Marine Publications

National Weather Service Marine Forecasts

Publications

Marine Service Charts (MSC) - Free

Marine Service Charts (MSC) list frequencies, schedules and locations of stations disseminating NWS products. They also contain additional weather information of interest to the mariner. Charts are also available via the Internet as listed below.

Both sides of the charts are available, both in JPG and PDF formats. The front side of the charts shows the map and the back side shows the text that accompanies the chart. PDF format is helpful if you need to zoom in on a specific area of the chart.

Note - The only Marine Service Chart routinely updated is MSC-15, Alaskan Waters. Updated information formerly included in other MSCs can most often be found on the Marine Forecasts or NOAA Weather Radio webpages or from your Local Weather Forecast Office.

Location Number JPG Format PDF Format

Alaskan Waters new MSC-15 Front Back Front Back

OTHER PUBLICATIONS OF VALUE TO THE MARINER

NOAA PUBLICATIONS
Sea State Photographs for Determining Wind Speed the Beaufort Wind Force Scale (small version)
Sea State Photographs for Determining Wind Speed the Beaufort Wind Force Scale (large version)
Sky Watcher Cloud Chart
Mariner's Weather Log Magazine
Voluntary Observing Ship Program Brochure (Page 1) (Page 2) Free⁶
NWS Observing Handbook NO.1 (05/10) Free ⁶
Marine Report User Guide
Worldwide Marine Radiofacsimile Broadcast Schedules
NOAA Weather Radio Brochure
National Ocean Service United States Coast Pilot
Directory of Private Weather Services - Free¹⁰
Hurricane brochures - Free¹⁰
Tropical Cyclones - A Preparedness Guide - Free¹⁰
Mariners Guide for Hurricane Awareness in the North Atlantic Basin (2.3 MB PDF)
Tsunami Safety Brochure
TSUNAMI The Great Waves - Free ¹¹

NOAA SEA GRANT PUBLICATIONS
Search for NOAA Sea Grant Publications

FCC PUBLICATIONS
Title 47 Part 80 - Code of Federal Regulations

NGA PUBLICATIONS
NGA Publication 117 "Radio Navigational Aids" (2014)¹³
American Practical Navigator (Bowdich) Publication 9 (2002)¹³
Pilot Chart Atlas, 5 areas ¹³
Sailing Directions, 42 volumes¹³
U.S. Notices to Mariners¹³
U.S. Notices to Mariners #1, Special Notice to Mariners Paragraphs

U.S. COAST GUARD PUBLICATIONS
USCG Local Notices to Mariners
USCG Light Lists
USCG Proceedings Magazine
U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs)
{24 hour Regional Contacts for Emergencies }

NAVY PUBLICATIONS
U.S. NAVY Hurricane Havens/Heavy Weather Handbooks + more

Non-U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS
Canadian Coast Guard Radio Aids to Marine Navigation (RAMN) - $18.95 Cdn
The British Admiralty List of Radio Signals⁸

Volume 1 Coast Radio Stations (2 parts)

Volume 2 Radio Navigational Aids, Satellite Navigation Systems, Legal Time,
Radio Time Signals & Electronic Fixing Systems

Volume 3 Maritime Safety Information Services (2 Parts)

Volume 4 Meteorological Observation Stations

Volume 5 Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems

Volume 6 Pilot Services, Vessel Traffic Services & Port Operations (5 parts)

INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS

The SafetyNET Users Handbook - Free
International SafetyNET Manual, 2011; IMO-908E¹²
NAVTEX Manual, 2012; IMO-951E¹²
GMDSS Handbook, 2013; IMO-IF970E¹²
SOLAS Consolidated Edition, 2014; IMO-IF110E¹²
SOLAS CHAPTER V SAFETY OF NAVIGATION
WMO Publication 9 - Weather Reporting ¹⁵
Volume A - Observing Stations

Volume C1 - Meteorological Bulletins

Volume C2 - Transmission Programmes (Includes broadcast information)

Volume D - Information for Shipping (Includes broadcast information)

WMO Publication 49 Technical Regulations Basic Documents Volume I � General Meteorological Standards and Recommended Practices 2011/2012
WMO Publication 471 - Guide to Marine Meteorological Services, Third edition; 2001¹⁵
WMO Publication 558 - Manual On Marine Meteorological Services; 2012 edition¹⁵
Volume I Global Aspects

Volume II Regional Aspects

MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS
Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment 2009 Report

2. Available Internet: Via http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/index.html
    Or from your local National Weather Service Forecast Office.
6. (Some publications available only to ships participating in U.S. VOS program)
    National Weather Service
    Voluntary Observing Ship Operations Manager
    Paula Rychtar
    NDBC Bldg #1100
    Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
    228-688-1457
    228-688-3153 (FAX)
    paula.rychtar@noaa.gov
    http://www.vos.noaa.gov
8. UK Hydrographic Office
    Admiralty Way, Tauton, Somerset
    TA1 2DNm United Kingdom
    +44(0) 1823 337900 x3333
    +44(0) 1823 323753 FAX
    info@hydro.gov.uk
   http://www.ukho.gov.uk
    http://www.admiralty.co.uk/SitePages/Distributors.aspx (Distributors)

10. National Weather Service
       Industrial Meteorology Staff
       1325 East-West Highway
       Silver Spring, MD 20910
       (301)-713-0258
       (301)-713-0610
       nws.im@noaa.gov
       http://www.nws.noaa.gov/im/
11. International Tsunami Information Center
        1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176
        Honolulu, HI 96818
        808-725-6050
        808-725-6055 (FAX)
        itic.tsunami@noaa.gov
        http://www.tsunamiwave.org

12. International Maritime Organization (IMO)
        4 Albert Embankment
        London SE1 7SR UK
        +44 207 7357611
        +44 207 5873210 FAX (general enquiries)
        +44 207 5873241 FAX (publication sales)
        Telex: 23588
        info@imo.org
        http://www.imo.org
13. Available on-line and no longer printed by U.S. Government. Many NGA publications available
       from commercial vendors, see NGA webpage for references.
15. American Meteorological Society
    Attn: WMO Publications Center
    45 Beacon Street
    Boston, MA 02108 USA
    1-617-227-2425 Fax: 1-617-742-8718
    wmopubs@ametsoc.org
    http://www.wmo.int/e-catalog/index_en.php?SORT=N&q;=