1 The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its
sixty-fourth session (5 to 9 December 1994), in response to a request
for assistance from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on
enhancing the recruitment of merchant ships into the Voluntary Observing
Ships’ (VOS) Scheme, approved and circulated MSC/Circ.674 regarding
this matter. Since the merger in 1999 of the marine activities of
the WMO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of
UNESCO, the VOS Scheme has been a programme of the Joint WMO/IOC Technical
Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM).
2 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-fourth
session (30 May to 8 June 2001), in response to a further proposal
from the WMO, subsequently updated and re-issued this circular as
MSC/Circ.1017. It was noted at the time that the Report of the
Re-opened Formal Investigation into the Loss of the MV Derbyshire
had
underlined the potential value of VOS observations to maritime safety,
and recommended, inter alia, that consideration be given
to reissuing this MSC circular.
3 Unfortunately, there has been further decline
in the number of ships recruited into the VOS Scheme, regardless of
the re-issuance of this circular. In December 2004, there were approximately
6,500 ships listed with the WMO as observing ships from 53 participating
countries. By mid-2005, this figure had fallen to fewer than 6,000
ships; however, the analysis of ships’ weather reports show
that the number of VOS that are actively reporting is actually far
less than indicated. Based on reports, during the first six months
of 2005, there were approximately 3,025 ships worldwide reporting
pressure, and only 2,652 reporting sea surface temperature.
4 The VOS meteorological reports provide vital
real time feedback on ocean weather conditions to Weather Forecasters
who use the data to improve the quality of the forecasts and warnings
issued through the SafetyNET Maritime Safety Information (MSI) and
the international NAVTEX services for mariners at sea. The VOS reports,
therefore, form an important element in ensuring the safety of ships,
their cargoes and crews. Furthermore, it should be noted that these
reports also provide a valuable data source for studying the changes
in climate which have become a matter of global concern in recent
years.
5 IMO and, in particular, its Marine Environment
Protection Committee are giving high priority to the work relating
to the issue of climate change. Ships’ meteorological observations
are not only recognized as being essential for the provision of safety-related
services for ships at sea, but also for climatological purposes, since
the VOS reports’ contribution to global climate studies is unique,
when considering the role of the oceans in the global climate system.
6 Whilst the weather data collected under the
VOS Scheme is provided for Forecasting, Climatology and Research applications,
some VOS data have become available on public websites causing concern
to ships’ owners and masters because of the publication of ship
identification and position data. WMO has therefore established a
high-level dialogue, involving affected Members, IMO, ICS, shipping
companies, relevant organizations and technical commissions, to propose
a general and universally acceptable solution to the issue. This solution
would address shipowners’ and masters’ concerns as well
as those of the WMO community regarding data monitoring and quality
information feedback requirements. This high-level dialogue resulted
in the recommendation that ship’s identification and location
should not appear on public websites, including those of National
Meteorological Services (NMS), in real time when this is not authorized
by the shipowners and masters. As a temporary measure, WMO Executive
Council therefore adopted Resolution 7 (EC-LVIII, 2006) and Resolution
7.7 (EC-LIX, 2007) authorizing its Members to implement open data
distribution schemes where the ship’s identification is masked.
The continued participation of ships in the VOS Scheme remains critical.
7 It is essential that the volume of data provided
by ships recruited to the VOS Scheme be maximized and, as such, the
number of VOS participating in the Scheme increased wherever/whenever
possible. It should be made clear that participation in the VOS Scheme
is entirely voluntary and no charges are incurred by the ship, shipowner
or ship operator, as the meteorological instruments and, in most cases,
the cost of the observation transmission are borne by meteorological
services.
8 In accordance with the provisions of SOLAS regulation V/5, Member Governments
are invited to bring the relevant information in the attached brochure
regarding the VOS Scheme to the attention of shipowners, ship operators,
ship managers, masters and crews, and other parties concerned and
to encourage them to support the JCOMM and their National Meteorological
Service (NMS), by offering their ships to participate in the VOS Scheme.
More information on this issue can be located at the following web
address: http://www.bom.gov.au/jcomm/vos/index.html. Ships that pass
through or operate in the data-sparse areas (shown by the lack of
dots on the attached ship data coverage chart), are strongly encouraged
to volunteer and join the VOS Scheme.
9 This circular revokes MSC/Circ.1017.