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

Using NAVTEX

ALRS Vol. :3 (Maritime Safety Information) and Vol. 5 (GMDSS)

both describe the operation of the NAVTEX (Coastal Warning) service,

and list the operational and planned stations around the world.

Stations are listed in a tabular form, by country, and are also shown

on maps follOWing the tables. Rather than use the tabular list to find a

station, it is easier to plot your position/route on the maps following the

tabular list, and identify the station(s) from that map (stations are shown

on the map along with their station identity letter, for programming into

your NAVTEX receiver - see figure 2.4).

20"

VII

Suuth Afl'in

10"

• Walvis Bay ISI
  (3-2400)

20"

~ urban [01

/ (3-2440)

~-Port Elizabeth [11

(3-2435)

30"

Figure 2.4

VII

South A i'l'ica

NAVTEX diagram - Southern Africa (from ALRS Vol. 5)

Example:

The map covering South Africa coastal waters shows Stations

Durban [0], Port Elizabeth [I] and Cape Town [C).

To programme your NA VTEX receiver for Cape Town, use letter

'C'; for Durban, use letter '0' and for Port Elizabeth, programme

your receiver for letter'!'

Having identified and programmed the station(s) covering your
location, your equipment must also be programmed to receive the types
of message required. You can receive/programme more than one station
at a time in some locations - especially when on passage.

All messages are given an identification number consisting of two
letters (AA-ZZ) - where the fist letter represents the transmitting station
and the second letter represents the 'subject indicator' (type of message).
The full list of 'subject indicators' is included in ALRS Vol. 3 and ALRS

18 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE