UNIT 42 – SMCP: NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, WEATHER & ASSISTANCE

This unit covers the standard phrases for reporting navigational aids, giving meteorological information and providing navigational assistance. It follows the IMO SMCP phrases for External Communications in three areas:

• Navigational aids — GPS satellites unusable and RACON off air, with times in UTC.
• Weather information — gale and tropical storm warnings, central pressure, storm movement and speed of advance, wind backing or veering, visibility, sea, swell and icing.
• Navigational assistance — shore based radar assistance, its availability and hours, and requests for navigational assistance.