4th session of JCOMM Expert Team on Maritime Safety Services
ETMSS-4

Meeting

27 February - 02 March 2013

Location

Japan Meteorological Agency, Tokyo
3-6-9 Toranomon, Minato-ku
Tokyo,
105-8431
Japan


Organiser(s) & Staff
Organiser
Staff
Participation

By invitation only.

4th session of JCOMM Expert Team on Maritime Safety Services
Summary

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25 Participants
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Agenda Documents: 12
Background Documents: 8
Other Documents: 1
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  • 2.1. - ETMSS Chairperson & SFSPA Coordinator reports
    The Team will be presented with reports by the Services and Forecast Systems Program Area (SFSPA) Coordinator and the chairperson of the Team on the activities and actions taken since the third session of the JCOMM Expert Team on Maritime Safety Services (ETMSS-III, St Petersburg, Russian Federation, October 2010), including the outcomes and recommendations from JCOMM-IV (Yeosu, Republic of Korea, May 2012). The ETMSS work plan for the next intersessional period will be presented and discussed. Based on discussions under the preceding agenda item, recommendations for additional actions by the Team and suggestions for its future work plan could be considered. New and emerging requirements, if any, should also be outlined.
    Chairperson Report
  • 2.2. - IMO Report

    Bruce Hackett and Giovanni Coppini to lead interactions with IMO.

