1 The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its
eighty-sixth session (27 May to 5 June 2009), noted and approved the
revised Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information (MSI),
as prepared by WMO and IHO and agreed by the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications
and Search and Rescue (COMSAR), at its thirteenth session (19 to 23
January 2009).
2 MSC 86 noted that section 7 provides extensive
guidance and examples on the structure and text to be used in navigational
warnings and that, to ensure greater uniformity, this section would
be provided in the English language in an additional annex in the
circulars and publications in the Spanish and French languages.
3 The Committee was of the opinion that the widest
possible use of the manual should be encouraged and invited Member
Governments to bring the annexed Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual to the attention
of mariners and those involved in the promulgation of navigational
warnings and meteorological forecasts and warnings.
4 This circular supersedes COMSAR/Circ.15.
5 The Committee decided that the amendments will
come into force on 1 January 2011.