MSC.1/Circ.1364/Rev.2

11 November 2020

 

INTERNATIONAL SAFETYNET SERVICES MANUAL

 

1          The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 102nd session (4 to 11 November 2020), approved the International SafetyNET Services Manual, as set out in the annex, prepared by the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR), at its seventh session (15 to 24 January 2020).

 

2          This Manual is a revision of the International SafetyNET Manual (MSC.1/Circ.1364/Rev.1, as amended by MSC.1/Circ.1364/Rev.1/Corr.1) and renames it to incorporate other services, including technical requirements for Fleet Safety (MSC.1/Circ.1611). In addition, the terms of reference for the IMO Enhanced Group Call Coordinating Panel and the procedures for authorization, certification and registration of Enhanced Group Call information providers have been removed from the Manual and relocated under MSC.1/Circ.1635.

 

3          The Committee agreed that the International SafetyNET Services Manual, as set out in the annex, should become effective on 1 January 2021.

 

4          As from 1 January 2021, any reference to MSC.1/Circ.1364/Rev.1, as amended, or any of its previous versions, should be read as reference to the present circular and, from the same date, MSC.1/Circ.1611 is revoked.

 

5          Member States and international organizations are invited to use the Manual, as appropriate, and to bring it to the attention of all parties concerned.

 

ANNEX

 

INTERNATIONAL SAFETYNET SERVICES MANUAL

 

2021 EDITION

 

FOREWORD

 

SOLAS regulation IV/12.2 states that "Every ship, while at sea, shall maintain a radio watch for broadcasts of maritime safety information on the appropriate frequency or frequencies on which such information is broadcast for the area in which the ship is navigating".

 

At the request of the IMO Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications, the International SafetyNET Manual was first produced in 1994. The second edition was published in 2003 containing amendments approved by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its seventy-sixth session in December 2002, by MSC/Circ.1064.

 

At its seventh meeting in September 2005, IHO's Commission on the Promulgation of Radio Navigational Warnings (CPRNW)¹ established a Working Group to review all Worldwide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS) documentation. The Working Group included representation from WMO and prepared at first, revisions to resolutions A.705(17) on Promulgation of Maritime Safety Information and A.706(17) on Worldwide Navigational Warning Service. The proposed revisions of the resolutions were circulated to IHO Member States under IHB CL 104/2007, endorsed by the Sub-Committee on Communication and Search and Rescue (COMSAR), at its twelfth session in April 2008, and subsequently approved by MSC 85 in November/December 2008 by MSC.1/Circ.1287 and MSC.1/Circ.1288, respectively.

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¹     CPRNW was renamed as IHO WWNWS Sub-Committee (WWNWS) with effect from 1 January 2009.

 

The IHO CPRNW Working Group then prepared the revised Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information incorporating the revised information from resolutions A.705(17), as amended, and A.706(17), as amended. The revised text of the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information was circulated to IHO Member States under cover of IHB CL 70/2008, endorsed by COMSAR 13 in January 2009 and subsequently approved by MSC 86 in May/June 2009 by MSC.1/Circ.1310.

 

Continuing with the holistic approach of reviewing all MSI documents from the top down, the IHO WWNWS-SC Working Group prepared the third revision of the International SafetyNET Manual. The revised text of the International SafetyNET Manual was circulated to IHO Member States under cover of IHB CL 68/2009, endorsed by COMSAR 14 in March 2010 and subsequently approved by MSC 87 in May 2010 by MSC.1/Circ.1364, which became effective on 1 January 2012.

 

As part of its editorial review of all MSI documentation, the IHO WWNWS-SC continued to review the text of the International SafetyNET Manual. The review took into account the amendments adopted to resolutions A.705(17) and A.706(17) and the approval of MSC.1/Circ.1310/Rev.1 on Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information. These changes were published as MSC.1/Circ.1287/Rev.1 and MSC.1/Circ.1288/Rev.1, which became effective on 1 January 2015, and MSC.1/Circ.1310/Rev.1, which became effective on 1 January 2016.

 

The fourth revision of the International SafetyNET Manual took place following the first session of the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) in June/July 2014 and WWNWS 6 in August 2014. Subsequently, it was submitted to WMO for approval prior to submission to NCSR 3 for endorsement and final approval by MSC 97 and publication as MSC.1/Circ.1364/Rev.1, with an effective date of 1 January 2018.

