Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)SchedulesSecond ScheduleProtocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974AnnexChapter V : Safety NavigationRegulation 3 : Information required in danger messages |
The following information is required in danger messages:
| (a) | Ice, derelicts and other direct dangers to navigation. |
| (i) | The kind of ice, derelict or danger observed. |
| (ii) | The position of the ice, derelict or danger when last observed. |
| (iii) | The time and date (Greenwich Mean Time) when danger last observed. |
| (b) | Tropical storms (hurricanes in the West Indies, typhoons in the China Sea, cyclones in Indian waters, and storms of a similar nature in other regions). |
| (i) | A statement that a tropical storm has been encountered. This obligation should be interpreted in a broad spirit, and information transmitted whenever the master has good reason to believe that a tropical storm is developing or exists in his neighbourhood. |
| (ii) | Time, date (Greenwich Mean Time) and position of ship when the observation was taken. |
| (iii) | As much of the following information as is practicable should be included in the message: |
Barometric pressure, preferably corrected (stating millibars, millimetres, or inches, and whether corrected or uncorrected); barometric tendency (the change in barometric pressure during the past three hours);true wind direction; wind force (Beaufort scale); state of the sea (smooth, moderate, rough, high); swell (slight, moderate, heavy) and the true direction from which it comes. Period or length of swell (short, average, long) would also be of value; true course and speed of ship.
| (c) | Subsequent observations. |
When a master has reported a tropical or other dangerous storm, it is desirable, but not obligatory, that further observations be made and transmitted hourly, if practicable, but in any case at intervals of not more than three hours, so long as the ship remains under the influence of the storm.
| (d) | Winds of force 10 or above on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been received. |
This is intended to deal with storms other than the tropical storms referred to in paragraph (b) of this Regulation; when such a storm is encountered, the message should contain similar information to that listed under that paragraph but excluding the details concerning sea and swell.
| (e) | Subfreezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds causing severe ice accretion on superstructures. |
| (i) | Time and date (Greenwich Mean Time). |
| (ii) | Air temperature. |
| (iii) | Sea temperature (if practicable). |
| (iv) | Wind force and direction. |
Examples
Ice
TTT Ice. Large berg sighted in 4605 N., 4410 W., at 0800 GMT. May 15.
Derelicts
TTT Derelict. Observed derelict almost submerged in 4006 N., 1243 W., at 1630 GMT. April 21.
Danger to navigation
TTT Navigation. Alpha lightship not on station. 1800 GMT. January 3.
Tropical storm
TTT Storm. 0030 GMT. August 18. 2004 N., 11354 E. Barometer corrected 994 millibars, tendency down 6 millibars. Wind NW., force 9, heavy squalls. Heavy easterly swell. Course 067,5 knots.
TTT Storm. Appearances indicate approach of hurricane. 1300 GMT. September 14. 2200 N., 7236 W. Barometer corrected 29,64 inches, tendency down 0,015 inches. Wind NE., force 8, frequent rain squalls. Course 035,9 knots.
TTT Storm. Conditions indicate intense cyclone has formed. 0200 GMT. May 4. 1620 N., 9203 E. Barometer uncorrected 753 millimetres, tendency down 5 millimetres. Wind S. by W., force 5. Course 300, 8 knots.
TTT Storm. Typhoon to southeast 0300 GMT. June 12. 1812 N., 12605 E. Barometer falling rapidly. Wind increasing from N.
TTT Storm. Wind force 11, no storm warning received. 0300 GMT. May 4. 4830 N., 30 W. Barometer corrected 983 millibars, tendency down 4 millibars. Wind SW., force 11 veering. Course 260, 6 knots.
Icing
TTT experiencing severe icing. 140 GMT. March 2. 69 N., 10 W. Air temperature 18. Sea temperature 29. Wind NE., force 8.