2.2 Definitions

.1 Coastal warning means a navigational warning or in-force bulletin promulgated as part of a numbered series by a National co-ordinator. 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).

.2 Coastal warning area means a unique and precisely defined sea area within a NAVAREA/METAREA or Sub-Area established by a coastal State for the purpose of co-ordinating the broadcast of coastal maritime safety information through the SafetyNET service.

.3 Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) means the global communications service based upon automated systems, both satellite and terrestrial, to provide distress alerting and promulgation of maritime safety information for mariners.

.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 Co-ordinator, Sub-Area Co-ordinator or National Co-ordinator during at least the previous six weeks.

.6 International NAVTEX service means the co-ordinated broadcast and automatic reception on 518 kHz of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using the English language^footnote.

.7 International SafetyNET service means the co-ordinated 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 Maritime safety information (MSI)^footnote means navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety-related messages broadcast to ships.

.10 Maritime safety information service means the internationally and nationally co-ordinated network of broadcasts containing information which is necessary for safe navigation.

.11 METAREA means a geographical sea area^footnote established for the purpose of co-ordinating 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.

.12 METAREA issuing service means the National Meteorological Service which has accepted responsibility for ensuring that meteorological forecasts and warnings for shipping are disseminated through the international SafetyNET and NAVTEX services to the designated area for which the Service has accepted responsibility under the broadcast requirements of the GMDSS^footnote.

.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 Co-ordinator 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 area^footnote established for the purpose of co-ordinating 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 Co-ordinator means the authority charged with co-ordinating, 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 Co-ordinator.

.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^footnote

.22 NAVTEX coverage area means an area defined by an arc of a circle having a radius from the transmitter calculated according to the method and criteria given in IMO resolution A.801(19), Annex 4.

.23 NAVTEX service area means a unique and precisely defined sea area, wholly contained within the NAVTEX coverage area, for which maritime safety information is provided from a particular NAVTEX transmitter. It is normally defined by a line that takes full account of local propagation conditions and the character and volume of information and maritime traffic patterns in the region, as given in IMO resolution A.801(19), Annex 4.

.24 NAVTEX Co-ordinator means the authority charged with operating and managing one or more NAVTEX stations broadcasting maritime safety information as part of the International NAVTEX service.

.25 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.

.26 Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) means a unit responsible for promoting efficient organization of search and rescue services and for co-ordinating the conduct of search and rescue operations within a search and rescue region.

.27 SafetyNET means the international service for the broadcasting and automatic reception of maritime safety information via 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.

.28 SAR information means distress alert relays and other urgent search and rescue information broadcast to ships.

.29 Sub-Area means a sub-division of a NAVAREA/METAREA in which a number of countries have established a co-ordinated 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.

.30 Sub-Area Co-ordinator means the authority charged with co-ordinating, collating and issuing Sub-Area warnings for a designated Sub-Area.

.31 Sub-Area warning means a navigational warning promulgated as part of a numbered series by a Sub-Area Co-ordinator. Broadcast shall be made by the International NAVTEX service to defined NAVTEX service areas or by the International SafetyNET service (through the appropriate NAVAREA Co-ordinator).

.32 UTC means Co-ordinated Universal Time which is equivalent to GMT (or ZULU) as the international time standard.

.33 World-Wide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS) ^footnote means the internationally and nationally co-ordinated service for the promulgation of navigational warnings.

.34 In the operating procedures co-ordination 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 Assembly resolutions A.705(17) as amended and A.(706)17, as amended.