.2 Intermediate Position Reports: Ships transiting the
operational area will also be required to provide brief position reports at defined
reporting points using normal PR formats.
The intermediate reporting positions will be generally about 100-120
nautical miles apart. Position reports will be limited to the identity of the ship,
position, any variation to the last reported speed and any further information the master
considers to be of value to the System.
.3 Defect Reports: Ships within the reporting area suffering
damage, failure or breakdown affecting the safety of the ship will be required to provide
a defect report using field "θ" within the prescribed PR message format.
4 INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED TO PARTICIPATING SHIPS AND PROCEDURES
TO BE FOLLOWED
4.1 The ship reporting centre will provide information to
shipping on potentially conflicting traffic movements resulting from the analysis of
incoming reports.
4.2 Certain sections of the route in the Torres Strait and the
far northern sector of the inner route of the GBR present a particular navigational hazard
in situations where large ships might be passing or overtaking, especially deeper draught
ships. When the ship reporting centre considers that ships are approaching such sections,
any relevant traffic information held by the centre will be passed to them. Because of the
extensive size of the REEFREP area it is not be intended to routinely broadcast traffic
information across the whole area but to advise individual ships as necessary.
4.3 Traffic information, including other advice received from
ships or local maritime authorities which impacts on navigational safety will be passed to
ships in relevant areas. Examples include concentrations of fishing vessels, unusual
weather conditions, etc.
4.4 Normal maritime safety information (MSI) in the form of
navigational warnings (AUSCOAST Warnings) will continue to be issued in the appropriate
broadcasts from MRCC AUSTRALIA. The ship reporting centre will maintain details of MSI for
the REEFREP area for the information of participating ships.
5 COMMUNICATION REQUIRED FOR THE SYSTEM, FREQUENCIES ON WHICH
REPORTS SHOULD BE TRANSMITTED AND INFORMATION TO BE REPORTED
5.1 The system will be based on VHF voice communications and will
be interactive with an interchange of data between ships and the ship reporting centre.
5.2 VHF channels 5, 18 and 9 in the international maritime mobile
band have been allocated for the reporting points in the system.
5.3 Information of commercial confidentiality may be transmitted
by non-verbal means.
5.4 The language used for reports in the system will be English,
using the IMO Standard Marine Communications Phrases where necessary.
