In accordance with the provisions of SOLAS regulation V/5, “Contracting Governments undertake
to encourage the collection of meteorological data by ships at sea
and to arrange for a selection of ships to be equipped with tested
marine meteorological instruments (such as a barometer, a barograph,
a psychrometer, and suitable apparatus for measuring sea temperature)”.
The calibrated marine meteorological instruments that are
required to undertake weather observing at sea are supplied free of
charge to the ship by the National Meteorological Services (NMS).
The installation of the equipment is usually performed by a Port Meteorological
Officer (PMO), appointed and trained by the NMS, who will provide
advice on observing the various meteorological elements at sea. The
appointed PMO will also explain the use of the WMO SHIP code for reporting
the observation, and offer guidance on transmitting the observations
from the ship to shore using the ships satellite or terrestrial communications
equipment.