Enhanced Group Calling and the SafetyNET
	See a typical SafetyNET EGC Warning concerning 'Piracy and Armed Robbery'
	SafetyNET is a world-wide system for the broadcast of Maritime Safety Information, administered by the International Maritime Organisation. Enhanced Group Calling allows the MSI to be sent only to concerned vessels without every vessel in the world having to sift through every piece of information. The system can select a specific group of vessels, or more often in the case of safety information, vessels in a particular area. Such an area can be: a particular 'Navarea' or 'Metarea', of which there are 16 in the world [103 KB] diagram for all vessels within a circular area - a stipulated number of miles from a given position a rectangular area - within a given distance north and east from a particular position. When the message is transmitted, a code indicating who should receive it is incorporated into the beginning of the message. The EGC receiver examines the code and automatically recognises if it is supposed to receive the message. Any messages not meant for that receiver are ignored. Additionally, each message incorporates a serial number so that the receiver knows whether or not it has already received that message, in which case it does not print the duplicate. For this reason, if for no other, it is advisable to leave the equipment running. SafetyNET messages include: 1. Shore-to-ship distress alert relays. These are normally sent to circular areas, centred on the position of the distressed vessel. 2. Search-and-rescue co-ordination messages. These are normally sent to vessels in a specified area. 3. Urgency messages and navigational warnings. 4. Meteorological and navigational warnings. Normally sent to vessels in a particular NAVAREA. 5. Coastal warnings. Issued to vessels in coastal areas not covered by Navtex, notably much of the European coast. Additionally, national administrations may send messages to areas adjoining their shores, covering the same categories as above. Very few Inmarsat terminals can receive a SafetyNET message if they are transmitting when the message is being broadcast, so each message is normally repeated after a six-minute delay to allow a second chance at receiving it. Although reception of the messages is usually automatic, lists and schedules of SafetyNET broadcasts are published so the operator can ensure that the terminal is logged on to the appropriate satellite at the time when the messages are being broadcast. To receive the applicable SafetyNET messages: 1. For Inmarsat C, log on to the Ocean Area for which the desired information will be broadcast. For Inmarsat A, ensure that the antenna is locked on to the applicable satellite. In some areas, notably much of Europe, it is possible to access the AOR-W, AOR-E, and IOR satellites, all from the same location. However, forecasts and warnings for the particular area of interest might only be broadcast from one satellite and you have to be logged on to, or have the antenna pointed at, that satellite to receive the broadcast. 2. Select the appropriate Navarea identification code for the area of interest, or, when off the Australian coast, the particular coastal area code. 3. Enter the vessel's position. If this is not done automatically, through an interface to a GPS, then the position must be entered manually every four hours. If the position is not updated within 12 hours, then the terminal will stop being selective for messages as to area, and it will print out all messages received, which can be overwhelming! FleetNET is the commercial equivalent of SafetyNET. Once again, messages can be addressed to vessels by group such as the participants in a race or vessels belonging to one company, or less commonly, vessels in a particular region Most of the services offered are for subscribers only and can include information such as news services or financial information.