Port Meteorological Officers

The Port Meteorological Officer (PMO) is a representative of the national meteorological service (NMS) and is the primary contact with local maritime authorities and the maritime community at large.

The position of PMO is important because it contributes directly to the effectiveness and efficiency of the Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) scheme.

Without the dedication and enthusiasm of the PMO to maintain an active national VOS Fleet (VOF), the quality and quantity of recorded and reported meteorological and oceanographic data from ships would be adversely affected. This has serious implications for national meteorological services that;

• Provide an operational marine forecasting and warning service;
• Undertake climate monitoring and research; and
• Supply data to end users.

The office of the PMO should preferably be located at the main port. This provides the opportunity for more visits to voluntary weather observing ships and quicker access to replacement equipment and instruments if necessary.

An office at the port will help to facilitate close contact with marine authorities and shipping companies, as well as passing ships' officers and crew. It also provides increased opportunities to recruit ships into the national VOS Fleet (VOF).

» View the List of International PMOs or find a PMO on Google Earth.

The functions of the PMO are varied and global in nature which means that universal standards and methods must be used to ensure consistency between nations. This is important because PMOs are encouraged to make courtesy visits, with the Master's approval, to ships of other national VOS fleets.

The functions provided by an individual PMO will be specified by the national meteorological service, having considered the area or port being serviced, and the type and volume of marine traffic.

The range of functions will include some, or all of the following;

1. To recruit ships of any nationality into, and maintain a national VOF;
2. To maintain accurate records of the ships recruited into the national VOF, including:
   • Full ship details, as required for WMO Publication No. 47;
   • All instrumentation supplied and recovered; and
   • All instrument checks and calibrations dates.
3. To regularly visit ships recruited into the national VOF to:
   • Maintain contact with the Observers;
   • Provide ongoing training to 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 mandatory consumables;
   • Recover and inspect completed logbooks and autographic charts; and
   • Recover electronic logbook data.
4. Provide the following services, regardless of the ship's nationality and country of recruitment:
   • Perform a barometer check;
   • Check meteorological code tables;
   • Check instructions for Observers; and
   • Provide advice on bulletins, including a list of areas for which forecasts are issued and to update the relevant facsimile broadcast schedules.
5. At the request of the Master of any ship, regardless of country of recruitment, perform the following services:
   • Check the meteorological and selected oceanographic instruments; and
   • Provide advice or assistance on meteorological matters.
6. Promote and maintain liaison with:
   • National Meteorological Service (NMS);
   • Neighbouring PMOs;
   • Harbour authorities and shipping companies; and
   • Merchant marine schools and yacht clubs.
7. Enquire about problems that may be experienced with:
   • The transmission of meteorological and oceanographic observations to a Land Earth Stations or other communications facility.
   • The reception and adequacy of forecasts, bulletins and facsimile broadcasts, and to bring this information to the attention of the national meteorological service.
8. To support complementary national, regional and international marine meteorological and oceanographic programmes:
   • The deployment of meteorological drifting buoys;
   • The deployment of profiling floats;
   • The Ship-of-Opportunity Programme (SOOP); and
   • The Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme (ASAP).