 

As a result of changes to the Inmarsat satellite network and services, the fifth revision of the International SafetyNET Manual took place following NCSR 6 in January 2019 and WWNWS11 in August 2019. Subsequently it was submitted to WMO for approval prior to submission to NCSR 7 for endorsement and final approval at MSC 102 and publication as MSC.1/Circ.1364/Rev.2 with an effective date of 1 January 2021.

 

1          GENERAL INFORMATION

 

1.1       SafetyNET is an international automatic direct-printing satellite-based service for the promulgation of Maritime Safety Information (MSI), navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts, Search and Rescue (SAR) related information and other urgent safety-related messages to ships. It has been developed as a safety service of the Inmarsat C Enhanced Group Call (EGC) system to provide a simple and automated means of receiving MSI and SAR related information on board ships at sea. The message-selection features of SafetyNET receivers enable mariners to receive safety information broadcasts that are tailored to their particular needs.

 

1.2       As a part of Inmarsat's Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) modernization programme, SafetyNET II and RescueNET were developed by Inmarsat with the support from the wider maritime community in 2017. SafetyNET II, introduced in document NCSR 5/14/5, is an enhancement of the existing SafetyNET service, within the EGC system. RescueNET provides SafetyNET II services for SAR related broadcasts and other SAR services. For additional information on SafetyNET II and RescueNET, see appendix 4.

 

1.3       In regard to this Manual, the term SafetyNET services will refer to SafetyNET, SafetyNET II and RescueNET. SafetyNET services fulfil an integral role in the GMDSS developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as defined in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, as a requirement for ships to which the Convention applies.

 

1.4       Fleet Safety is the digital satellite communications system comprising of a FleetBroadband Ship Earth System (SES) and type approved Maritime Safety Terminal (MST) for use within the GMDSS, enabling ships to meet the majority of the satellite communications requirements of the GMDSS, including distress alerting, reception of MSI and SAR related information, voice distress and general communications.

 

1.5       This Manual describes the structure and operation of the International SafetyNET services. It is intended primarily for national Administrations and registered information providers, but it may also be useful to the mariner who requires more operational information than is found in manufacturers' equipment manuals.

 

2          SAFETYNET SERVICES

 

2.1       Introduction

 

2.1.1    SafetyNET services provide shipping with navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts, shore-to-ship distress alerts, SAR related information and other urgent information in accordance with the requirements of SOLAS. It is suitable for use in all sizes and types of ships. Figure 1 illustrates the way the services are structured.

 

2.1.2    SafetyNET services are a part of the EGC system and are specifically designed for promulgation of MSI and SAR related information within the GMDSS. The EGC system provides an automatic method of broadcasting messages to both fixed and variable geographical areas. It is designed with the capability to provide services within the coverage areas of geostationary satellites, known as Ocean Regions (approximately between 76°N and 76°S). In addition to providing services to ships operating in sea area A3, it also provides the means of broadcasting MSI to coastal warning areas not covered by the International NAVTEX service.

 

Figure 1: International SafetyNET services system

 

2.1.3    SafetyNET services offer the ability to direct a message to a given geographical area. The area may be fixed, as in the case of a NAVAREA/METAREA or coastal warning area, or a user-defined area (circular or rectangular). A user-defined area is used for messages, such as a local storm warning or a shore-to-ship distress alert, for which it is inappropriate to alert ships in an entire satellite Ocean Region or NAVAREA/METAREA. The general EGC system capabilities are shown in figure 2.

 

Figure 2: Basic concept of the International SafetyNET services

 

2.1.4    SafetyNET messages are submitted by registered information providers for promulgation to the appropriate satellite Ocean Region(s) via an Inmarsat C Land Earth Station (LES).

 

2.1.5    SafetyNET II messages are submitted by registered information providers via a secure interface to the Inmarsat network. See appendix 4 for more information.

 

2.1.6    Messages are broadcast according to their priority, i.e. distress, urgency or safety. Aboard ships, messages are received by type-approved Inmarsat ship earth station EGC terminals.

