South Bound II VAX498 - Ship routing and weather forecasting

HIGHLIGHTS OF NET OPERATION SINCE 1987

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Herb provides a voluntary ship-routing/weather forecasting service, on marine HF/USB frequency 12359.0.USB. Alternate frequencies may be announced from time to time during the "NET" depending on and subject to propagation, including 22162.0, 16528.0 and 8294.0.

Vessels are requested to pre-registered via email indicating planned departure/check-in date, location and destination a few days before checking in, between 2030 and 2100 UTC. Herb will only respond to pre-registered, logged in vessel, except in case of an emergency.

After establishing contact with the South Bound II NET pre-registered vessels are encouraged to check in and stay in daily contact until completion of passage. As part of the service please provide current latitude and longitude to the nearest minute when called back; also provide true wind speed and wind direction as well as other pertinent data such as rough sea state and squalls. Each checked in vessel will receive daily a four to five day route forecast based on Herb's recommended way points, as necessary, to assist in avoiding potentially unfavorable conditions. If recommended waypoints will not be followed, the skipper should indicate so as the provided forecast may not hold for a different heading.

THERE HAS BEEN NO PROPAGATION SOUTH OF 33N FROM 43N FOR THE LAST 3 WEEKS

Individual vessel forecasts are prepared in advance of airtime, utilizing and analyzing up to five numerical forecast models, incorporating other available data and products and then producing revised surface chart for detailed analysis and forecast preparation. Forecasts are provided as value added information, not as a re-broadcast of otherwise available official marine high seas forecasts.

NOTE: It is recommended that mariners on the High Seas regularly monitor marine text and voice forecasts as issued by the U.S. National Weather Service, the NHC and CFH Halifax for the Atlantic areas via Coast Guard or public broadcast stations. Computer generated facsimile charts and grib files downloaded via HF e-mail or satellite should be used with caution as they are unedited and based usually on only one model.

Primary area of coverage is the North Atlantic between the Eastern Seaboard and Europe, including the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas Islands and the Gulf of Mexico. Limited coverage is available for the South Atlantic and the Eastern Pacific subject to HF propagation. Due to time constraints forecasts are not available via E-mail, fax or telephone except in case of an emergency. This service is intended for extended offshore passages.

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NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Reference request of an email a few days before checking in, please also provide avg speed, number of crew and a list of safety equipment, that is 406 Epirb, life raft. personal beacons etc.

Herb is scaling down, after 25 years of NET operation after unjustified negative press and does not announce anymore that he is standing by at 2030 UTC on 12359.0.He wil just do a roll call of readable and expected check-ins and commence contact with each vessel.

If he does not expect any traffic, or does not hear any registered check-ins within 15 to 30 minutes, he will stop monitoring