- Two new high power marine communication stations will be established at Charleville (Qld) and Wiluna (WA).
Charleville and Wiluna are AMSA sites and they have two purposes:
- to support the HF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) system used by International vessels (generally no State survey vessels will use DSC)
- and to provide weather broadcasts and warnings on HF for vessels in State survey made on behalf of the Bureau of Meteorology.
To view relevant information on the AMSA website, click on the logo below
New services will be established by State and Territory authorities.
AMSA services will now focus on large commercial shipping (vessels of more than 300 tonnes gross) and on vessels operating beyond Australia's 200 nautical mile waters. The new State and Territory radio stations (nine of them) will all be prefixed with the call sign "Coast Radio".
All "Coast Radio" stations will be monitoring distress frequencies 4125, 6215 and 8291 kHz 24 hrs / 7 days.
It should be noted that smaller vessels fitted with Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) compatible equipment may continue to use this system. State and Territory Authorities will begin to provide distress and safety communications to fishing vessels, smaller commercial vessels and pleasure craft to provide at least equivalent distress monitoring that Telstra provided.
In Tasmania, Marine and Safety Tasmania are working with the Tasmanian Smallcraft Marine Radio Group, affectionately known as TASMAR, to form Coast Radio Hobart and to provide the service, which will begin operation from 1 July 2002.
Coast Radio Hobart
Coast Radio Hobart will be a dual-purpose station. It will monitor the 4, 6 & 8 kHz distress frequencies 24 hours, 7 days a week on behalf of MAST to meet Tasmaniašs obligations to the "Coast Radio" network.
TASMAR will also change their radio station name to Coast Radio Hobart and provide their full range of services (plus improved services to fisherman) under the Coast Radio Hobart call sign. The new arrangements will provide a 24 hour service with the Hobart Ports Corporation supporting TASMAR and monitoring Coast Radio Hobart during the period from 7.45 p.m. to 7.15 a.m.
This has previously been a voluntary arrangement but Hobart Ports will now be funded out of the Commonwealth funds received by MAST. Hobart Ports prime role will be to monitor for distress calls on the HF distress frequencies.
This upgraded Statewide coverage will include all of Tasmanian waters (i.e. Aus-Coast Area D) and will be capable of working vessels up to the Victorian coastline in the higher frequencies.
A similar Victorian distress monitoring station has been established at Point Lonsdale by the Victorian Department of Transport and will be known as Coast Radio Melbourne.
The Federal government has allocated $89,000 over three years towards the establishment, maintenance and operation of Coast Radio Hobart. MAST is administering the funds and $55,000 has already been spent in purchasing new equipment to facilitate a reliable service.
Current TASMAR operators will continue with the new service so you can still speak to Stuart Braunholz , Mike Hooper and Peter Woolley .
Coast Radio Hobart will continue the three skeds per day as exists at present with TASMAR at 0745, 1345 and 1903 hours with commercial fishermen access on 4620 kHz.
The new Coast Radio Hobart will provide a clearer and vastly improved service over the current Melbourne Radio distress communication system and will in fact be similar to the old Hobart Radio service.
MAST will shortly advise all commercial vessel owners with HF radios of the new arrangements in writing.
To view the MAST website, click on the logo below.
Maria Island VHF Base Station
In other news a new remote VHF base station is being established on Maria Island by MAST and should be on-line by 1 July 2002. This will enable Coast Radio Hobart to monitor VHF traffic on Channel 16 along the south east coast of Tasmania, 24 hours per day/7 days per week. In addition weather broadcasts and skeds will also be made by Coast Radio Hobart for the East Coast using the new Mt Maria VHF base station.
Scamander Radio
Both Scamander and Mersey Radio have now ceased operations and will come under the umbrella of the Tasmanian Smallcraft Marine Radio Group mainly for funding reasons.
The Tasmanian Smallcraft Marine Radio Group still needs more members and funds to provide upgraded equipment and services. The $10 joining fee and $30 subscription per year seems like a very wise investment.
All Tasmanian commercial fishermen are encouraged to support and join the Tasmanian Smallcraft Marine Radio Group.
An Application form can be downloaded here.
