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Revised guidelines on the movements of vessels during heavy weather


Department of Transportation and Communications
PUNONGHIMPILAN TANOD BAYBAYIN NG PILIPINAS
(Headquarters Philippine Coast Guard)
139 25th Street, Port Area
1018 Manila

 

HPCG/CG-3

27 June 2007

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR
NUMBER ........................ 04-07)
 

REVISED GUIDELINES ON MOVEMENTS OF VESSELS
DURING HEAVY WEATHER

 

  1. AUTHORITY:
    RA 5173 as amended by PD 601
     

  2. PURPOSE:
    To prescribe policies and procedures in order to enhance maritime safety especially during the occurrence of a tropical depression or typhoon that makes sea travel dangerous.
     

  3. SCOPE:
    This policy applies to all vessels that may be affected by the prevailing weather disturbance.
     

  4. DEFINITION OF TERMS:
     

    1. Typhoon Signal Nr 1. - is declared if winds of 30-60 kph (approximately 16-32 knots) are expected in at least 36 hours.
       

    2. Typhoon Signal Nr 2 - is raised if winds of greater than  60 kph up to 100 kph (approximately 32-54 knots and above) is expected in the locality in at least 24 hours.
       

    3. Typhoon Signal Nr. 3 - is raised if winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph (approximately 54-100 knots and above) is expected in at least 18 hours usually accompanied by heavy rains.
       

    4. Typhoon Signal Nr. 4 - is raised if winds of greater than 185 kph (approximately 100 knots and above) are expected in the locality in at least 12 hours usually accompanied by heavy rains.
       

    5. Danger Sector - is defined as the area where a typhoon may probably pass during the next 48 hours graphically constructed as follows:
       

      1. From the last known position of the typhoon, draw lines 40 degrees on both sides of the typhoon track.
         

      2. Take the maximum predicted distance that the typhoon travels during the next 48 hours
         

      3. Using the last known position of the typhoon as the center, draw an arc with a radius equal to the predicted distance determined in the para E2 above. The area bounded by this arc and the two radial lines drawn in para E1 above is the DANGER SECTOR.
         

    6. Vessel - Any ship, watercraft or other conveyances used or capable of being used as a means of transportation.
       

  5. POLICY:
     

    1. General: 
       

      1. Safety of Life at Sea should take precedence at all times. Whenever there is a weather disturbance within the Philippine area of responsibility (AOR), the PCG Station Commander (from whose AOR any vessel is scheduled to depart) and the operator/master of the vessel should study carefully the typhoon movement to ensure that the vessel will not be within the area directly affected by typhoon signals 1, 2, 3 and 4 or within the danger sector until they reach their destination.
         

      2. In the careful study of the typhoon movement, the Station Commander merely assists the master of the vessel by providing the necessary information from which the master formulates his own decision either to stay in port or move the vessel away from the typhoon. The technical information supported by the Station Commander shall not, in any manner, be construed as an instruction for the master on his possible course of action to evade the typhoon.
         

      3. Due to the distinct geographical characteristics of the different areas in the country, effects of any particular typhoon signal varies from one place to another whenever it is hoisted. As such, responsibility and discretion is left to the ship owners/masters of the vessels for the decision to sail when PSWS Nr 1 is hoisted in an area that would affect the vessel. It is expected that shipowners/masters of the vessels will act according to their best judgment in order to save lives and property.

       

    2. Specific Guidelines:
       

      1. Movements of any craft/vessel is left to the decision and responsibility of its master/ ship owner if PSWS Number 1 is hoisted within the vessel's point of origin, the route, and destination.
         

      2. No vessel of 2,000 gross tons or below shall sail except to take shelter if PSWS Number 2 is hoisted within its point of origin, the route and point of destination.
         

      3. No vessel shall sail except to take shelter if PSWS Number 3/ PSWS Number 4 is hoisted within its point of origin, the route and point of destination.
         

      4. Vessels allowed to take shelter or ride out the storm as covered by paragraphs 2 and 3 of this section, shall depart without passengers or cargo on board.
         

      5. The Boarding Teams must advise the vessel on the current weather report and forecast prior to the departure of the vessel.

       

  6. PROCEDURES:
     

    1. Every Master or any person-in-charge of the vessel shall ensure that the latest weather bulletin is received and the track of the typhoon is plotted on the weather chart aboardship.
       

