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

number in ALRS Vol. 6) and confirm the correct procedure. That

will be less expensive than having to layoff for a day or two on

arrival.

If the ChannelslProcedures provided by the Port Office differ from

those in your book, please use the 'Amendments to ALRS' page to

fax/e-mail the new information to the publisher. They'll thank you,

and include the new information in 'NTMs'

Leaving Durban bound Fremantle - Sample Log

Date I Time

UTC

22.12.00

0820

Remarks

Departing Durban bound Fremantle, Australia'

Watch set VHF DSC & Voice

Watch set MF DSC

Watch set HF DSC

Watch set NAVTEX Station 0 (Durban) and

Inmarsat SafetyNET for Nav/Metarea VII

Frequency

Channel or

Satellite

Ch70

Ch 16113

2187.5kHz

8/12MHz

AORE

0835 Departure Report (copy attached) to AMVER via Southbury Sat-C

Author's explanation: Going directly into an A3 area on sailing requires DSC

Watch on VHF Ch 70; MF 27BZ5kHz; HF BMHzplus one other HF DSC

Frequency and/or lnmarsat SafetyNET. As South Africa does not have an

lnmarsat station, Distress Relays from shore may arrive more quickly from the

HF DSC station at Cape Town radio than over lnmarsat - though both will be

used by the shore authorities. On entering the AUSREP reporting area, reports

into the AUSREP system can be relayed to the AMVER service, on request - or

the AMVER service will relay your report to AUSREP (on request).

Question: I feel that I'd like to participate in the AMVER scheme.

I've read the report format in ALRS Vol. 1 but I'm still not clear

about the whole scheme and its potential benefits. Where can I find

additional information?

Answer: Contact AMVER by telephone, telex, fax or e-mail at the

address shown in ALRS Vol. 1 - they'll send you a 'User's Manual'

which describes the service, its history and its benefits. The service is

open to vessels of all nationalities, and is free of charge to users. As

the number of compulsory Ship Reporting Schemes seems likely to

increase, you may be better to get used to this system (which helps

also with relays to other schemes) rather than wait for compulsion?

36 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE