2 Definitions
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1288/Rev.1 – Amendments to Resolution A.706(17) – World-Wide Navigational Warning Service – (24 June 2013) - Annex 1 – IMO/IHO World-Wide Navigational Warning Service Guidance Document - 2 Definitions

2 Definitions

  2.1 For the purposes of the WWNWS, the following definitions apply:

  • .1 Coastal warning means a navigational warning or in-force bulletin promulgated as part of a numbered series by a National Coordinator. Broadcast should 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 coordinating 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, as amended.

  • .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 Coordinator, Sub-area Coordinator or National Coordinator.

  • .6 International NAVTEX service means the coordinated broadcast and automatic reception on 518 kHz of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using the English languagefootnote.

  • .7 International SafetyNET service means the coordinated broadcast and automatic 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 warningmeans 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 coordinated network of broadcasts containing information which is necessary for safe navigation.

  • .11 METAREA means a geographical sea areafootnote established for the purpose of coordinating 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 National Coordinator means the national authority charged with collating and issuing coastal warnings within a national area of responsibility.

  • .13 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.

  • .14 National SafetyNET service means the broadcast and automatic reception of maritime safety information via the Inmarsat EGC system, using languages as decided by the Administration concerned.

  • .15 NAVAREA means a geographical sea areafootnote established for the purpose of coordinating 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.

  • .16 NAVAREA Coordinator means the authority charged with coordinating, collating and issuing NAVAREA warnings for a designated NAVAREA.

  • .17 NAVAREA warning means a navigational warning or in-force bulletin promulgated as part of a numbered series by a NAVAREA Coordinator.

  • .18 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.

  • .19 NAVTEX means the system for the broadcast and automatic reception of maritime safety information by means of narrow band direct-printing telegraphy.

  • .20 NAVTEX Coordinator means the authority charged with operating and managing one or more NAVTEX stations broadcasting maritime safety information as part of the International NAVTEX service.

  • .21 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.

  • .22 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 resolution A.801(19), annex 4.

  • .23 Other urgent safety-related information means maritime safety information broadcast to ships that is not defined as a navigational warning or meteorological 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.

  • .24 SafetyNET means the international service for the broadcast 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.

  • .25 Sub-area means a subdivision of a NAVAREA/METAREA in which a number of countries have established a coordinated system for the promulgation of navigational warnings. The delimitation of such areas is not related to and shall not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.

  • .26 Sub-area Coordinator means the authority charged with coordinating, collating and issuing Sub-area warnings for a designated Sub-area.

  • .27 Sub-area warning means a navigational warning or in-force bulletin promulgated as part of a numbered series by a Sub-area Coordinator. Broadcast should be made by the International NAVTEX service to defined NAVTEX service areas or by the International SafetyNET service (through the appropriate NAVAREA Coordinator).

  • .28 User defined area means a temporary geographic area, either circular or rectangular, to which maritime safety information is addressed.

  • .29 In the operating procedures coordination 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 resolutions A.705(17), as amended, A.706(17), as amended and A.1051(27).

Parent topic: Annex 1 – IMO/IHO World-Wide Navigational Warning Service Guidance Document
Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.