[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 33, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 33CFR161.18]

[Page 565-567]
 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 161--VESSEL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart B--Vessel Movement Reporting System
 
Sec. 161.18  Reporting requirements.

    (a) A Center may: (1) Direct a vessel to provide any of the 
information set forth in Table 161.18(a) (IMO Standard Ship Reporting 
System);

         Table 161.18(a)--The IMO Standard Ship Reporting System
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A           ALPHA............  Ship.............  Name, call sign or
                                                   ship station
                                                   identity, and flag.
B           BRAVO............  Dates and time of  A 6 digit group giving
                                event.             day of month (first
                                                   two digits), hours
                                                   and minutes (last
                                                   four digits). If
                                                   other than UTC state
                                                   time zone used.
C           CHARLIE..........  Position.........  A 4 digit group giving
                                                   latitude in degrees
                                                   and minutes suffixed
                                                   with N (north) or S
                                                   (south) and a 5 digit
                                                   group giving
                                                   longitude in degrees
                                                   and minutes suffixed
                                                   with E (east) or W
                                                   (west); or.
D           DELTA............  Position.........  True bearing (first 3
                                                   digits) and distance
                                                   (state distance) in
                                                   nautical miles from a
                                                   clearly identified
                                                   landmark (state
                                                   landmark).
E           ECHO.............  True course......  A 3 digit group.
F           FOXTROT..........  Speed in knots     A 3 digit group.
                                and tenths of
                                knots.
G           GOLF.............  Port of Departure  Name of last port of
                                                   call.

[[Page 566]]


H           HOTEL............  Date, time and     Entry time expressed
                                point of entry     as in (B) and into
                                system.            the entry position
                                                   expressed as in (C)
                                                   or (D).
I           INDIA............  Destination and    Name of port and date
                                expected time of   time group expressed
                                arrival.           as in (B).
J           JULIET...........  Pilot............  State whether a deep
                                                   sea or local pilot is
                                                   on board.
K           KILO.............  Date, time and     Exit time expressed as
                                point of exit      in (B) and exit
                                from system.       position expressed as
                                                   in (C) or (D).
L           LIMA.............  Route information  Intended track.
M           MIKE.............  Radio............  State in full names of
                                                   communications
                                                   stations/frequencies
                                                   guarded.
N           NOVEMBER.........  Time of next       Date time group
                                report.            expressed as in (B).
O           OSCAR............  Maximum present    4 digit group giving
                                static draught     meters and
                                in meters.         centimeters.
P           PAPA.............  Cargo on board...  Cargo and brief
                                                   details of any
                                                   dangerous cargoes as
                                                   well as harmful
                                                   substances and gases
                                                   that could endanger
                                                   persons or the
                                                   environment.
Q           QUEBEC...........  Defects, damage,   Brief detail of
                                deficiencies or    defects, damage,
                                limitations.       deficiencies or other
                                                   limitations.
R           ROMEO............  Description of     Brief details of type
                                pollution or       of pollution (oil,
                                dangerous goods    chemicals, etc) or
                                lost.              dangerous goods lost
                                                   overboard; position
                                                   expressed as in (C)
                                                   or (D).
S           SIERRA...........  Weather            Brief details of
                                conditions.        weather and sea
                                                   conditions
                                                   prevailing.
T           TANGO............  Ship's             Details of name and
                                representative     particulars of ship's
                                and/or owner.      representative and/or
                                                   owner for provision
                                                   of information.
U           UNIFORM..........  Ship size and      Details of length,
                                type.              breadth, tonnage, and
                                                   type, etc., as
                                                   required.
V           VICTOR...........  Medical personnel  Doctor, physician's
                                                   assistant, nurse, no
                                                   medic.
W           WHISKEY..........  Total number of    State number.
                                persons on board.
X           XRAY.............  Miscellaneous....  Any other information
                                                   as appropriate.
                                                   [i.e., a detailed
                                                   description of a
                                                   planned operation,
                                                   which may include:
                                                   its duration;
                                                   effective area; any
                                                   restrictions to
                                                   navigation;
                                                   notification
                                                   procedures for
                                                   approaching vessels;
                                                   in addition, for a
                                                   towing operation:
                                                   configuration, length
                                                   of the tow, available
                                                   horsepower, etc.; for
                                                   a dredge or floating
                                                   plant: configuration
                                                   of pipeline, mooring
                                                   configuration, number
                                                   of assist vessels,
                                                   etc.].
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Establish other means of reporting for those vessels unable to 
report on the designated frequency; or
    (3) Require reports from a vessel in sufficient time to allow 
advance vessel traffic planning.
    (b) All reports required by this part shall be made as soon as is 
practicable on the frequency designated in Table 161.12(c) (VTS and VMRS 
Centers, Call Signs/MMSI, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas).
    (c) When not exchanging communications, a VMRS User must maintain a 
listening watch as described in Sec. 26.04(e) of this chapter on the 
frequency designated in Table 161.12(c) (VTS and VMRS Centers, Call 
Signs/MMSI, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas). In addition, 
the VMRS User must respond promptly when hailed and communicate in the 
English language.
    Note: As stated in 47 CFR 80.148(b), a VHF watch on Channel 16 
(156.800 MHz) is not required on vessels subject to the Vessel Bridge-
to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act and participating in a Vessel Traffic 
Service (VTS) system when the watch is maintained on both the vessel 
bridge-to-bridge frequency and a designated VTS frequency.

[[Page 567]]

    (d) A vessel must report:
    (1) Any significant deviation from its Sailing Plan, as defined in 
Sec. 161.19, or from previously reported information; or
    (2) Any intention to deviate from a VTS issued measure or vessel 
traffic routing system.
    (e) When reports required by this part include time information, 
such information shall be given using the local time zone in effect and 
the 24-hour military clock system.

[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by USCG-2003-14757, 
68 FR 39366, July 1, 2003]