National guidelines for marine weather broadcasts on VHF radio

• The beginning of the broadcast of forecast information should include the phrase "Please be aware: wind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 percent stronger than the forecast, stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height."
• Use the word "you" when referring to listeners.
• Messages should be concise, while still using complete sentences. Avoid acronyms (e.g. 'SAR' for search and rescue), technical terms (e.g. 'katabatic' to describe wind flow), or slang (e.g. 'obs' for observations), and offensive language.
• Summarize tabular data, except in cases where precise listings are necessary or preferred by listeners.
• All times should refer to Local Time.
• All messages should use the past or future tense.
• Messages should concentrate on the local area.
• Messages should focus on what has recently happened (past half hour) and what is forecast to happen next (focus on next 24 hours, not 7 days).
• Broadcasts should include the issue time of messages when relevant. For example, when certain wind speeds were observed, or when a storm is anticipated to pass, or the next warning is expected to be updated and available. Issue times are not needed when referring to a routine forecast.
• Offices with broadcast service areas crossing state lines should provide balanced information and not favour one state over the other.
• Information broadcast should focus on relevant weather conditions, and not other forecast information (e.g. aviation forecasts) or advertisements.

Designing a schedule should consider user requirements and the priority of broadcast message elements. User requirements that might influence what information is broadcast at particular times of the day include:

• Early morning
  1. Boaters are preparing their vessels and heading out to sea early in the morning.  This is a peak time to listen to marine radio broadcasts.
  2. Boaters are focused on the conditions for the early morning and afternoon when they are likely to return to port.
• Late afternoon
  1. Boaters are focused on returning to port and their journey home.
  2. Boaters may be venturing out for fishing overnight, planning to return later in the evening or the next morning.

Other scheduling factors to consider include:

• The number of forecast days to read out during morning and afternoon.
  1. The broadcast should be kept as succinct as possible, but with the flexibility to provide more information if requested (for example, if an extended 4-day forecast outlook is needed, it can be provided on request).
• How often and when to read out weather and wind warnings.
  1. The Bureau's Marine Wind Warnings and Hazardous Surf Warnings are reissued every 6 hours, so this should guide how often these warnings are broadcast.
  2. Forecasts are usually issued between 4-5am and 4-5pm local time, and updated every 6 hours if a Marine Wind Warning is current.
  3. Between these times, the broadcast can state that the forecast and warnings can be provided on request.

Manual broadcasts

• The script should be read out in full sentences for clear communication. Do not use jargon or slang.
• The script may be adapted to suit severity of situation based on local knowledge and experience.
• Background noise should be limited.

Automated broadcasts

• Any text to be converted to speech should have full sentences, correct spelling, and effective punctuation to ensure clear communication. Note that automated broadcasts are fixed, which may limit the ability to intervene, adapt for different types of weather severity, or provide urgent content.

Weather warnings

• In addition to the essential broadcasting of Marine Wind Warnings, radio operators should also consider the relevance of other weather warnings issued by the Bureau (e.g. Severe Weather or Thunderstorm Warnings). If appropriate to do so, the radio operator should advise the vessel operator that: “There is currently a [name the type of weather warning] in force, further details are available on request”.

Observation information

• Observation data is useful for mariners to understand the current conditions. For context, it is important to include the location (e.g. weather station) and issue time of this information. The following are types of relevant information:
  1. Wind speed and direction (in knots)
  2. Sea state including swell
  3. Visibility in nautical miles (from our position the horizon is approx. 10 nautical miles)
  4. Tidal predictions
  5. Air temperature
  6. Cloud cover.

Bar crossings

The instructions below are a guide to responding to vessel requests for information about bar conditions (for example, if the bar is safe to cross). The radio operator should reply with the following information:

"Based on current Bureau of Meteorology information, the seas are forecast as [insert] and the swell as [insert]. The next tide is [insert high/low] of [insert height] at [insert time]. [Include detail of any current BOM issued Hazardous Surf Warning for the area if in NSW or QLD]. Prior to crossing, you should stand off and observe conditions and make your own assessment of risk prior to proceeding. Extreme caution is always advised when crossing a bar”.

If the radio operator has a clear visual of the full bar area and has a suitable understanding of local bar conditions, they may provide additional ‘observed’ condition information:

"Based on current Bureau of Meteorology information, the seas are forecast as [insert] and the swell as [insert]. The next tide is [insert high/low] of [insert height] at [insert time]. [Include detail of any current BOM issued Hazardous Surf Warning for the area if in NSW or QLD]. Observed conditions on the bar… [if visible]. Prior to crossing, you should stand off and observe conditions and make your own assessment of risk prior to proceeding. Extreme caution is always advised when crossing a bar”.

1. The following safety call procedure and safety message should be made on VHF channel 16 to advise of the broadcast of weather warning and forecasts on the relevant working VHF channel:
   1. the word “SECURITE” (pronounced say-cure-a-tay) spoken three times
   2. the words “all stations”, spoken three times
   3. the words “this is” followed by the name/call sign of the station transmitting the safety message, spoken three times
   4. the words “a safety message containing weather warning and forecast information will be made on VHF channel [working channel] at [local time]. Please tune to VHF channel [e.g. working channel]”.
2. After tuning to the relevant VHF channel, at the nominated time, make the safety call followed by the safety message (using the format and content described above):
   1. the word “SECURITE” spoken three times
   2. the words “all stations”, spoken three times
   3. the words “this is” followed by the name/call sign of the station transmitting the safety message, spoken three times
   4. the urgent safety message (e.g. warnings)
   5. the non-urgent core messages (e.g. forecasts and observations)
   6. supplementary advice (e.g. tides and other relevant local conditions)
   7. optional educational messages
   8. conclude message with the words such as “this is the end of the safety message. Please tune to VHF channel 16”.

• The Bureau of Meteorology's weather forecasts and warnings should be considered the official source of information for marine radio broadcasts. This will ensure consistent information provided across jurisdictions. For more information about using additional information from other providers, please refer to the Bureau's guide on sources of marine weather information.
• The Bureau's forecasts and warnings are available free of charge via the website, or by subscription to receive via email. Audio files are available to facilitate automated broadcasts. If you would like to request access to receive weather information from the Bureau, please contact customerservice@bom.gov.au.

• More information about VHF marine radio weather services
• See the Bureau's Marine Weather Knowledge Centre for a wide range of educational resources
• Feedback on these guidelines can be submitted to customerservice@bom.gov.au