Part – Preamble

Standard Message Element Reference 1 - MESSAGE SERIES IDENTIFIER

The first words of the text of every warning message shall always be message series identifier followed by the consecutive number (N/YY)

NAVAREA WARNING:

NAVAREA III 496/09;

NAVAREA VII 42/09

SUB-AREA WARNING:

BALTIC SEA NAV WARN 009/09

COASTAL WARNING:

AVURNAV TOULON 1015/09;

WZ 345/09

Notes:

1) The consecutive number re-starts each calendar year at 1/YY (Leading zeros are not mandatory).

2) For coastal warnings the consecutive number is not the same as the NAVTEX Number B₃B₄.

Standard Message Element Reference 2 - GENERAL AREA

The general area shall be sufficient to identify which broad geographic region the message affects.

The geographical name which is selected for the general area should be one that can be found on charts and in nautical publications.

NAVAREA WARNING:

“NORTH SEA” or “MALACCA STRAIT” would be correct; “NORTH AMERICA, EAST COAST” is too general.

SUB-AREA WARNING:

GULF OF FINLAND

COASTAL WARNING:

BAY OF BISCAY;

CANTABRICO

Notes:

1) If appropriate the established meteorological forecast areas as defined in WMO publication No. 9 Volume D and also published in various nautical publications may be used.

2) For a NAVAREA-wide event, e.g., failure of satellite or terrestrial positioning systems, a navaid identification acronym “GPS”, “LORAN”, etc., shall by used instead of a general area.

Standard Message Element Reference - LOCALITY

The locality shall be stated in terms which allow the mariner to identify warnings which affect his passage without having to plot them. Locality will only need to be stated when it is considered necessary to refine the general area. The geographical name which is selected as locality should be one that can be found on charts and in nautical publications.

NAVAREA WARNING:

NORTHERN GRAND BANKS;

PINANG APPROACH

SUB-AREA WARNING:

STORA MIDDELGRUND

COASTAL WARNING:

BARRA DE PARANAGUA – CANAL DA GALHETA

Note:

1) If appropriate the established meteorological forecast areas as defined in WMO publication No. 9 Volume D and also published in various nautical publications may be used.

Standard Message Element Reference 4 - CHART NUMBER

For charted features, reference shall be made to a national chart (not necessarily the largest scale) identified by the State abbreviation and chart number. Reference shall also be made to an international chart number if one exists;

NAVAREA WARNING:

Chart INDIA 32 (INT 754)

Notes:

1) Warnings may refer to an Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC). In such cases, ENC cell numbers may be quoted, e.g., ENC: US3AK7RM

2) Chart or ENC cell numbers are not mandatory for coastal warnings which are only broadcast in the vicinity of the hazard.