NAV 44/3/1
ANNEX1
4 Geographical coverage of the proposed systems
and the number and edition of the reference chart used for
delineation of the system
.1
Northeastern United States. Geographical boundaries of
the proposed northeast area include the water of Cape Cod
Bay, Massachusetts Bay, and the Great South Channel east
and southeast of Massachusetts (Attachment A).
Coordinates of the proposed area are as follows: from a
point on Cape Ann. Massachusetts at 42°39' N, 70°37' W;
then northeast to 42°45' N, 70°13' W; then southeast to
42°10' N, 68°31' W; then south to 41°00' N, 68°31' W;
then west to 41°00' N, 69°I7' W; then northeast to 42°05'
N, 70°02'W, then west to 42°04' N, 70°10' W; and then
along the Massachusetts shoreline of Cape Cod Bay and
Massachusetts Bay back to the point on Cape Anne at 42°39'
N, 70°37' W.
.2
Southeastern United States. Geographical boundaries of
the proposed southeast area include coastal waters within
about 25 nm (45 km) along a 90 nm (170 km) stretch of the
Atlantic seaboard in Florida and Georgia (Attachment B).
The area extends from the shoreline east to longitude 80°51.6'
W with the southern and northem boundary at latitudes 30°OO'
N and 31°27' N, respectively.
5 Reports and procedures (position for submitting
reports, content, format)
.1
Position. Participating ships would be required to
report to a shore-based authority only when entering the
reporting area during a single voyage (that is, a voyage
in which a ship is in the area to visit one or multiple
ports or traverse the area before leaving for a port
outside the reporting area); ships will not be required
to report in again after leaving a port in the area or
when exiting the system.
.2
Content. Ships would be required to provide the
following information: the name of the ship; call sign or
IMO identification number if applicable; position when
entering the system; course; speed; route; and
destination. Commercially sensitive Information received
in conjunction with the reporting system would be kept
confidential.
.3
Format. The format for reporting would be as set forth
in paragraph two of the appendix to Assembly Resolution
A.648(16). An example of a transmission between ship and
shore is at Attachment C.
6 Information and services to be provided to
the ship and procedures to be followed
Ships would be provided with the following
information:
.1
Mariners would be informed that they are entering an
area of critical importance for the protection of the
highly endangered right whale; that such whales are
present; and that ship strikes pose a serious threat to
whales and may cause damage to ships. Communication
systems between ship and shore are described in
paragraphs 9 and 11, below.
.2
To obtain seasonal right whale advisories which are
broadcast periodically, mariners would also be advised to
monitor Coast Guard Broadcast Notice to Mariners, NAVTEX,
NOAA Weather Radio, and, in the northeastern ship
reporting system area only, the Cape Cod Canal Vessel
Traflic Control and the Bay of Fundy Vessel Traffic
Control. These advisories are based on surveys that are
flown seasonally and in daylight and good weather
conditions only. The sighting information may be useful
only for brief periods as the whales move and surveys
detect a small percentage of the whales present.
.3
Mariners would be advised to consult with
NAVTEX,INMARSAT C SafetyNET (satellite text broadcasts),
the United States Coast Pilot, Notice to Mariners, the
nautical charts for information on the boundaries of the
right whale critical habitat and the national marine
sanctuary, applicable regulations, and precautionary
measures that mariners may take to reduce the risk of
hitting right whales. Mariners will further be advised
that information placards, videos, and other educational
materials are available from shipping agents, port
authorities, pilots, relevant state agencies, the Coast
Guard, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
.4
In the message back to the ship, mariners would also
be requested to report any whale sightings and dead,
injured or entangled marine mammals to the nearest local
Coast Guard station.
I:/NAV/44/3-1.WPD