 

2.2       Definitions

 

2.2.1    For the purposes of this Manual, 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 services 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 promulgation of coastal Maritime Safety Information through an International Enhanced Group Call service.

.3       Coastal and offshore waters apply to areas for which WMO Members issue weather and sea bulletins, governed by the procedures in the Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No.558).

.4       Enhanced Group Call (EGC) means the international broadcast of coordinated Maritime Safety Information and Search and Rescue related information, to a defined geographical area using a recognized mobile satellite service.

.5       Fleet Safety means the digital satellite communications system comprising of a FleetBroadband Ship Earth Station and type approved Maritime Safety Terminal for use within the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, enabling ships to meet the majority of the satellite communications requirements of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, including distress alerting, reception of Maritime Safety Information, Search and Rescue related information, voice distress and general communications.

.6       Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) means a system that performs the functions set out in SOLAS regulation IV/4.

.7       HF NBDP means High Frequency narrow-band direct-printing, using radio telegraphy as defined in Recommendation ITU-R M.688, as amended.

.8       In-force bulletin means a list of serial numbers of those NAVAREA, Sub-Area or coastal warnings in force issued and promulgated by the NAVAREA Coordinator, Sub-Area Coordinator or National Coordinator.

.9       Inmarsat C means the digital satellite communications system for store-and-forward text or data messaging using mobile terminals with omni-directional antennas. Inmarsat C allows ships to meet the majority of the satellite communication requirements of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, including distress alerting, reception of Maritime Safety Information, Search and Rescue related information and general communications.

.10     Inmarsat Mini C means smaller terminals, based on the same technical requirements as Inmarsat C terminals. Some models are approved as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System compliant terminals.

.11     International Enhanced Group Call service means the coordinated broadcast and automatic reception of Maritime Safety Information and Search and Rescue related information via Enhanced Group Call, using the English language.

.12     Inmarsat Fleet means the digital satellite communication system that provides voice and flexible data communication services, email and secure Internet access for maritime users, comprising of Fleet F77.² The Inmarsat Fleet F77 system provides voice distress and safety functionality and meets the requirements of resolution A.1001(25).

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²     The Inmarsat Fleet 77 service is scheduled to close by 1 December 2020.

 

.13     Inmarsat FleetBroadband means the communication service that provides voice and high-speed data services, simultaneously, through compact terminals for maritime users.

.14     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 language.³

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³     As set out in the IMO NAVTEX Manual.

 

.15     International RescueNET service means Inmarsat's SafetyNET service provided to Search and Rescue authorities for broadcasting and automated reception of Search and Rescue related messages on Inmarsat approved terminals including Inmarsat C, Mini C and Fleet Safety, via an interactive web-based interface, using the English language, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

.16     International SafetyNET service means the coordinated broadcast and automatic reception of Maritime Safety Information via the Inmarsat Enhanced Group Call system, using the English language, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

.17     International SafetyNET II service means Inmarsat's enhancement to the SafetyNET service, providing coordinated broadcasting and automated reception of Maritime Safety Information on Inmarsat approved terminals including Inmarsat C, Mini C and Fleet Safety, via an interactive web-based interface, using the English language, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

.18     Issuing Service means a National Meteorological and Hydrological Service or National Authority which has accepted responsibility for ensuring that meteorological warnings and forecasts for shipping are disseminated through the International Enhanced Group Call service to the designated METAREA for which the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service or National Authority has accepted responsibility under the broadcast requirements of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.

.19     Land Earth Station (LES) means a fixed terrestrial station acting as a gateway between terrestrial communication networks and the Inmarsat satellites in the maritime mobile-satellite service. This may also be referred to as a Coast Earth Station.

.20     Land Earth Station Operator (LESO) means an Inmarsat service provider which owns and operates the Land Earth Station.

.21     Local warning means a navigational warning which covers inshore waters, often within the limits of jurisdiction of a harbour or port authority.

.22     Maritime Safety Information (MSI)⁴ means navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety-related messages broadcast to ships.

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⁴     As defined in SOLAS regulation IV/2.

 

.23     Maritime safety information service means the internationally and nationally coordinated network of broadcasts containing information which is necessary for safe navigation.

.24     METAREA means a geographical sea area⁵ 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 should not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States (see figures 3 and 4).

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⁵     Which may include inland seas, lakes and waterways navigable by seagoing ships.