    2. The Master or Patron, upon sensing of the danger as a result of a typhoon, shall request in writing to leave the port (if necessary) to take shelter in a safer sea, attesting therein further that the decision to leave the port is his alone.
       

    3. The Master or Patron must disembark passengers and cargo before leaving port to take shelter at a safer place.
       

    4. It is the responsibility of the Master of the vessel to take the necessary precaution to avoid risking his ship and injury to his crew and passengers.
       

  7. RESPONSIBILITY:
     

    1. Director, Coast Guard Operations Center:
       

      1. Coordinate with PAGASA on the availability of weather bulletin every 0500, 1000, 1700 and 2300 and immediately disseminate same through fastest means of communication to all CG units with priority to the area directly affected by the typhoon.
         

      2. Plot in the weather chart the track and forecast position of the typhoon.
         

      3. Advise immediately CPCG on all major maritime accidents.
         

      4. Monitor continuously all PGC units and take appropriate action on all reported maritime accidents. Recommend to CSPCG the activation of the HPCG Battle Staff for Maritime Incident in case of major incidents.
         

      5. Perform other duties as the CPCG may direct.
         

    2. Coast Guard District Commanders:

      1. Monitor and get the entire weather bulletin at all times through HPCG or other available sources.
         

      2. Plot the prevailing weather condition and weather forecast for the next 72 hours at the weather board. Display the weather board in a conspicuous area for the benefit of local seafarers. Further, hoist the basic day signals to indicate the expected velocity of the winds within the next 12-24 hours. (See enclosure re characteristics of day signals.)
         

      3. Disseminate to all subordinate units and local shipping agencies the latest weather update.
         

      4. Render situation report to HPCG at intervals as indicated:

        (a) every 12 hours if signal number 1 and 2 are hoisted
        (b) every 6 hours if signal number 3 is hoisted
        (c) every 3 hours if signal number 4 is hoisted.

        (Note: SITREP to include weather and Maritime Traffic Condition.
         

      5. Monitor distress frequencies (VHF-channel 16, CW-5 khz and SSB-2182 Mghz) particularly during adverse/heavy weather condition.
         

      6. Perform other duties as the CPCG may direct.
         

    3. Coast Guard Station Commanders:
       

      1. Monitor the weather bulletin through the District Headquarters, HPCG or other available sources.
         

      2. Plot the prevailing weather condition/weather forecast for the next 72 hours on the weather board.
         

      3. Display the weather board in a conspicuous area for the benefit of local seafarers. Further, hoist the day signals to indicate the expected velocity of the winds within the next 12-24 hours.
         

      4. Disseminate to all subordinate detachments and local shipping agencies the latest weather update.
         

      5. Render situation report to the HPCG CGD at intervals as indicated

        (a) every 12 hours if signal number 1 and 2 are hoisted.
        (b) every 6 hours if signal number 3 is hoisted
        (c) every 3 hours if signal number 4 is hoisted
         

      6. Recommend to appropriate authorities the denial of departure clearance to any vessel of any category in accordance with typhoon signal hoisted.
         

      7. Ensure that master's requests to leave port for purposes of sheltering in a safer area or riding out the storm are put in writing and properly attested to.
         

      8. Ensure that vessels granted approval to leave port for the purpose of sheltering or riding out the storm have disembarked their passenger and cargoes.
         

      9. Monitor distress frequencies (VHF Channel 16, CW-5 khz and SSB-2182 Mhz) particularly during adverse weather condition.
         

      10. Perform other duties as higher headquarters may direct.

       

    4. Shipping Owners/Operators:
       

      1. Ensure that all vessels are promptly informed of the weather update, to include the areas where typhoon signals are hoisted.
         

      2. Discourage any vessel's movement except for sheltering purposes especially when typhoon signals are hoisted or expected to be hoisted within the area of origin, the route and the destination.
         

      3. Keep track of all weather report for dissemination purposes as well as monitor all vessel's movement until they reach the port safely.
         

      4. Inform the Coast Guard immediately of any unusual incident involving maritime safety such as missing craft and/or loss of contact with any of their vessels.

       

  8.  RESCISSION CLAUSE:

    This Memorandum circular rescinds MC Nr 03-98.
     

  9. EFFECTIVITY:

    This Memorandum Circular takes effect immediately.

 

(Sgd)

DAMIAN L. CARLOS
ADM               PCG
Commandant, PCG

Tags: weather, pagasa, storm, helen, helenmvprincessofthestars
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