USCG Seeks Comments on Weather Broadcasts

[thegun]

I just received the e-mail below from the Coast Guard and thought it worthy of posting:



The US Coast Guard is seeking public comment on the need to continue
providing high frequency (HF) radio broadcasts of weather forecasts and
warnings. Public comment is necessary in order to assess the demand for
the HF radio broadcasts in each of three forms: (1) radiofacsimile; (2)
voice; and (3) simplex teletype over radio (SITOR), also known as narrow
band direct printing (NBDP). The infrastructure necessary to provide
these services has exceeded its useful life expectancy; the equipment is
no longer manufactured, repairs are difficult to accomplish, and spare
parts generally are not available. Comments should be submitted by
August 24. 72 Fed. Reg. 20863
<http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2...cket.access.gp
o.gov/2007/pdf/E7-7945.pdf> (April 26, 2007).

Regards,

The USCG Navigation Center Team
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center

If the USCG Navigation Center web site is not working properly, please
be sure to visit our mirror site at: U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center.

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please visit:
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Seventh District LNMs - USCG Navigation Center



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[camaraderie]

Where do we comment? Link does not work.

[btrayfors]

I found that, too. The govt isn't good at giving you reply email addresses.

And the line about "no longer manufactured, no parts available, etc." is a real crock.

For me, and I believe for most offshore voyagers, the most important HF service (in addition to the listening watch frequencies) is the periodic WX broadcasts, offshore and high seas. Next is the fax. I can't imagine that they're really thinking about dropping these.

Bill

[thegun]

Try the link and pertinent data below:

https://dms.dot.gov/submit/dspSubmission.cfm
USCG-2007-27656
High Frequency (HF) Radio Broadcasts of Marine Weather Forecasts and Warnings

[coot]

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2...df/E7-7945.pdf

The whole URL is there in the original message, but the forum software didn't pick it all up because of the way it was copy/pasted from the email.

This link is a PDF of a few pages of the Federal Register. It contains exact images of the pages that appear in the printed edition. Look at the lower right of the first page of the PDF for the notice about the HF weather.

Instructions for sending your comments are included in the announcement.

I recommend that you read the entire announcement before you give your comments. They ask you to answer several questions as part of your comments.

[merlin]

are the USCG voice broadcasts (usually read by a human being) different than NOAA broadcasts (usually read by a computer)?

[Pblais]

are the USCG voice broadcasts (usually read by a human being) different than NOAA broadcasts (usually read by a computer)?

They are the same information. The USCG does not produce it's own forecasts that they distribute. Currently they broadcast from 24 HF transmitters that are now old and not easily repaired so they would need funding for complete replacement. That is what the comments are for. They need to show the need for them in order to ask for money and have a chance of getting it.

[AnchorageGuy]

My submitted comments read:

Regarding the request for comments regarding the continuation of broadcasts of weather info over HF radio I believe there is no question that there is a definite need for these broadcast to preserve maritime safety both in the recreational sector as well as commercial. As a licensed Captain And skipper of my own pleasure vessel I have used these broadcast many, many times over the years to make decision as to whether safe passages could be made in locations all over the Atlantic and Caribbean. In addition I have first hand knowledge that thousands of skippers of pleasure vessels all over the same areas use these broadcasts to make informed decisions when considering making passages. Discontinuing these broadcast will most certainly put these vessels and their crews at risk. I sincerely hope the decision to improve and upgrade the system will be the final outcome. Sincerely, Captain Chuck Baier