    The Team will be presented with a report by a representative from IMO on overall activities and actions in relation with the safety at sea. Focus will be given to information relevant for the GMDSS, SAR and response to marine pollution. Information on projects or activities like e-navigation, the modernization of the GMDSS, or other planned evolutions or emerging technologies with potential consequences for the NMHS issuing GMDSS MSI, will also be provided. If any, the IMO strategy regarding implementation of QMS among Members or services providers will be presented.
    IMO Report (ETMSS-4-Doc.2.2)
  • 2.3. - IHO Report
    An IHO representative will present the Team with a report on the overall activities and actions in relation with the provision of MSI. Focus will be given to activities of the World-Wide Navigational Warning Services (WWNWS) Sub Committee and of the joint IMO/IHO/WMO Correspondence Group (CG) on Arctic Maritime Safety Information. A general presentation of format S100 will also be provided.
    IHO Report
  • 2.4. - Inmarsat Report
    The Team will be presented with a report by a representative from Inmarsat on overall activities and actions in relation with the GMDSS. Focus will be given to information relevant for the Issuing Services, including in the Arctic (identification of non-appropriate practises for met-ocean MSI prepared for SafetyNET, suggested improvements).
  • 3. - Review of the WWMIWS as a component of the GMDSS
    The World-Wide Metocean information and Warning Service (WWMIWS) and METAREA Coordinators have been officially adopted by WMO and IMO. In the meantime, the extension of the GMDSS to the arctic has been officially declared fully operational in July 2011, with 5 new NAV/METAREAs, with Canada (METAREAs XVII & XVIII), Norway (METAREA XIX) and the Russian Federation (METAREAs XX & XXI) as the Issuing Services.
  • 3.1. - Status of implementation of the GMDSS, in particular in the Arctic
    The Team will review the WWMIWS as a component of the GMDSS, focusing on the recent or planned changes, in particular those related to the improvement of the system in the Arctic since July 2011.
    Status of implementation of the GMDSS, in particular in the artic (1)
    Status of implementation of the GMDSS, in particular in the artic (2)
  • 3.2. - Exchange Sea Ice information by Arctic Metareas Issuing Services
    ETSI and the Arctic Issuing Services have defined the mandatory sea ice information (in particular the definition used for the ice edge for MSI) to be included in MSI and the set of rules for its description in the context of GMDSS SafetyNET and NAVTEX bulletins. These regulations were adopted by JCOMM-IV. The procedures to ensure cross-area coordination and consistency of GMDSS information across the Arctic METAREAs have also been prepared including operational exchange of GMDSS ice bulletins via a dedicated “Polar GMDSS” web-site (http://gmdss.aari.ru). At the last 13th meeting of the International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG) – advisory body to ETSI and technical forum of the national ice services, a number of issues were introduced and discussed, including the need to implement the same procedures for the Southern Ocean, a possible common Polar sub-region etc. Agreement to organize a 4th Ice Analyst workshop in June 2013 was reached at IICWG-13 with one of 3 proposed themes as ice information for southern hemisphere METAREAs. The Team will discuss the ETSI progress report and will review the remaining and new issues across the Arctic Metareas.
  • 3.3. - Procedure for the modification of responsibilities in the provision of met-ocean MSI
    Some Member States have recently submitted requests to WMO to become either new Preparation Service or new Issuing Service. Appropriate guidelines, to be included in the WMO No.558, should be provided to ensure that such request is sufficiently documented and that the appropriate preliminary coordination with the existing Metarea coordinator and/or Issuing Service has been organized. The Team will review the proposed guidelines.
  • 4. - Review of the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO & the WMO Documentation
  • 4.1. - WMO n°558 & 471
    The guidance and regulation documents, especially the Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No.558) and the Guide to Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No.471), can be considered as ISO documents by NMHS. It is then of major importance to ensure that those documents are updated and kept up-to-date appropriately. Complete new editions of both documents, to incorporate all amendments adopted over the past decade or more, but also to correct noted anomalies, errors and inconsistencies, issued in 2012. The Team will review both documents.
  • 4.2. - Joint IMO/IHO/WMO documentation
    The WWMIWS and METAREA Coordinators have been officially adopted by WMO and IMO. Appropriate actions, in strong cooperation with IHO, have been planned to updated accordingly the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO documentation, especially the Joint Manual on MSI and the IMO Resolution A.705 on the Promulgation of Maritime Safety Information to integrate the appropriate references to the WWMIWS and to the METAREA Coordinators. The Team will review the joint IMO/IHO/WMO documents, or drafts of new editions prepared by IHO, and will will prepare proposal for updates, as appropriate, to be submitted to IHO/WWNWS-5, that will take place in autumn 2013.
    Review of the joint IMO/IHO/WMO & WMO documentation
  • 5. - Improvement of regulations and guidelines for the provision of MSI
  • 5.1. - Guidelines for sea state information in MSI
    There is a significant room for improving the provision of sea state, that should be considered as the most important parameter, in Maritime Safety Information (MSI). At the moment, the majority of Issuing Services preparing GMDSS MSI provide information on the significant wave height only, generally using the Douglas scale. This is very limited in comparison with data available from the NWP and certainly the constraints and needs of ships at sea. Many accidents occurred in coastal or open seas due to sea state, where significant wave heights were far below the thresholds fixed for the vessels, but in situations where the sea state was complex (e.g. cross seas) or unusual (e.g. steep sea, risk of abnormal or freak waves). Key parameters should be proposed to provide more useful information for the safety of ships, especially in complex and dangerous seas. The Team will review the proposed guidelines.
  • 5.2. - Guidelines for marine volcanic ash advisories
    Volcanic ash floating on the sea surface has the potential to disable a ship’s engine through its water intake. It is then important to alert mariners as appropriate if such phenomena is observed or expected. Appropriate guidelines and formats will be prepared to be included in the Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No. 558) and/or the Guide on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No. 471). The Team will review the proposed guidelines.
    Guidelines for marine volcanic ash advisories
  • 5.3. - Guidelines for severe solar magnetic storm advisories, for Navigational Warnings
    Severe solar magnetic storms can disrupt positioning systems, satellite communications and HF radio communications, and therefore might cause severe disturbance in receiving MSI. The risk of disturbance is higher during the peak solar activity period (2012-2013). It is then important to be able to provide to mariners, as appropriate, information on such radio communications disturbance. As such information will have to be issued as Navigational Warning, appropriate links and exchange mechanisms should be implemented between the Meteorological Centre(s) able to provide advisories of solar magnetic storms and the NAVAREA Coordinators in charge of issuing the associated Navigational Warnings. A proposal for procedure, content and format of such advisories to be submitted to IHO/WWNWS should be prepared. The Team will review the proposed guidelines.
  • 5.4. - The GMDSS website
    The JCOMM GMDSS-Weather Website (http://weather.gmdss.org) continues to provide access, in complement to the official dissemination channels, to the in-force official Maritime Safety Information (scheduled forecasts and warnings) prepared for the GMDSS. Météo-France has developed, manages and hosts this website, which has been in operation since 2004. Most of the MSI prepared for SafetyNET dissemination by the METAREA Issuing Services are included. A number of NAVTEX bulletins (around 10 %) are also already available (e.g., METAREAs I, II, III, IV and XI) [see for example http://weather.gmdss.org/II.html]. The aim is to provide access to most of the NAVTEX products in the future, with the objective to reach a rate of 80 % before JCOMM-V. In this context, Metarea Coordinators are urged to promote the dissemination on the GTS of all MSI prepared for International NAVTEX broadcast within their area of responsibility, and to facilitate the provision by NMS concerned of the related metadata to Météo-France, for inclusion on the GMDSS website. The Team will be presented with the GMDSS website and propose actions for the future.
  • 6. - Development of enhanced MSI
  • 6.1. - WMO contribution to e-navigation and the review of the GMDSS
    Considering the presentations and discussions during agenda items 2.2 & 2.3, the potential cost implication for Issuing Services and bandwidth capacities of GMDSS telecommunication systems, the Team will discuss and make proposal for the WMO contribution to e-Navigation.
    WMO contribution to e-Navigation and the review of the GMDSS
  • 6.2. - Catalogue on Met-Ocean Object Class for ENC and e-Navigation
    Since 1999, ETMSS has been working on the implementation of graphical/numerical Maritime Safety Information (MSI) broadcast within the GMDSS. The WMO Executive Council, at its sixty-first session (June 2009), encouraged WMO Members to investigate low-cost options for on-demand approaches that are compatible with Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC). In addition, the imminent increase of ENC systems on SOLAS vessels as regulatory material and the emergence of the e-navigation concept within IMO reinforce the priority given to this requirement. ETSI has already developed the Sea Ice Objects Catalogue in accordance with IHO S-57 standard. Latest ETSI issues included report to IHO TSMAD-24 (May 2012), a demonstration “ENC/ECDIS for ice navigation” prepared for JCOMM-IV Science and Technology Workshop and a presentation of draft specification for an ice overlay in S-10x format, the successor to S-57, to the IICWG-13 meeting (October 2012). ETMSS has initiated the development of a catalogue on Met-Ocean Object Classes and Attributes. The Team will review the ETSI progress report, then review and complete the draft Met-Ocean catalog.
    Catalogue on Met-Ocean Object Class for ENC and e-Navigation
  • 7. - SAR and Marine Pollution
    WMO has put in place the Marine Pollution Emergency Response Support Systems (MPERSS), with areas covered similar to those for the GMDSS, and Area Meteorological and Oceanographic Coordinators (AMOC) identified for all of them. The primary objective of MPERSS is to have in place a coordinated, global system for the provision of meteorological and oceanographic information for mitigation of oil spills outside waters under national jurisdiction, including in the Arctic where the initial MPERSS capability was established in July 2011 in conjunction with the extension of the GMDSS. The services rely on trajectory models which in turn are dependent on currents from ocean models as well as sea state from wave models and wind from numerical weather prediction models. There is nevertheless ample room for improvement in the emergency response both for search and rescue (SAR) and marine pollution (particles drift e.g. radioactive hazmat, pollution source at the bottom of the ocean or in the water column,…), and JCOMM-4 adopted recommendation 8.3/1 for the Enhancement of Capability for Marine Environmental Emergencies.
