Guidelines to Port Meteorological Officers

1. Guidelines to Port Meteorological Officers

2. Role of the PMO • The PMO is a representative of the National Meteorological Service (NMS), and is the primary contact with local marine authorities and the maritime community at large. • The international PMO network is vital to the success of the JCOMM VOS Scheme, to; • Maintain the strength of the international VOS. • Maintain the quality and frequency of ships’ weather reports.

3. Responsibilities of the PMO • Broadly defined by the WMO; • WMO Technical Regulations (WMO No. 49). • Guide to Marine Meteorological Services (471). • Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (558). • Specifically defined by the NMS having considered the port being serviced, and the type and volume of marine traffic. • The range of functions will include:

4. Functions of the PMO • Recruit ships of any nationality into, and maintain a national VOS fleet.

5. Functions of the PMO • Regularly visit ships recruited into the national VOS fleet to; • Maintain contact with the Observers. • Provide ongoing training to the Observers. • Maintain and inspect the meteorological and selected oceanographic instruments. • Check the presence and condition of supplied handbooks, meteorological tables and charts. • Maintain the ship's supply of logbooks, autographic charts, muslin, wicks and other consumables. • Recover and inspect completed logbooks and autographic charts.

6. Functions of the PMO • Maintain accurate records of ships recruited into the national VOS fleet, including; • Full ship details, as required for WMO Pub 47. (fill VOSClim Ship Recruitment Form) • All instrumentation supplied and recovered. • All instrument checks and calibrations, including dates.

7. Functions of the PMO • Upon the request of the Master of any ship and regardless of its country of recruitment; • Check the meteorological and selected oceanographic instruments. • Provide advice or assistance on meteorological matters.

8. Functions of the PMO • provide the following services to ships, regardless of their nationality and country of recruitment; • Perform a barometer check. • Check meteorological code tables. • Check instructions for Observers. • Install TURBOWIN and Meteoclass software in sat-c terminal • Provide advice on bulletins, including a list of areas for which forecasts are issued and to update the relevant facsimile broadcast schedules.

9. Functions of the PMO • Promote and maintain liaison with; • The NMS. (O/o DDGM(WF) Pune) • Neighbouring PMOs. • Harbour authorities and shipping companies. • Merchant marine schools.

10. Functions of the PMO • Inquire from ship's officers of any problems that may be experienced, such as • The transmission of observations (meteorological or oceanographic) to a Land Earth Stations (LES) or other facility. • Explain code 41 (For the transmission of meteorological observations, free of cost) • The reception and adequacy of forecasts, bulletins and facsimile broadcasts, and to bring pertinent comments to the attention of the NMS.

11. Functions of the PMO • Support complementary national, regional and international marine programmes, such as; • Drifting Buoy Programme. • Argo Float Programme. • Ship of Opportunity Programme. • Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme.

12. Keep in your mind • Number of ships in VOS is not important It is the number of ships which reports that count • Coded Observations are worthless if they are not received at the Forecasting Office • Doesn’t matter which country a ship reports for, so long as it reports.

13. Ship Visits • Visits to IVOF Ships • Visits to Foreign VOS What makes an effective visit?

14. IVOF - Before Visit Preparation is the key Prioritise ships to visit • Read notes on last visit • Check Observation’s quality Be informed ready to target any problem areas

15. During Visit Purpose of visit - to thank for Observations, to encourage, to train, to check instruments, to issue supplies Visit Master - discuss Observations programme, forecasts, voyage, marine industry • On Bridge - check instruments, stationery • Ask to see Log book - discuss coding with duty officer & discuss any coding errors • View transmission format on hard copy of telex messages • Collect information required in VOSCLIM form

16. After Visit • Record details of visit in VOS database • Follow up on any issues • Advise by Email, or mail supplies

17. Important Factors • Real Time access to GTS SHIP Observations • Benefits of preparedness • Constant monitoring of Observations and follow up visits to ships are crucial • Providing ships with clear instructions

18. Some Pointers • Remember Ships are doing us a favour - thank and encourage them to ensure continued Observations. • Credibility - PMO is the interface between Met Service & Maritime industry • Visits provide intelligence on changes in Maritime industry • Discretion required with info learned

19. On Board • Same as national VOS • Support, thank, encourage, discuss value of their Observations • If ship unknown - ask if doing Observations? • Look at logbook and transmission format Discuss any coding problems

20. Ship Recruitment • Which ships to target? Try to recruit newly constructed ship • Seek permission from Shipping Company Satisfy local requirements - charter length, route, interest, communications

21. Barometer Comparisons on Foreign VOS Ships Find out the Barometer Type and Setting before making the comparison • Is it a PAB with MSL Correction Table? • Is it an Aneroid set to MSL? • Is it an Aneroid set to station level and used with a MSL correction table?

22. Comparison Must compare like with like • After comparison, calibration label issued must not be ambiguous • Ship’s Officer must understand how any correction is to be applied

23. Summary of Key Factors which make PMO Effective • Visiting • Preparedness, Access to real time GTS OBs • Recruitment • Follow up • Barometer comparisons • Determining barometer setting, unambiguous labels • Performance Monitoring • Constant checking