Ian Waugh - A Mariner\'s Guide to Marine Communications

Chapter

NAVTEX

NAVTEX IS THE PRIMARY MEANS O F RECEIVING coastal Maritime Safety

Information (MSI), automatically, in the GMDSS - in those areas where

service is provided. To receive MSI using NAVTEX, you need to :

Be in an area covered by a coastal NAVTEX station.

Program your NAVTEX receiver to receive the local station.

• Program your NAVTEX receiver to receive the types of information
  you require.
  The International NA VTEX Network
  MSI is broadcast by 60 or so countries around the world, using
  the international NAVTEX service. The complete list of countries and
  stations is included in ALRS Vol. 5 - NAVTEX section. The best way to
  find your nearest station was explained in Chapter 2 of this guide. The
  'coastal' area covered by individual transmitting stations ranges from
  just over 100 miles, to over 600 miles, depending on frequency used and
  power output of the transmitter.

ALRS Vol. 5 - NAVTEX section - shows, in a tabular list, the

range in nautical miles expected for each station listed.

The frequencies that are allocated internationally for NAVTEX

transmissions are:

• 518kHz - the main international frequency for English language
  broadcasts, around the world. All GMDSS-approved NAVTEX
  receivers will be fitted to receive this frequency.
  490kHz - an additional frequency which may be used for local
  language broadcasts and/or for inshore information.
  4209 ·5kHz - for use in the tropical zone (where MF reception is often
  degraded due to excessive electromagnetic interference).
  Some countries broadcast (local language) MSI, by NAVTEX, on
  frequencies other than the above.

ALRS Vol. 5 - NAVTEX section - the tables following the

NAVTEX maps show broadcast times and frequency used, for each

station shown on the maps

The MRCC (figure 9.1) sends SAR (category D) messages to the

NAVTEX station; the Hydrographer of the Navy coordinates all

180 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE