Broadcast Notices to Mariners will be available online

LaRea

In the future, when you want to prove that you are an old salt, you can just say:  "Well, I remember back when VHF was the only way to get Broadcast Notices to Mariners!"

Yup, BNMs will be going online.  The USCG just announced a 2-month period for citizens to provide comments before this program goes live.  

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

"The US Coast Guard will begin making broadcast notices to mariners containing locally relevant navigation information accessible by mobile devices and the internet. New methods of information delivery will include Rich Site Summary also known as Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, email, and other means such as web-based graphic interfaces. The Coast Guard believes the internet and mobile availability will allow greater numbers of mariners to access this information, and to do so in a more-timely, reliable, convenient, and customized manner. Currently, the only way to obtain this information is to tune in to local Coast Guard broadcasts that take place on very high frequency (VHF) marine radio two or more times per day. Comments must be received by 28 July. "

Details are here:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-05-29/pdf/2020-11619.pdf

Willhound

Nice. Hopefully CCG will follow suit. It shouldn't be hard as the notices are text based anyway and read by a robot voice. At least here anyway.

Ian

As long as it’s in addition too and not instead. Not everyone has a smart phone nor get RSS feeds. 

LaRea

Correct - there are no plans to discontinue VHF  broadcasts.  

The guy running the project is a good friend of mine ... an innovative thought leader who has been pulling the organization in this direction for a while.  They are really interested in getting public feedback.  Whatever people say here, I'll probably summarize it and submit it as a comment.  Feel free to speak your mind!

LaRea

LaRea said:

Correct - there are no plans to discontinue VHF  broadcasts.  

Update:  There were ORIGINALLY no plans to discontinue VHF broadcasts of BNMs.

Here's what the USCG learned from last year's public comments:
1)  Support is strong for customized access to BNMs by phone and laptop.

2) In high-traffic areas, people said:  When we get widespread online distribution of BNMs, you should stop cluttering VHF 16 with BNM announcements. 

So now, the USCG is considering whether to eventually phase out the VHF broadcasts in certain areas.  As before, they really want public feedback.  Details are here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/07/15/2021-15059/proposed-distribution-of-scheduled-navigation-safety-messages-broadcast-notice-to-mariners-by-mobile

"Before broadcasts in any particular location are phased out, mariners can anticipate that the Coast Guard will thoroughly announce and remind mariners about how to access the information by the new web and mobile methods. Only routine broadcasts are being considered for phase out; the Coast Guard will continue to choose to broadcast urgent and safety broadcasts on VHF as necessary."