RAI-WG/IWF-NDR-SD&C/Doc. 4.1(4), p. 4

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

“MEETING OF THE RA I WORKING GROUP ON IMPROVED WEATHER FORECASTING, NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION, SERVICE DELIVERY AND COMMUNICATION”
NAIROBI, KENYA, 15-17 DECEMBER 2015 / RAI-WG/IWF-NDR-SD&C/Doc. 4.1(4)
(9.12.2015)
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Original Language: English

improving service delivery IN RA I

Marine Services

SUMMARY

(Submitted by the Secretariat)

SUMMARY AND PURPOSE OF DOCUMENT
This document provides the session with information on improving marine service delivery in RAI

ACTION PROPOSED

To note the information provided and to agree on the way forward to implement and enhance at the marine services in the region.

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DRAFT text FOR INCLUSION IN THE report of the meeting

4.1(3) IMPROVING service delivery IN RA I – marine Aspects (agenda item4.1(4))

Excerpt of the Doc on Marine Meteorology and Oceanography MMOP during the past Congress-17

Congress urged Members to strengthen their marine meteorological and oceanographic services in support of safety of life and property at sea as required under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Congress noted that operational, sustained funding for the national ocean observing systems was critical to the provision of these services. Congress further noted the important responsibilities of MetArea coordinators and encouraged Members to provide them with appropriate training and support.

Noting the achievements to date in operational ocean forecasting, Congress requested JCOMM continue to support the operational implementation of ocean forecast services and facilitating the adoption of new products stemming from ocean forecasting and analysis services. Congress requested the MMOP, working with JCOMM, to develop a marine services implementation plan that is coherent with the implementation plan for the WMO Strategy for Service Delivery and considers learning from the Global Data-processing and Forecasting System (GDPFS.)

Congress appreciated the JCOMM capacity development activities to support Members in the conduct of marine meteorological and oceanographic observations, marine monitoring and the provision of services in support of marine safety. Congress encouraged the continuing training to support improved marine forecasts and services (including the METAREA coordinators) as well as training workshops such as those on wave and storm surge forecasting. Congress requested JCOMM, with the support of the Secretary-General, to continue to evaluate national and regional requirements for CD and to develop strategies for addressing identified deficiencies for the delivery of met-ocean programmes including observations, communications, data management, forecasting and services. Congress further encouraged Members to identify their developmental requirements and to participate actively in capacity-building activities including through the enhancement of national and regional training facilities and programmes as well as through partnerships between Members.

Recalling Resolution 26 of Cg-XVI on the WMO Quality Management Framework, Congress noted with appreciation the successful conclusion of the demonstration project for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 certification of marine weather services that was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology on behalf of JCOMM. Congress noted the opportunity this project created and appreciated the resulting guideline document created to assist other countries in taking similar initiatives. Congress requested the Commission to continue to develop the quality management approach for marine and oceanographic services within the overall WMO approach and to encourage adoption of quality management by other Members. Congress noted that JCOMM had conducted an initial assessment of the functioning of the Commission following the ISO approach. Congress encouraged JCOMM in the continuing development of quality management processes and their application to the work of the Commission.

Noting the decision by the Executive Council at its sixty-fourth session (EC-64) to review and revise the WMO Technical Regulations, Congress noted the progress and emphasized the importance of the ongoing review and revision of the Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No. 558) and the Guide to Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No. 471). Congress requested that the Secretary-General submit amended regulations to the Executive Council, noting that both of these documents are referenced in external publications and particularly in IMO resolution A.(10527) regarding the World-wide Met-ocean Information and Warming Service.

Congress noted that for an increasing number of Members, marine meteorological services are provided by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services although without full special consideration for cost recovery for maritime service provision. It recommended that cost recovery be considered under risk management, and that a risk analysis be carried out in the intersessional period to allow for an evaluation of the impacts on Members and their NMHSs. Congress requested the co-presidents of JCOMM and the Secretary-General in consultation with IMO to consider this matter, taking into consideration other cost recovery processes such as with aviation services, in order to provide guidance to the Members concerned.

Actions in place by JCOMM (Excerpt from the Management Committee related outcomes – Bologna Nov 2015)

Services programme area

The Management Committee reviewed the work of the Expert Teams under the Service and Forecasting Programme as well as its interaction with other Programme Areas, including the large responsibilities of the Maritime Safety Services (MSS) team, particularly given the merging into it of the responsibilities of the former Expert Team on Marine Accident Emergency Response. MSS is also challenged by the management of SOLAS activities, which require the careful management of the partnership with IMO and IHO. There were often challenges in improving delivery of marine services whose providers came from a very traditional perspective and were not always receptive to an improved scientific approach. The coming update of WMO Publications 558 and 471 (due before JCOMM-5) is a major and significant undertaking.

The issue of Cost Recovery for marine services was raised, and the Committee cautioned that JCOMM should consider carefully how to proceed. JCOMM could learn from the example of aviation meteorology, although the level of maturity of marine products made an aggressive approach very risky with key stakeholders such as the shipping industry. JCOMM needs to be clear about the clientele using marine services (e.g., ship owners through the International Chamber of Shipping), and develop a long-term negotiating strategy.

Strategic issues, referring to the enhancement of the provision of marine services are:

1.  Risk and impact-based services: could a pilot project or approach be put in place to develop a strategy, and to identify user community requirements? The results of this discussion should be brought back to MAN (identify if a African case could be presented e.g West Africa as a follow – up of the Spanish cooperation project – Marinemet under finalization.

2.  Cost recovery: consideration of a cautious and phased approach to long-term negotiation and testing of ideas.

3.  Downscaling at the coast as a cross-cutting SFSPA issue that looks forward to present emerging and future capabilities.

4.  Quality management of data streams for services: both technical aspects and political aspects of who will implement.


APPENDIX A:

background INFORMATION

Abridged Final Report with Resolutions of the Seventeenth World Meteorological Congress – Marine Meteorology and Oceanography (paragraphs 3.1.100-3.1.137)

https://www.wmo.int/aemp/sites/default/files/wmo_1157_en.pdf#page=68

Marine Competency Requirements

The most current work on the Marine Competency Requirements is hosted on this page at JCOMM for Draft Marine Weather Competence Standard Framework:

http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=307:competencies-for-marine-meteorological-and-oceanographic-services&catid=7:services&Itemid=100038

The full approved Congress document is available through this link on the WMO site:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8DhC1GSWSmxdS1GaWIzaGptS2c/view

This includes more than just the framework -- it also includes the full MMO report. Resolution and MMOP documents approved by Congress are attached herein for further reference.

Technical Regulations concerning the VOS Scheme are available in WMO No. 471, Chapter 6:

http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=6423

Technical Regulations concerning relevant instrument practices are available in WMO No. 8, CIMO Guide. They should particularly refer toChapter 4 (Marine Observations), Part II, of WMO No. 8, Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods on Observation. The CIMO Guide is available at:

http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/IMOP/publications/CIMO-Guide/Provisional2014Edition.html

JCOMM has also published the following documents:

JCOMM-TR-063, Recommended algorithms for the computation of marine meteorological variables:

http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=14669

JCOMM-TR-061, SOT Implementation Strategy:

http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=9936

JCOMM-TR-004-REV2, The Voluntary Observing Ship Scheme, a Framework Document

http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=2017

Additional materials can be found at the SOT and VOS Websites:

www.jcommops.org/sot

http://www.bom.gov.au/jcomm/vos/

​In particular, the VOS Website includes a lot of useful resources materials​ on current practices:

http://www.bom.gov.au/jcomm/vos/resources.html