    SAR and Marine Pollution
  • 7.1. - Review of the status of MPERSS, including the visibility of the system outside WMO
    The team will review the status of MPERSS, make suggestions for enhancing the visibility and recognition of MPERSS services outside the WMO (e.g., IMO/MEPC).
  • 7.2. - Development of MPERSS capabilities including object tracking (SAR assistance)
    The team will discuss the strategy to update the users requirements for MPERSS, including the potential implication of e-Navigation, and the potential consequences on the AMOC Terms of Reference.
  • 7.3. - Development of capabilities for particles drift tracking (e.g. radioactive hazmat)
    The Team will discuss the strategy for the provision of services in case of large scale pollution with dissemination both in the atmosphere and in the ocean.
  • 8. - Implementation of QMS for MSI
    Quality Management Systems (QMS) for aviation has being undertaken within a global regulatory environment. If such regulations do not presently exist for marine services, IMO is moving in this general direction. In order to ensure the use of best practises and the improvement of value for mariners, JCOMM promotes the implementation of Quality Management Systems (QMS) within the NMHS preparing MSI.
  • 8.1. - Users feedback and performance measurements
    A critical activity for forecast providers is engagement with the user community to improve awareness of the product suite, encourage update, validate requirements and monitor impacts. This is also an essential component of QMS. The measurement (or estimation) of the usefulness and impacts of the provision of MSI or other services is a complex and multi-faceted process, involving surveys and user feedback, through regular written questionnaires, on-line surveys through the website, and direct feedback from ships masters, owners and agents, using the PMOs and other ship visitors. Based on the questionnaire prepared by ETMSS, the WMO Secretariat developed a web-based questionnaire that was used to conduct a survey at the end of 2011. JCOMM-IV requested to conduct such surveys more frequently, typically every two years (next in 2013/2014). They represent essential information for both WMO and IMO in improving the value of their services to users. In the meantime, the questionnaire should be amended as appropriate (or additional questionnaire be developed) in particular to monitor the provision of services for SAR and MAES applications. In addition, interactions with IHO/WWNWS should continue to consider the possibility to develop a common survey methodology, to provide the feedback necessary for performance assessment of the system. Taking into account the analysis of the survey presented to JCOMM-IV, the Team will review the present questionnaire and propose amendments as appropriate.
  • 8.2. - Review of self-assessment report template
    In the light of discussions on QMS, the team will review the template for the self-assessment report, to be used annually by Issuing Services or Metarea Coordinators.
    Review of the self assessment report template
  • 9. - ETMSS ToRs, election of a vice-chairperson
    The Team will review its Terms of Reference and membership and will elect a vice-chairperson.
  • 1. - Opening of the session
  • 1.1. - Opening
    The fourth session of the Expert Team on Maritime Safety Services (ETMSS) of the Joint WMO/IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) will open at 0930 hours on Wednesday, 27 February 2013, at the Headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), in Tokyo, Japan. Mr Henri Savina, chairperson of the Task Team, will chair the session.
  • 1.2. - Adoption of the agenda
    The Team will be invited to adopt the agenda for the session based on the provisional agenda prepared by the Secretariat.
    Provisional Timetable
  • 1.3. - Working arrangements
    The Team will agree its hours of work and other practical session arrangements. The documentation will be introduced by the Secretariat. The documentation, and the meeting itself, will be in English only. The chairperson or any other members of the Team may request the consideration of additional issues. In that case, they would be requested to prepare the relevant documentation and submit it to the Secretariat in due time. Possible such issues are listed below. Additionally, a number of sub-items will require separate discussions as identified.
  • 10. - Any Other Business (AOB)
    Under this agenda item, the Team may consider any other issues requiring actions or discussion by the Team.
  • 11. - Closure of the session
  • 11.1. - Adoption of the list of actions
    The Team will review and approve the list of actions. The draft report of the meeting will be sent by the WMO Secretariat within one month after the session to all the participants for approval.
  • 11.2. - Closure
    It is expected that the meeting of the Task Team on Maritime Safety Information will close by 17h00 on Saturday, 2 March 2013.
  • 2. - Reports
Agenda Documents
Background Documents
Other Documents
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SCG-7/ETMSS-4 Local Information 04/01/2013
Showing 1 to 1 of 1 Documents

There are 25 participants associated with 4th session of JCOMM Expert Team on Maritime Safety Services .

Members
Invited Experts
Observers
Secretariat
= Person has confirmed their participation and been approved to participate.
= Person has declined to participate or had their request to participate declined.
Participant Stats:
Total Invited: 28
Confirmed: 25
Not confirmed: 0
Unapproved: 0
Not-participating: 3
Rejected: 0
Group(s): JCOMM.
 Label(s): no labels
Created at 21:34 on 23 Oct 2012 by Boram Lee
Last Updated at 17:25 on 05 Mar 2013 by Laurent Fouinat