 

.25     METAREA Coordinator means the individual with the authority to coordinate Marine Meteorological Information broadcasts by one or more National Meteorological and Hydrological Services acting as Preparation or Issuing Services within the METAREA.

.26     Meteorological information means the marine meteorological warnings and forecast information in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

.27     Maritime Safety Terminal (MST) means an Inmarsat type approved safety terminal for use within the Fleet Safety system.

.28     National Coordinator means the national authority charged with collating and issuing coastal warnings within a national area of responsibility.

.29     National Enhanced Group Call service means the broadcast and automatic reception of Maritime Safety Information via the EGC system, using languages as decided by the Administration concerned.

.30     NAVAREA means a geographical sea area⁶ 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 should not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States (see figures 5 and 6).

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⁶     Which may include inland seas, lakes and waterways navigable by seagoing ships.

 

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

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

.33     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.

.34     Network Coordination Station (NCS) means a fixed land station in the Inmarsat satellite communications system which controls channel assignments and provides the network management functions for each of the four ocean regions. NCSs also transmit EGC messages on the NCS common channel.

.35     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.

.36     Preparation Service means a National Meteorological and Hydrological Service or National Authority which has accepted responsibility for the preparation of warnings and forecasts and warnings for parts of or an entire METAREA in the WMO system for the dissemination of meteorological forecasts to shipping under the GMDSS and for their transfer to the relevant Issuing Service for broadcast.

.37     Registered information provider means a Maritime Safety Information provider or a Search and Rescue related information provider, authorized in accordance with annex 2 of the IMO Enhanced Group Call Coordinating Panel (MSC.1/Circ.1635).

.38     Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) means a unit responsible for promoting efficient organization of Search and Rescue services and for coordinating the conduct of Search and Rescue operations within a search and rescue region. Note: the term RCC will be used within this Manual to apply to either joint, aeronautical or maritime centres; JRCC, ARCC or MRCC will be used as the context warrants.

.39     Search and Rescue (SAR) related information means distress alert relays and other urgent Search and Rescue related information broadcast to ships.

.40     Satellite Ocean Region means the area on the earth's surface within which a mobile or fixed antenna can obtain line-of-sight communications with one of the five primary Inmarsat geostationary satellites. This area may also be referred to as the satellite "footprint".

.41     Sea Area A1 means an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC⁷ alerting is available, as may be defined by a SOLAS Contracting Government.

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⁷     Digital selective calling (DSC) means a technique using digital codes, conforming to the technical structure and content set forth in the most recent version of Recommendations ITU R M.493 and ITU R M.541, which enables a radio station to establish contact with, and transfer information to, another station or group of stations.

 

.42     Sea Area A2 means an area, excluding sea area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a SOLAS Contracting Government.

.43     Sea Area A3 means an area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an Inmarsat geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available.

.44     Sea Area A4 means an area outside sea areas A1, A2 and A3.

.45     Ship Earth Station (SES)⁸ means a mobile earth station in the recognized mobile satellite service located on board a ship. This may also be referred to as a Mobile Earth Station (MES).

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⁸     SES within this document refers to a type approved EGC capable ship earth station.

 

.46     Sub-Area means a subdivision of a NAVAREA/METAREA in which a number of countries have established a coordinated system for the promulgation of Maritime Safety Information. The delimitation of such areas is not related to and should not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.

.47     Sub-Area Coordinator means the authority charged with coordinating, collating and issuing Sub-Area warnings for a designated Sub-Area.

.48     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 Enhanced Group Call service (through the appropriate NAVAREA Coordinator).

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

.50     UTC means Coordinated Universal Time which is equivalent to GMT (or ZULU) as the international time standard.

.51     Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Service (WWMIWS)⁹ means the internationally coordinated service for the promulgation of meteorological warnings and forecasts.

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⁹     See resolution A.1051(27), as amended.

 

.52     Worldwide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS)¹⁰ means the internationally and nationally coordinated service for the promulgation of navigational warnings.

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¹⁰    See resolution A.706(17), as amended.

 

.53     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), as amended.

 

2.2.2    METAREAs with Inmarsat Satellite Ocean Region coverage

 

Figure 3: METAREAs including Inmarsat C coverage