[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 5454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2092]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 95-006]


Discontinuance of Coast Guard High Frequency Morse 
Radiotelegraphy Services

agency: Coast Guard, DOT.

action: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

summary: the Coast guard intends to discontinue all high frequency 
Morse (HFCW) radiotelegraph services. More effective means of 
communication are now in use, and vessels in maritime areas over which 
the United States exercises responsibility for search and rescue no 
longer rely on HFCW radiotelegraphy as a primary means of 
communication.

dates: All Coast Guard HFCW radiotelegraphy services will be 
discontinued on April 1, 1995.

for further information contact: Lieutenant Adolph Keyes, Chief, 
Telecommunications Policy Section (G-TTM), Office of Command, Control 
and Communication, U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20593-0001, telephone (202) 267-6598, telefax (202) 267-
4617, or telex 892427 (COASTGUARD WASH). Normal office hours are 
between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday, except 
holidays.

supplementary information: Since 1959, the Coast Guard has used high 
frequency Morse radiotelegraphy (HFCW) to communicate with government 
and merchant ships, primarily to broadcast safety, warnings and 
navigation information, receive position and meteorological reports 
from ships, and to communicate with ships at sea reporting a distress 
alert or medical or vessel emergency.
    The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) amendments 
to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention were adopted in 1988 
and initial provisions entered into force in February, 1992. GMDSS 
methods provide the mariner with improved means for initiating or 
relaying distress alerts, and receiving safety information pertinent to 
its area of operation. Components of the GMDSS now available include 
navigational telex (NAVTEX), simplex teletype over radio (SITOR), 
emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB), search and rescue 
radar transponders (SARTS) and International Maritime Satellite 
(INMARSAT). NAVTEX, SITOR and INMARSAT's SafetyNet provide the mariner 
with the same components of information the Coast Guard currently 
broadcasts over high frequency Morse (HFCW) radiotelegraphy. Government 
and merchant vessels no longer rely on high frequency Morse (HFCW) 
radiotelegraphy as their primary means of safety radiocommunications 
when operating within maritime areas, where the United States exercises 
responsibility for search and rescue and navigational safety.
    U.S. commercial coast radio stations provide adequate radio 
frequency and time of day coverage of maritime areas to ensure a high 
probability of reception of distress and safety alerts. Provisions 
exist under the Communications Act for prompt processing of distress 
and safety messages and forwarding to the appropriate U.S. Coast Guard 
rescue coordination center.
    The U.S. Coast guard will continue to provide HF SITOR service from 
Communication Stations Kodiak (NOJ), Honolulu (NMO), and Guam (NRV), 
and Communications Area Master Stations San Francisco (NMC) and 
Portsmouth (NMN). Additionally, government and merchant vessels can 
contact designated commercial coast radio stations on HFCW to pass 
safety, medical emergency and Automated-Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue 
(AMVER) reports to the Coast Guard at no cost to the originator. More 
information concerning Coast Guard distress and safety radio circuits 
can be obtained from the Coast Guard Navigation Information Service 
computer bulletin board, accessible by modem at (703) 313-5910, or by 
Internet from `Telnet fedworld.gov'.
    The Coast Guard believes the current implemented provisions of 
GMDSS and commercial coast radio station operating Morse telegraphy 
services (HFCW) within the high frequency bands are sufficient to 
ensure distress and safety communication services. Therefore, effective 
1 April 1995, the Coast Guard proposes to cease all high frequency 
Morse (HFCW) radiotelegraphy services currently operated from Coast 
Guard Communication Stations Kodiak, Honolulu, and Guam, and 
Communications Area Master Stations San Francisco and Portsmouth.

    Dated: January 13, 1995.
D.E. Ciancaglini,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Command, Control and 
Communications.
[FR Doc. 95-2092 Filed 1-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M