Operational and Technical Characteristics for an Automated Direct-Printing Telegraph System for Promulgation of Navigational and Meteorological Warnings and Urgent Information to Ships

 CONSIDERING

  (a) that the availability of navigational and meteorological warnings and urgent information on board ships is of great importance for safety;

  (b) that the existing radiocommunication system for promulgation of navigational and meteorological warnings and urgent information to ships can be improved by use of modern techniques;

  (c) that the IMO has established the following definitions on the promulgation of maritime safety information:

• NAVTEX means the system for the broadcast and automatic reception of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy;
• 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, as set out in the NAVTEX manual, published by the IMO;
• national NAVTEX service means the broadcast and automatic reception of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using frequencies and languages as decided by the Administrations concerned;

  (d) that the 1988 Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, require that every ship to which the Convention applies shall be provided with a receiver capable of receiving international NAVTEX service broadcasts;

  (e) that several countries are operating a co-ordinated international NAVTEX service based on narrow-band direct-printing in accordance with Article 14A of the Radio Regulations;

  (f) that the system should be applicable to the maritime mobile service (both international and national);

  (g) that it is desirable that the service fulfils the requirements of all types of ships desiring to use it;

  (h) that although each area may need specific guidance, the use of standard technical and operational characteristics would facilitate the extension of the service,

 UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS

  1 that the operational characteristics for the promulgation of navigational and meteorological warnings and urgent information using NBDP should be in accordance with Annex I;

  2 that the technical characteristics for the promulgation of navigational and meteorological warnings and urgent information using NBDP should be in accordance with Annex II.