MarAd Expands Electronic Bulletin Board

MarAd has expanded its computerized bulletin board to include "MarAd Advisories" and "Special Warnings to Mariners." This new section includes "MarAd Advisories In Effect" and "Special Warnings In Effect" issued to mariners from the MarAd's Office of Ship Operations and the U.S. State Department's Office of Maritime and Land Transport.

MarAd Advisories rapidly disseminate information on maritime danger, safety and government policy and other timely matters pertaining to U.S.-flag vessel operations. They are issued by the Office of Ship Operations to vessel masters, operators and other U.S. maritime interests via telex message. Special Warnings to mariners are issued by the U.S. State Department's Office of Maritime and Land Transport. These warnings are the U.S. government's principal means of informing U.S. seafarers of official U.S. and foreign government proclamations affecting shipping, as well as political information relevant to ship operations.

They are transmitted to mariners through the DMA's world-wide Navigational Information Network.

MarAd Advisories and Special Warnings to Mariners are published in the Defense Mapping Agency's Notice to Mariners.

MarAd's electronic bulletin board, called MARlinespike, is accessible by telephone from computers with modems. Information can be read online or downloaded for future reference.

The telephone number is (202) 366-8505. (Modem setting: 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit [8nl].) It also can be accessed via the Fed World Gateway (#72).

Additional information on how to access or use the service is available by calling (800) 9US-FLAG.

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.