C EGC - SETUP

1. Current Navarea messages cannot be

removed, as it is mandatory under SOLAS requirement. 2. Adjacent Navareas within the currently logged-in satellite ocean region can be selected along with current navarea. 3. Required coastal warning areas of the selected navaraea can be programmed. 4. Required messages of the selected navarea can be selected
12

SAT-C EGC - SETUP (contd)

Always log-in to the correct satellite ocean region for receiving current NAVAREA messages. The information about which satellite is transmitting for which NAVAREA can be found in ALRS VOL.5
13

The distress messages from other ships cannot be received directly. The distress vessel transmits the message to RCC initially. Then RCC forwards the distress relay message to NCS.
Finally, NCS broadcasts the distress relay messages to all ships through EGC Safetynet service.

14

Picture

to be scanned

15

NAVTEX & MSI HF TELEX

Navigational Telex shortly called as NAVTEX. Broadcast is done by the Navtex coast radio stations over the radiotelex using FEC mode.
16

NAVTEX & MSI HF TELEX (contd)

Each Navarea is subdivided into 26 navtex coastal areas. Each navtex CRS is assigned a single letter identity ( A to Z ). Information about Navtex CRS and timings can be found in ALRS Vol.3 and Vol.5

In India there are two navtex stations available: Bombay Radio (G) covering the west coast Madras Radio (P) covering the east coast
17

NAVTEX & MSI HF TELEX (contd)

The coverage of a navtex station operating on 518 KHz extends upto 400 miles (approx). Main purpose of navtex is for coastal areas (sea area A1 & A2). Since the coverage of navtex is 400 miles the sea area A3 and A4 are covered by MSI HF Telex system by coast radio station ( A3 can be covered through EGC, A4 only by MSI HF Tlx.)
18

NAVTEX & MSI HF TELEX (contd)

Navtex messages are received by dedicated Navtex receiver on the frequency set by the factory. It is called as tuned frequency receiver. The frequency cannot be changed by the operator. While at sea, ships shall maintain continuous watch on navtex to receive unscheduled transmissions ( cyclone warnings etc. ).
19

NAVTEX & MSI HF TELEX (contd)

MSI HF telex messages are received by the ships radiotelex system via SSB receiver. In the SSB Rx the frequency can be set by operators choice. Also Navtex messages can be received in the radiotelex system if the SSB receiver is set for 518 KHz.

20

NAVTEX

NAVTEX FREQUENCIES: 518 KHz (MF) Navtex English language 490 KHz (MF) Navtex National language 4209.5 KHz (HF)- Navtex National language MSI HF Telex Frequencies ( not navtex freq) ( mainly for sea area A4 ): 4210 KHz 16806.5 KHz etc.
21

NAVTEX ( contd )

NAVTEX MSI MESSAGES are identified with single letter identity ( A to Z ). They are : A : NAVIGATIONAL WARNINGS B : METEOROLOGICAL WARNINGS C : ICE REPORTS D : SAR or DISTRESS RELATED MESSAGES E : METEOROLOGICAL or WEATHER FORECASTS
22

NAVTEX ( contd )

F G H I J K L Z

: : : : : : : :

PILOT SERVICE MESSAGES DECCA MESSAGES LORAN MESSAGES OMEGA MESSAGES SATNAV MESSAGES Other electronic Navaid (like GPS) messages ADDITIONAL NAVIGATIONAL WARNINGS No messages on hand
23

NAVTEX ( contd )

NAVTEX SETUP All navtex messages : start with the code ZCZC means beginning of the message followed by FOUR CHARACTERS header code
24

NAVTEX ( contd )

1st character is a letter indicating the Navtex CRS identity 2nd character is a letter indicating the message type identity 3rd and 4th characters are numbers indicating the serial number of the message assigned by the CRS. (e.g.GE13 means weather message No.13 from Bombay Radio )
25

NAVTEX ( contd )

followed by the text of the message ends with the code NNNN means end of the message. FORMAT OF NAVTEX MESSAGE : ZCZC ( beginning of message ) PA10 ( P=station ID, A=Message Type, 10 = serial number.) 1015 ( Time of origin ) TEXT NNNN ( End of Message )
26

NAVTEX ( contd )

While at sea navtex receiver receives signals from different coast stations ( range 300 to 400 NM ). It can be programmed to accept the signals from the required coast station and to reject the unwanted coast station. It can also be programmed to the type of messages required from the selected coast station.
27

NAVTEX ( contd )

SET UP IN JRC NAVTEX: Go to Area ID setup to select the required coast stations. Scroll through the letters A Z and enable the station ID to accept the CRS or disable the station ID to reject the CRS. Then go to message ID setup to select the messages required. Scroll through the letters from A to Z and enable the message ID to accept the message type or disable the message ID to reject the message type.
28

NAVTEX ( contd )

NOTE : Messages types A B D L are mandatory messages and cannot be disabled in the setup. All navtex receivers will accept the A B D L messages of the selected coast station automatically. Messages with serial number 00 will override all settings ( area ID and message ID setup ) and navtex receiver will accept the message from any coast station.
29

NAVTEX ( contd )

JRC NAVTEX RECEIVER Maximum number of characters printer per line is 40 characters. Width of the paper is 80 mm. Frequency of the receiver setup by the factory is 518 KHz.

30

NAVTEX ( contd )

Navtex is receiver only (F1B emission, No transmission ) Antenna used mostly on board the vessels is vertical antenna. It is an active antenna. Length of the antenna is 1.5 mtrs.( Pre-amplifier at the base to amplify the incoming signal ). Paper used in navtex is thermal paper. It has a chemical coating on one side, which is sensible to heat.
31

NAVTEX ( contd )

It turns into black when a heated point is applied on it. With the help of dot matrix printer head certain points are heated up, to produce the required character. Therefore, navtex printer does not require inks or ribbons for printing. Navtex will not print a message once again if it has been received and printed earlier for a period of 72 hours.
32

NAVTEX ( contd )

Before inserting the paper cut the edges for smooth passage. Then insert the paper from down. While inserting the paper make sure chemical coated glossy surface faces down, so that when paper comes out it faces up towards the printer head. Use feed button to bring the paper up.
33

NAVTEX ( contd )

The alarm sounds on following occasions : While receiving message types A B D L ( alarm option for A B L messages can be disabled but not for D message ) When paper is out ( No paper in Navtex Rx ). When back up battery is low.

34

NAVTEX ( contd )

Pressing the TEST button produces print out with the results of the self test. Self test can be carried out to verify the functioning of the Navtex receiver. Pressing the STATE button produces print out of user settings like IDs of the stations selected, messages selected, log mode on or off etc. For Navtex stations / maps / message IDs refer ALRS Vol 3 ( part I & II ) & Vol.5
35