• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued Marine Notice 13/2016 (copy attached) advising all ships transiting NAVAREA X or navigating off the Australian coast to ensure that they receive all Maritime Safety Information (MSI) necessary for the intended voyage.

• Australia uses the Inmarsat’s SafetyNET EGC as the primary means of promulgating MSI and does not provide a NAVTEX service.

• Ship Masters are advised to ensure their Inmarsat-C Enhanced Group Calling (EGC) receivers are configured to receive MSI messages for NAVAREA X and the coastal warning areas appropriate to their intended voyage when navigating off Australian coast. Also ships are required to receive MSI whilst in port.

• All types of MSI to be received for the coastal warning areas need to be selected (e.g. navigational warnings, weather information, etc.).

• Ships can also obtain the latest MSI via internet on http://www.amsa.gov.au/search-and-rescue/distress-and-safety-comms/msi/msi-email/index.asp
  At this link, an option is available to have the latest MSI forwarded to an email address.

• To ensure vessels have received all current MSI, particularly when entering NAVAREA X for the first time, entering a new coastal warning area or prior to departing a port, AMSA recommends that ships compare the current list of MSI received via e-mail with that received via SafetyNET.

• Ship owners / managers are advised to bring the above to the notice of the ship masters/navigating officers for compliance.

Enclosure:

AMSA Marine Notice 13/2016 Reg “Receiving Maritime Safety Information (MSI)”.

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