The WMO Voluntary Observing Ships' Scheme.
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Date
2010Corporate Author
JCOMM Secretariat
Status
Published
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The international scheme under which ships plying the various oceans and seas of the world are
recruited for taking and transmitting meteorological observations is known as the WMO Voluntary
Observing Ships’ Scheme. The forerunner of the scheme dates back to 1853, the year in which
delegates of 10 maritime countries came together at a conference in Brussels, on the initiative of
Lieutenant Matthew F. Maury, then director of the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office, to discuss the
establishment of a uniform system for the collection of meteorological and oceanographic data
from the oceans and their use for the benefit of shipping. In the twentieth century, the system was
recognized in the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)as amended,
which specifies in Regulation 5 of Chapter V — Safety of navigation — that ‘the Contracting
Governments undertake to encourage the collection o.....
Resource URL
Publisher: http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=6423Title of Report
WMO Guide to Marine Meteorological Services.Page Range
Chapter 6, [27pp.]Publisher
WMO-JCOMMGeneva, Switzerland
Series;Nr
WMO;No. 471Document Language
enCitation
JCOMM Secretariat (2010) The WMO Voluntary Observing Ships' Scheme. Chapter 6 in, WMO Guide to Meteorological Services. Geneva, Switzerland, WMO-JCOMM, [27pp.] (WMO No. 471). DOI: https://doi.org/10.25607/OBP-1475Collections