Topic 4.

Nautical Publications and Messages

LO4.1 Explain the purpose of various nautical publications and messages in relation to ship
safety communication such as the Admiralty List of Radio Signals (ALRS), International Code
of Signals (ICS), and NAVTEX (Navigational Telex).
LO4.2 Perform interpretation of NAVTEX (Navigational Telex) in a simulated scenario.

Sub-Topic 4.1.1 ADMIRALTY List of Radio Signals :

ADMIRALTY List of Radio Signals provides information on all aspects of Maritime Radio
Communications. For clarity and convenience, this publication is split across six volumes; with
contents ranging from Maritime Radio Station listings to Maritime Safety Information Services
worldwide. You can find full details on the contents of each volume and its corresponding parts
below:

Volume 1 (NP281) - Maritime Radio Stations (Parts 1 & 2)

Split across two publications, Volume 1 includes radio details for:

 Global Maritime Communications

 Satellite Communication Services
 Coastguard Communications
 Maritime TeleMedical Assistance Service (TMAS)
 Radio Quarantine and Pollution reports
 Anti-Piracy Contact Table

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Volume 2 (NP282) - Radio Aids to Navigation, Differential GPS (DGPS), Legal Time,
Radio Time Signals and Electronic Position Fixing System (Parts 1 & 2)

Split across two publications, Volume 2 includes radio details for:

 Listing of VHF Radio Direction-Finding Stations

 Radar Beacons (Racons and Ramarks)
 Known operational Automatic Identification System (AIS)
 Aids to Navigation (AtoN)
 Radio beacons transmitting DGPS corrections
 International Standard and Daylight Saving Times and Dates
 International Radio Time Signal Broadcast details

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Volume 3 (NP283) - Maritime Safety Information Services (Parts 1 & 2)

Split across two publications, Volume 3 includes radio details for:

 Maritime Weather Services

 Radio Weather and Navigational Warnings
 NAVTEX and EGC Services with comprehensive broadcast information
 Submarine and Gunnery Warning details (Subfacts and Gunfacts)
 Radio-Facsimile Stations, frequencies and weather map areas

Body

Volume 4 (NP284) - Meteorological Observation Stations

This volume includes:

 All Met Observation Stations listed worldwide

Body

Volume 5 (NP285) - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

This volume includes:

 Worldwide communication requirements for distress, search and rescue

 Extracts from SOLAS and ITU Regulations
 Distress and SAR (incorporating MRCC and MRSC contacts)
 NAVTEX and and EGC Service fundamentals, with an overview of the MSI broadcasts
by each
 MSI fundamentals under the Worldwide Navigational Warning Service
 Worldwide NAVAREA and National Coordinator contact details

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Volume 6 (NP286) - Pilot Services, Vessel Traffic Services and Port Operations (Parts 1 -
8)

Split across eight publications, Volume 6 includes radio details for:

 Detailed Pilot information, contact details and procedures

 Vessel Traffic Service information, contact details and procedures
 National and International Ship Reporting Systems
 Port information, contact details and procedures
Sub-Topic 4.1.2 International Code of Signals (ICS)

International Code of Signals and its application in the maritime industry:

What are International Code of Signals and why is it important..??

From the time that languages came into being, till date, there is no ONE common language
around the world that is understood by all..

Every country and region has its own language which brings along with it communication
barriers.

These communication barriers affect the maritime industry as well, as there are seafarers of
different nationalities involved in the trade.. Different nationalities obviously mean different
languages and there could be language barriers when communicating between ships.

The majority of the seafarers come from countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Russia,
Turkey, India, USA, Japan, Korea, Canada, and Malaysia. Most of these countries are Non-
Native English-speaking countries so one can imagine the gap in communication between ships..

The International Code of Signals (ICS) was created to overcome these language barriers and
allow ships to communicate with each other, especially in situations relating to the safety of
navigation and people.

Sub-Topic 4.1.2 : NAVTEX (Navigational Telex).

NAVTEX On Ships: Working, Types Of Messages And Advantages:

It is of utmost importance that every navigating officer ensures the safety of the vessel and its
crew. Accidents can happen to the most cautious and prudent of navigators.

Right from the start of voyage planning, the navigator needs up-to-date information that will
affect the passage of the ship. The most important information to vessels is information related to
safety including Maritime Safety Information.

Maritime Safety Information includes navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological

forecasts, warnings about dangers to navigation, warnings of missing vessels, and other urgent
messages pertaining to the safety of the vessel and its crew.

Constant monitoring to pick up wanted information among a vast volume of messages is not very
practical with a limited radio system. The NAVTEX system provides all navigating officers with
up-to-the-minute information automatically.

NAVTEX, an acronym for navigational telex (navigational text messages) is a device used
onboard the vessels to provide short-range Maritime Safety Information in coastal waters
automatically.

It can be used in ships of all types and sizes. The area covered by Navtex can extend as far as
400 nautical miles from the broadcast station. A NAVTEX receiver onboard prints out
navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts as well as urgent Marine Safety
Information to ships.

It forms a vital element of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS). Navtex uses
the feature of radio telex or Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP) for the automatic broadcast of
information.

HOW NAVTEX WORKS?

The Navtex works on a frequency of 518 kHz in the medium frequency band. 490 kHz frequency
is also used by some countries for broadcasts in the national languages, also known as national
navtex.

Where medium frequency reception is difficult, transmissions are made on 4209.5 kHz. The
default setting in a Navtex is 518 kHz. The entire world is divided into 21 areas known as
NAVAREAS (including 5 areas recently introduced for the Arctic region) for the purpose of
distributing this information.

Each Navarea has multiple navtex stations which further helps in transmitting the messages.
SELECTION OF STATIONS

All navtex receivers are programmable to enable the navigating officer to ensure that only
messages from selected Navtex Stations are displayed or printed.

The SELECTING STATION menu under the Menu option in a Navtex Receiver allows the
officer to select the desired stations he/she wants to receive automatically or manually.

On automatic selection, the navtex receives Marine Safety Information for the area the ship
happens to be in continuously and without any user involvement.

If a ship’s position data is fed from any navigating equipment like GPS, the Navtex will
automatically decide in which NAVAREA the ship is navigating presently and thus select the
appropriate Navtex Stations.

In the manual mode, the navigating officer can select what stations he/she wishes to receive.

A list of Navtex Stations can be found in the Admiralty List of Radio Signals Volume 3 Part 1
and in the List of Coast Stations and Special Service Stations (List IV) for reference.

TYPES OF MESSAGES

The Navtex receives the following kind of messages:

A= Navigational Warning

B= Meteorological Warning

C= Ice report

D= Search and Rescue Information/ piracy and armed robbery

E= Meteorological forecast

F= Pilot messages

G= AIS messages(formerly Decca messages)

H= Loran C messages

I= Omega messages

J= Satnav messages (GPS or GLONASS)

K= Other electronic navigational aid system messages

L= navigational warnings (additional)

M to U= Reserve

Topic 5. Morse Code

LO5.1 Explain the method of transmitting and receiving distress signals using Morse light.
LO5.2 Perform the procedure of transmitting and receiving distress signals using Morse light in a
given scenario.

Topic 6. International Code of Signals

LO5.3 Explain the standard procedures in transmitting and receiving messages, information, and
distress signal SOS in accordance with the International Code of Signals (ICS).
LO5.4 Perform the standard procedures in transmitting and receiving messages, information, and
distress signal SOS in a given scenario in accordance with the International Code of Signals
(ICS).