Radio Transmissions

Her Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG) is responsible in the UK for the broadcast of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) on VHF, MF and NAVTEX and for the provision of Radio Medical Link Calls (MEDILINK) Service.

COVERAGE Its network of remote radio sites around the coast of the UK provides VHF and MF coverage out to 30 miles and 150 miles respectively, with NAVTEX coverage out to 270 miles. SCHEDULES AND TIMING HM Coastguard’s co-ordination centres make MSI Broadcasts every 4 hours.

The broadcast times shown in the schedules are UTC. FREQUENCIES MSI is broadcast on VHF Channels 10, 23, 73, 84 or 86 and exceptionally on VHF Channel 67. This prevents mutual interference and allows one operator to broadcast simultaneously on 2 or more aerials. This is important when some broadcasts are in excess of 20 minutes. NAVIGATIONAL WARNINGS Navigational Warnings are provided by the NAVAREA ONE coordinator at the UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton. The primary means of disseminating this information is by NAVTEX and INMARSAT SAFETYNET. However, WZ navigational warnings are also broadcast on VHF and MF on selected aerials, on receipt and at four hourly intervals (see broadcast schedules). Negative Tidal Surge Warnings are issued as a WZ on receipt, and at hourly intervals until absorbed into the next regular broadcast. METEOROLOGICAL WARNINGS Meteorological Warnings are broadcast at four hourly intervals and include Local Inshore Forecasts and Gale Warnings. Area forecasts are broadcast twice daily. Strong wind warnings will be broadcast if significantly different from the inshore forecast. Users are encouraged to listen to these broadcasts as an alternative to calling co-ordination centres for meteorological information outside these times. VHF Maritime Safety Information will be broadcast by co-ordination centres either on VHF Channels 10, 23, 73, 84 or 86, and exceptionally channel 67, following an initial announcement on Channel 16. The initial announcement will indicate the working channel the mariner should return to. The following will be broadcast at four hourly intervals by co-ordination centres starting at the times shown in the left-hand column below.

Routine A Local Inshore Forecast - (within 12 miles of the coast); Strong Wind Warnings when appropriate - (force 6 and above for the coastal waters out to 5 miles offshore); Gale (Storm) Warnings (1); WZ Navigational Warnings including Negative Tide Surge Warnings (2); GUNFACTS/SUBFACTS – from selected stations only (3). Routine B Area forecasts will be broadcast twice daily starting at the times shown in the right hand column below.

(1) Gale Warnings, Storm Warnings and Navigation Warnings will additionally be broadcast on receipt. Such warnings will also be announced on DSC. (2) Negative Tide Surge Warnings will be broadcast on receipt, and at hourly intervals until the next scheduled routine broadcast. Such warnings will also be announced on DSC. (3) Broadcast from MRCC’s Falmouth and Clyde, MRSC’s Brixham, Belfast and Stornoway only.

MF For the time being, Maritime Safety Information will continue to be broadcast by co-ordination centres via MF on the designated frequencies shown below, with an initial announcement on 2182 kHz MF. Routine C WZ Navigation Warnings including Negative Tide Surge Warnings, Gale (Storm) Warnings. Routine D Area Forecasts.

*Broadcasts will also include GUNFACTS/SUBFACTS information on MF relevant to North Atlantic NATO exercises, only when advised by the Ministry of Defence. Co-ordination centres will only broadcast information relevant to its own district and areas immediately adjacent to it. Routine broadcasts will not be announced on DSC. NAVTEX Maritime Safety Information and additional weather information is transmitted on NAVTEX as follows: -

The 490 kHz NAVTEX service also provides the Local Inshore Forecast (LIF)

IMPORTANT NOTICE The broadcast of MSI may be interrupted or delayed as a result of Search and Rescue operations. MEDICAL ADVICE LINK CALLS The Master or Skipper of any vessel requiring Medical Advice can contact the nearest Coordination Centre on either VHF Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) or VHF DSC or MF DSC, requesting medical advice. Alternatively, particularly in an urgent situation, an urgency alert using the pro words“PAN PAN” should be broadcast. The Co-ordination Centre will give priority to requests for Medical Advice. A doctor from a nominated hospital will be contacted by telephone, and the doctor will be linked to the vessel through the coordinating centre via an appropriate VHF Channel or MF frequency. While the call is being placed, the Coastguard will establish additional information with the vessel relating to position, a description of the vessel, and if appropriate, brief details of the casualty. Channels 23, 84 or 86, will invariably be used for Medical Link Calls which will permit duplex working. REQUESTS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE The Master or Skipper of a vessel requesting Medical Assistance for an injured or sick person will also be required to seek medical advice prior to HMCG tasking a Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit. While this is being arranged, the Co-ordination Centre will establish additional information and may bring a Search and Rescue unit to immediate readiness. In exceptional cases, the Coordination Centre may scramble/launch a SAR unit on receipt of the call, but it is also obliged to arrange a Radio Medical Advice Call for the vessel. COMMERCIAL RADIO/TELEPHONE TRAFFIC HM Coastguard has neither the facility nor the mandate to undertake commercial radiotelephone traffic. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS All co-ordination centres are being fitted with a new state of the art, radio and telephone communication system. One of the options that the new system provides is a facility to semi automate MSI broadcasts. This should overcome the recognised problem of having to delay or cancel broadcasts when SAR operations intervene.