Coast Guard decides to continue HF broadcasts of high seas weather forecasts and warnings

[JOSEPH D HERSEY]

Last April the Coast Guard asked for public comments regarding the need to
continue HF high seas weather broadcasts over single sideband voice,
facsimile charts and text messages over radiotelex.

After reviewing the public responses to their query and reading the
conclusions of the business case report on the subject, the Coast Guard has
decided to continue those broadcasts without interruption. The report,
which in a few days will be posted here
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/high_frequency/HF-WX_notice.htm,
concluded that:

"The responding public collectively perceives that the USCG HF broadcasts
are essential to their safety. There is no viable alternative to the USCG
HF broadcasts because present alternatives are perceived by the public to be
out of financial reach. Also, marine weather forecasts available through
these alternative sources may not guarantee the same level of accuracy,
timeliness, and/or sufficiency as provided by the USCG HF broadcasts."

The Coast Guard still doesn't have funds necessary to replace all their high
power transmitters and some services will have to be cut (mostly their own
internal services), but they should now have the funds to replace the 20
transmitters used for weather broadcasts.

Good news.

Joe Hersey

 

[William Andersen]

OK. But what about the local weather? Am I the only one who finds it
annoying that the Coast Guard ties up a frequency while reading the local
report. I figure you can check the weather before you launch, and monitor
the Weather Channel. The people who don't do either probably don't listen to
the Coast Guard report, either.

 

[Bruce Gordon]

OK. But what about the local weather? Am I the only one who finds it
annoying that the Coast Guard ties up a frequency while reading the local
report. I figure you can check the weather before you launch, and monitor
the Weather Channel. The people who don't do either probably don't listen to
the Coast Guard report, either.

Your Objections are concerning Sea Area 1 Weather,and the topic at hand
is for Sea Areas 2,3,& 4. When you venture out passed VHF Coverage,
where do you get your Weather Information from? Every Vessel or 300
Gross Tons, will have GMDSS, and part of that MAY include MF/HF Weather
Data, and this is what the USCG was addressing...... Up here in the
North Pacific, we have NOAA HF Radio from selected Weather Stations,
as well as USCG CommSta Kodiak for Sea Areas 2-4, and these broadcasts
are VITAL for ALL Mariners in these areas, especially those guys that
fish the Bering Sea, in winter. We don't much care for the USCG Rambo
Boarding Parties, BUT, the Helo folks, and the CommSta folks, are our
HEROS, and are VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, and Respected, by the folks who
live, and work, up here.

Bruce in alaska

--
Bruce (semiretired powderman & exFCC Field Inspector for Southeastern Alaska)

Bruce Gordon * Debora Gordon R.N. Bruce's Trading Post
P.O. Box EXI Excursion Inlet South
Juneau, Alaska 99850 Excursion Inlet, Alaska 99850
AL7AQ * KL7WJ www.btpost.net www.99850.net