1 Administrations desiring to broadcast maritime
safety information using high-frequency (HF) narrow-band direct printing
(NBDP), in accordance with the provisions of Regulation IV/7.1.5 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended
in 1988, should notify their intentions to the IMO Sub-Committee on
Radiocommunications. The Sub-Committee will co-ordinate proposals
with other Administrations, and will make recommendations on frequencies,
schedules, transmit power, broadcast duration, and broadcast content,
as well as on other pertinent characteristics. The Sub-Committee
on Radiocommunications may authorize a correspondence panel to perform
this co-ordination function between sessions if, in the Sub-Committee's
view this becomes necessary. Administrations may notify their intentions
to the correspondence panel.
2 The Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications may
periodically recommend revision and adjustments to the broadcast schedule,
including shifting existing broadcasts to other schedules, in order
to meet the needs of Administrations.
3 Broadcasts should be made simultaneously on
groups of frequencies in accordance with CCIR Recommendation 688 and
Radio Regulation N 3243.
4 Following approval of these broadcasts by the
Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications, Administrations should notify
the International Frequency Registration Board in accordance with
the requirements of the Radio Regulations.
5 IMO will co-ordinate broadcasts with the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Hydrographic
Organization (IHO) and will periodically issue schedules of broadcasts.
6 Administrations providing an HF NBDP maritime
safety information service should make provisions to alert vessels
with respect to unscheduled broadcasts by digital selective calling.
The system should, in future, be made capable of automatic reception.