Maritime Communication Procedures




774
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 20

  1. The W/T stations broadcasting messages will use their own call signs
    and will indicate the Naval Authority originating the message at the beginning
    of the text. For example, a message broadcast by Aden W/T station
    from Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, for merchant ships in Area 3 B:
    CT GBMS 3 GBMS 3 GBMS 3 DE GZQ GZQ GZQ BT from Commander-in-
    Chief, East Indies, BT. During the period 1st March to 30th April, 1926,
    H.M. ships engaged in the prevention of smuggling arms will be operating
    without lights in the Persian Gulf BT 1030 () BT Repetition BT from
    Commander-in-Chief, &c., &c., BT 1030 (
    ) AR VA.

NOTE.—(*) This is G.M.T. at which the message was ordered to be sent.
It may be followed by the date, thus :—“ 1030 NR 15 NR 2.”

  1. The procedure outlined in this organization is not intended to interfere
    with or replace existing arrangements for broadcasting to merchant ships
    messages concerning navigational dangers, weather reports, or gale warnings.
    Where routine arrangements exist for broadcasting such messages, those
    arrangements will continue in force.

  2. Normally, the organization promulgated herein is not in operation,
    but, to test its efficiency, it is introduced at irregular intervals for trial
    purposes for one week.

During these periods, “ test ” messages will be issued by the Admiralty
to all British merchant ships, and by the Naval Authorities responsible for
the respective areas shown in the Schedule to British merchant ships in
those areas. Rugby and Oxford will not, however, broadcast on Sundays,
while Falklands will do so only on 125 kc/s (2,400 metres).

Further, these “ test ” messages will not be broadcast by the 500 kc/s
(600 metres) stations shown in the Schedule, but, instead, brief “ warning ”
messages will be broadcast daily from all these stations (except in Area 1,
where only four stations will broadcast—viz., Malin Head, Land’s End,
North Foreland, and Cullercoats), stating that the test period is in force.
These broadcasts will take place twice daily during the single-operator
periods, and will be in the form “ GBMS in force for test until…………”
The warning message may also be transmitted from Rugby and Oxford at
the commencement of the tests, during the transmission of the traffic lists at
0048 and 1248. No prior notice will be given of the dates of the “ test ”
periods which will commence with the promulgation of the first “ test ”
message.

  1. The organization may be brought into force at any time, should
    occasion arise to transmit messages of special importance to British
    merchant ships.

The messages from the Admiralty to all areas at a time of national
emergency will be issued in alphabetical sequence, thus :—“ Admiralty
Message A ”, “ Admiralty Message B ”, &c. This is to enable merchant
ships to check that they have not missed any messages in the series.

Any messages which have been missed should on no account be asked
for by W/T. They should be obtained by V/S from H.M. ships or other
British merchant vessels or by personal application to the British Naval
Representative or Consular authorities at the next port of call.

  1. If and when such occasion arises to bring the organization into force,
    either generally or in any particular area, messages notifying its introduction
    will be issued by the Admiralty and/or by the Naval Authority responsible
    for the area or areas concerned. When such messages are necessary every
    available means of reaching merchant ships will be employed—i.e., the
    messages will be broadcast not only by Rugby and Oxford and the other
    stations at the times shown in the Schedule, but also where stations included
    in the organization transmit navigational warnings, weather reports, &c., at
    routine periods, messages notifying its introduction will be broadcast during
    those periods. Such messages will bear the address “ All British merchant
    ships ” or “ British merchant ships in ………… area, ” in full ; the use
    of the call signs mentioned in paragraph 2 above will commence when the
    organization is brought into force.

SCHEDULE.

NOTE.—The transmission from Rugby on 16 kc/s (18,750 metres) at 2000 G.M.T. is intended
primarily for ships in Area 5, and that on 8,640 kc/s (34·72 metres) at 2000 G.M.T. for ships in
Areas 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Area (see Chart). Naval Authority who will arrange Transmission. W/T Stations by which Messages will be transmitted. Call Sign. Wave. Kc/s (metres). Type A1 except on 500 kc/s (600 metres) or where otherwise stated. Times of Transmission. G.M.T.
All areas Admiralty .. .. .. Rugby
Oxford
Rugby
Oxford
Falklands
GBR
GIC
GIM*
GBR
GIM
GIA
VPC
16 kc/s (18,750)
8,640 kc/s (34·72)
12,975 kc/s (23·12)
16 kc/s (18,750)
12,975 kc/s (23·12)
19,640 kc/s (15·27)
8,450 kc/s (35·5)
0000, 2000
1200
0410, 1610
  • Oxford (GIC) on 8,985 kc/s replaces (GIM) for the 0000 transmission during November, December, and January.


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🚂 Notice to Mariners No. 16 of 1939 (continued from previous page)

🚂 Transport & Communications
23 March 1939
Maritime, Wireless Messages, Merchant Ships, Safety, Communication