PROMULGATION OF NAVIGATION AND METEOROLOGICAL WARNINGS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

NAVAL RADIO SERVICE

According to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), the eastern part of the Adriatic Sea belongs to the marine area A1, in which the Republic of Croatia is obliged to ensure VHF, VHF DSC and NAVTEX signal coverage.

The Law on Plovput defines that the mentioned tasks are performed by Plovput on behalf of the Republic of Croatia.

ACTIVITIES OF THE MARINE RADIO SERVICE OF COASTAL RADIO STATIONS (ORP)

The fundamental activities of the maritime radio service are as follows:

• Constant vigilance on frequencies for danger;

• Mediation in communication during distress, emergency and safety interventions coordinated by the National Search and Rescue Center (MRCC) in Rijeka, in accordance with the National Plan for Search and Rescue of Human Lives at Sea;

• Mediation in communication when seeking medical advice from vessels;

• Broadcasting of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) via VHF system and Navtex system;

• Commercial radio service with ships, in accordance with the International Regulations on Telecommunications, which is carried out via the VHF system;

• Providing radio services to state administration bodies (Search and Rescue Center, Port Authority, VTS, Croatian Navy, Ministries...) as well as private companies (Sea Help);

• Control of radio traffic during communication in distress (DISTRESS communication) in accordance with international regulations to ensure the priority of DISTRESS communication during SAR operations by preventing interference by other stations.

For the purposes of performing basic activities, Plovput has established its own radio service through VHF and UHF radio stations in navigable areas, manned maritime lighthouses, Jadrija signal station and vessels.

BROADCAST OF MARITIME SAFETY INFORMATION (MSI)

The preparation and broadcasting of maritime safety information (MSI) via VHF and NAVTEX systems is carried out by all 3 ORPs - in English and Croatian.

As part of the NAVTEX service, the international NAVTEX service 518 kHz and the national NAVTEX service 490 kHz were established. MSI messages of international importance are delivered to the NAVAREA coordinator in English.

 

RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS OF THE PLOVPUT COMPANY

VHF AND VHF DSC SYSTEMS OF THE COMPANY PLOVPUT

In accordance with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), the radio service of the Plovput company is carried out on the VHF wave range from 156 MHz to 174 MHz, on certain associated channels assigned to the Croatian ORPs out of a total of 57 VHF radio channels (simplex and duplex) assigned for the needs of maritime radio services.

• CHANNEL 16 - distress calls, calls and announcements of other communications

• CHANNEL 70 – DSC system

Coastal radio stations Rijeka radio, Split radio and Dubrovnik radio as well as base radio stations located at 19 locations / elevations are connected to each other via VPN network based on TCP/IP technology.

NAVTEX  SYSTEM

The NAVTEX (NAVigational TEleX) system is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). Maritime Safety Information (MSI) is broadcast as a part of the Worldwide Navigational Warning Service (WWNWS). NAVTEX messages are broadcast in FEC mode, i.e. mode with advanced error correction on operating frequencies 518 kHz (international NAVTEX service) and 490 kHz (national NAVTEX service).

The national coordinator for radio navigation warnings in the Republic of Croatia is the Croatian Hydrographic Institute from Split. The International Coordinator for Navarre Region III is located in Cadiz, Spain.

The national coordinator for meteorological warnings in the Republic of Croatia is DHMZ PMC-SPLIT. The international coordinator for Metarea area III is located in Greece.

NAVTEX station SPLIT broadcasts MSI messages as part of the international (518 kHz) and national (490 kHz) NAVTEX service, with a note that all 3 coastal radio stations participate in the preparation and broadcasting of NAVTEX messages.

BROADCAST OF MARITIME SAFETY INFORMATION (MSI)

 

Ø NAVIGATION WARNINGS (RADIO ADVERTISEMENTS)

Ø WEATHER ALERTS

• regular weather warnings

• extraordinary weather warnings

Ø WEATHER REPORTS

• storm warnings

• synoptic data

• weather forecast for the next 24 hours

Ø INFORMATION ON SEARCH AND RESCUE

Ø OTHER NAVIGATION SAFETY NOTICES

 

THE IMPROVEMENT OF CROATIAN COAST RADIO STATIONS SERVICE IN A PART OF METEOROLOGICAL WARNINGS PROMULGATION

 

In 2009., the necessity of changes in the performance of radio service in Croatian Coast Radio Stations (CRS) broadcast of Maritime Safety Information was observed: weather warnings of gusty stormy wind and appearance of isolated sudden storms and gales, sea conditions and reduced visibility due to fog. Based on the initiative of the author, professional service of Plovput company and Split harbourmaster, Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure formed a working group and criterion of frequency of transmitting weather warnings has been agreed. With the new mode CRS will by itself, after the announcement that precedes the warning safety signal via radio telephone SECURITE on VHF Ch 16 and in the case of reduced visibility due to fog transmission of an urgency message SAFETY ALL SHIPS on VHF Ch 70, broadcast immediately weather alerts upon receipt, without waiting for a regular term of weather reports emission, in order to proceed the information as soon as possible and raise the maximum safety level.

ORP broadcasts regular weather warnings if one of the following criteria is met: SEA STATE ≥6, WIND > 50 KTS, VISIBILITY < 200M and the broadcast is repeated once more, approx. 2 hours after the broadcast of the regular weather report if it still contains a weather warning.

MARITIME SAFETY INFORMATION BROADCASTING RADIO SERVICE (MSI) DURING 2021.