Marine Glossary

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NAVTEX

An international medium frequency (518 kHz) radio-based teleprinter system designed to supply marine safety information (MSI) including coastal and offshore warnings and forecasts as well as Local Notices to Mariners to vessels within about 200 miles of the shore station. U.S. broadcasts originate from 12 Coast Guard facilities. Dedicated NAVTEX receivers and printers are available, or this is an option available with some models of conventional weather fax units.

NAVTEX equipment has been required on most vessels over 300 gross tons since August, 1993. The information transmitted is relevant to all sizes and types of vessel and the selective message-rejection feature ensures that every mariner can receive safety information tailored to their particular needs. With a NAVTEX option on a weather fax receiver left in the stand-by mode, these messages would appear automatically when transmitted. NAVTEX broadcast stations, schedules, and sample messages are included in RES-12.

Sample weather reports via NAVTEX are given in G442.

See also Global Marine Distress and Safety System.