Proposed Changes to U.S. Weather and Navigation Broadcasts via NAVTEX

Reprinted with permission from NOTICE TO MARINERS No. 8, 25 February 2006

The U.S. Coast Guard, in coordination with the National Weather Service, is proposing to modify the broadcasting of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) via NAVTEX, as detailed. This change is necessary in order to reduce the potential of delayed or missed broadcasts of MSI due to the large amount of information broadcast within the six daily broadcast slots for each NAVTEX station.

Proposed changes to Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Puerto Rico NAVTEX broadcast schedules:WX Broadcast Schedule (UTC)
Station Identifier WX Broadcast Schedule (UTC)
Boston F 0045, 0445, 08451, 1245, 1645, 20451
Chesapeake N 0130, 0530, 09301, 1330, 1730, 21301
Savannah E 0040, 0440, 08401, 1240, 1640, 20401
Miami A 0000, 0400, 08001, 1200, 1600, 20001
San Juan R 02001, 0600, 1000, 14001, 1800, 2200
New Orleans G 03001, 0700, 1100, 15001, 1900, 2300
1 Repeated Navigational Warnings and no Weather normally broadcast at these times.

Currently, Meteorological Forecasts are broadcast four times per day and rebroadcast twice per day. Meteorological warnings are broadcast upon receipt and at the next routine scheduled time until canceled. Navigational Warnings are broadcast at the next available broadcast slot and rebroadcast in all subsequent slots as long as they remain in force.Under the proposed change, Meteorological Forecasts would no longer be rebroadcast. These two time slots would be allocated to rebroadcasts of Navigational Warnings. The proposed elimination of previously broadcast Meteorological Forecasts and reduction in repeated Navigational Warnings will reduce the potential of delayed or missed broadcasts of MSI.

Proposed changes to Pacific Ocean, Kodiak Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam NAVTEX broadcast schedules:
Station Identifier WX Broadcast Schedule (UTC)
Kodiak2 J
X
0300, 0700, 11001, 1500, 1900, 23001
0340, 0740, 11401, 1540, 1940, 23401
Astoria W 0130, 0530, 09301, 1330, 1730, 21301
Point Reyes C 0000, 04001, 0800, 1200, 16001, 2000
Cambria Q 0045, 04451, 0845, 1245, 16451, 2045
Guam V 0100, 05001, 0900, 1300, 17001, 2100
Honolulu O 0040, 0440, 08401, 1240, 1640, 20401
1 Repeated Navigational Warnings and no Weather normally broadcast at these times.
2 Kodiak also broadcasts weather forecasts during time slots initially allocated to Adak.

The U.S. Coast Guard invites mariners to comment on this proposed change by May 1, 2006. Please send comments to rlevin@comdt.uscg.mil or telephone 202-475-3555.

Approved changes will be announced for at least 60 days prior to implementation.