Resolution A.706(17)

WORLD-WIDE NAVIGATIONAL WARNING SERVICE

 

as amended by

MSC/Circ.685
MSC/Circ.750
MSC/Circ.957

see also A.958(23)

 

THE ASSEMBLY,

 

RECALLING Article 15(j) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Assembly in relation to regulations and guidelines concerning maritime safety,

 

BEARING IN MIND the decisions of the XIth International Hydrographic Conference,

 

NOTING that the world-wide navigational warning service, adopted by resolution A.419(XI), has successfully been in existence since 1979,

 

NOTING FURTHER the provisions made for the promulgation of maritime safety information by the 1988 amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, concerning radio-communications for the global maritime distress and safety system,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendations made by the Maritime Safety Committee at its fifty-ninth session,

 

1. ADOPTS the IMO/IHO World-Wide Navigational Warning Service - Guidance Document, as set out in annex 1 to the present resolution;

 

2. RECOMMENDS Governments to implement the world-wide navigational warning service;

 

3. AUTHORIZES the Maritime Safety Committee to amend the world-wide navigational warning service, as may be necessary, in accordance with the procedure set out in annex 2 to the present resolution;

 

4. REVOKES resolution A.419(XI).

 

ANNEX 1.

IMO/IHO
World-Wide Navigational Warning Service Guidance Document

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

The original resolution of the tenth International Hydrographic Conference in 1972 recommended the formation of an ad hoc joint IMO/IHO Commission to study the "establishment of a co-ordinated, efficient global radio navigational warning service". Subsequently, this became a purely IHO Commission known as the Commission on Promulgation of Radio Navigational Warnings which nevertheless consulted continuously with IMO. In its report to the eleventh International Hydrographic Conference in 1977, the Commission submitted a Draft Plan for the Establishment of a World-Wide Navigational Warning System, also referred to as Plan for the Establishment of a Co-ordinated Radio Navigational Warning Service. The title World-Wide Navigational Warning Service or WWNWS used for this revised edition of the document reflects the evolution of the system from a proposed action to an effective co-ordinated service which now has all of its 16 NAVAREA in operation. This revised edition contains changes necessitated by the advent of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), as adopted by the Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, on the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System in November 1988, effective on 1 February 1992.

 

Future amendments to the guidance document will be considered formally and approved by IHO normally through the use of circular letters and by IMO through its Maritime Safety Committee in accordance with the procedures set out in Annex 2 to this document. Proposed amendments will normally be evaluated by the IHO Commission on Promulgation of Radio Navigational Warnings, which includes as an ex-officio member a representative of the IMO Secretariat, prior to any extensive IHO or IMO consideration.

 

World-Wide Navigational Warning Service
(WWNWS)

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

This document provides specific guidance for the promulgation of internationally co-ordinated NAVAREA and coastal warnings via NAVTEX and international SafetyNET services. It includes the situation where international SafetyNET is used in lieu of NAVTEX as the primary means of transmitting coastal warnings. Its guidance does not apply to purely national warning services which supplement those internationally co-ordinated services.

 

2. DEFINITIONS

 

2.1 For the purposes of this service, the following definitions apply:

 

2.1.1 Navigational warning: A broadcast message containing urgent information relevant to safe navigation. Types of information suitable for transmission as navigational warnings are described in 4.2.1.3.

 

2.1.2 Maritime safety information (MSI): Navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety-related messages.

 

2.1.3 NAVAREA: A geographical sea area, as shown in the appendix, established for the purpose of co-ordinating the transmission of radio navigational warnings. Where appropriate, the term NAVAREA followed by an identifying roman numeral may be used as a short title. The delimitation of such areas is not related to and shall not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.

 

2.1.4 Sub-area: A subdivision of a NAVAREA in which a number of countries have established a co-ordinated system for the promulgation of coastal warnings. The delimitation of such areas is not related to and shall not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.

 

2.1.5 Region: The part of a NAVAREA or sub-area established for the purpose of co-ordinating the transmission of coastal warnings by NAVTEX or international SafetyNET broadcast.