The NAVTEX receiver is a valuable instrument that is able to receive
written and automatic information concerning Maritime Safety (Radio warnings,
Meteorological reports and distress alert transmissions), which is transmitted
by the NAVTEX coastal services that have a determined service area of a
range of up to 400 nautical miles.
However, for a NAVTEX receiver to function adequately on board a vessel
which has this system incorporated, proper knowledge of how to programme
it, is vital. This is why the following practical actions indicated below
are recommended:
1.- Turn the NAVTEX receiver on at least four hours before setting sail,
or better yet, leave it turned on permanently. This avoids losing information
that could affect the vessel during its voyage.
2.- Make sure that the Operation Manual is available with the equipment,
paying attention to the fact that your programme may differ from other
brands and models
3.- Copy the part concerning programmation, status and autotest procedures
for the equipment , cover it in plastic and keep it with the equipment.
This way in case the manual is lost, which usually happens due to the large
amount of publication present on the bridge and the continuous shifts changes
amongst officers and personnel on merchant and fishing vessels, it is still
possible to carry out such functions as well as, simplifying programming
procedures without wasting time.
4.- Have a plastified copy of the Navareas / Metareas and the coastal
stations that transmit NAVTEX, with its respective time schedules and B1
identification character tables next to the equipment, to make programmation
easier according to the area in which the ship is sailing.
5.- Programme only NAVTEX (B1 character) stations of the area in which
the ship is sailing, so that unnecessary information of the area is not
received and to avoid unnecessary paperwork.
6.- Make sure that there are sufficient rolls of NAVTEX paper on board,
if this is not the case, replenish the stock immediately, because running
out of paper and not being able to receive information could seriously
endanger the safety of the ship.
7.- It is recommended that character B2 (a type of message) be programmed,
with all the assigned characters, from A to Z, with the exception of the
navigation system reports that the ship does not have, like for example
Decca. Always remembering that the characters A,B, and D, can not be excluded
from the programmation of the equipment due to being mandatory ( nautical,
meteorological and SAR alert warnings).
8.- Take extra caution in not to confuse the programmation with the
coastal NAVTEX stations (B1 characters) and B2 character type messages,
on occasions the operator believes he is programming B1 characters in to
the NAVTEX receiver, when in reality he is programming B2 characters. Always
check after programming, the programme status, an option availiable in
NAVTEX receivers, to ensure correct progammation.
9.- Inform the coastal stations each time information is received incomplete
or with interference, clearly indicate the UTC time and the position of
the vessel. This will help improve the system. In the same way, report
on any new occurrences observed during the voyage, so to be able to up-date
maritime safety information transmitted through the system.
This practical advice will help ensure the efficient use of your NAVTEX
receiver, guaranteeing the reception of maritime safety information within
the respective areas of NAVTEX transmition station coverage, whose estimated
range is up to 400 nautical miles from the transmitting antenna on land,
and therefore, providing you with a safe voyage.