The U.S. Coast Guard Office of Operating and Environmental Standards (CG-OES) has issued a new Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) reminding vessel owners, operators, and crews to closely track changing marine weather conditions and forecasts before and during their voyages.
The bulletin highlights a range of available resources for accessing reliable marine weather information and encourages mariners to review all tools at their disposal when planning routes or making decisions during transit. According to the Coast Guard, consistently monitoring weather updates is an essential part of maintaining vessel safety, especially as conditions can shift quickly at sea.
The MSIB also recommends that companies review or update their internal procedures to ensure vessel masters know how often they should be checking weather conditions—both prior to departure and throughout a voyage.
The full bulletin, which outlines recommended best practices and weather information sources, is available electronically on the Deputy Commandant for Operations website here.
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