MetService NZ Marine MetService NZ Marine ProgrammeProgramme

Julie FletcherJulie Fletcher

Manager Marine ObservationsManager Marine Observations

MetService Marine NetworkMetService Marine Network

NZ Marine Network at 1 March 2007

• 50 VOS Ships

(39 Selected 4 Supplementary 7 Auxiliary)

• 8 Drifting Buoys

Marine Programme ObjectivesMarine Programme Objectives

• To maintain a VOS fleet of about 40 Sel Ships & a network of 7 Drifting Buoys to provide quality real-time marine data for NZ Forecasting Operations

• To exchange SHIP and BUOY data internationally to provide input to Global Models and for Climatological and Research applications

MetService NZ Marine Forecasting Area (METAREA XIV)

VOS ManagementVOS Management

• All PMO duties

• Recruitment & Decommissioning of VOS

• Reporting as SOT,VOS & VOSClim FP

• Maintenance of VOS database

• Monitoring, QC & follow up action

• Assistance to foreign VOS

NZ Ports

NZ VOS Fleet Changes in 2006NZ VOS Fleet Changes in 2006

• Recruited 2006 = 43 Container ships, 1 Gas tanker

• Decommissioned 2006 = 5Due to ship sold, end of charter

• Since Feb 2004 there has been a steady increase in use of TurboWin - installed on ships’ PCs

NZ VOS - Numbers of Selected Ships

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jan-

95M

ay-9

5S

ep-9

5Ja

n-96

May

-96

Sep

-96

Jan-

97M

ay-9

7S

ep-9

7Ja

n-98

May

-98

Sep

-98

Jan-

99M

ay-9

9S

ep-9

9Ja

n-00

May

-00

Sep

-00

Jan-

01M

ay-0

1S

ep-0

1Ja

n-02

May

-02

Sep

-02

Jan-

03M

ay-0

3S

ep-0

3Ja

n-04

May

-04

Sep

-04

Jan-

05M

ay-0

5S

ep-0

5Ja

n-06

May

-06

Sep

-06

Jan-

07

Sel

ecte

d s

hip

s

Year % of Selected ships with TurboWin

2004 33%

2005 39%

2006 59%

Increase in TurboWin useIncrease in TurboWin use

By end 2006, 22 of 37 Selected ships were using TW, most using version 3.6

NZ VOS input 17,133 Obs onto GTS in 2006

‘Selected’ VOS Vessel Types

Number of ships

Container Ship 22

Gas Tanker 5

Liquid Tanker 2

General Cargo 2

Tug 2

Research Vessel 1

Support Vessel 1

Car Carrier 1

RORO 1

Other 2

Instrumentation/AutomationInstrumentation/Automation

Manual Observing– Precision Aneroid Barometer– Fuess Aneroid Barometer (few

ships only)– Marine Barograph– Stevenson Screen +

thermometers– Sea Bucket

Instrumentation/AutomationInstrumentation/Automation

AutomationOne Marine AWS - RV TANGAROA – Based on Sutron 9000RTU with

manual input option – MTSAT comms– Hourly observations– Tangaroa L 70m, B13.8m,

Gross tonnage 2282

Two ‘low cost’ Ship AWS planned for 2007

Low Cost Ship AWS• mSTAR Ship AWS based on MetService generic family of

land AWS• GPRS cellular network comms, 1 min data• Using GPS for position & True WSD• Trial on coastal ship SOC, L108m B16m Gross tonnage 5269• If comms successful, will install on more coastal ships

CommunicationsCommunications

• Most NZ VOS send via SAT C to Perth LES

Early in 2007 change to LES and (SAC) numbers:212 (POR) or 312 (IOR)SAC 1241

• A few ships email Obs to MetService

• A few coastal ships phone/fax to 0800 number

Obs Quality & Quantity MonitoredObs Quality & Quantity Monitored

• Count of Obs recvd in Real-Time versus Obs done in e/logbook

• Forecaster & data entry staff feedback

• Use of MeteoFrance VOS QC tools

• Use of UKMO Monthly stats and TOR

• Regular feedback to ships on quality issues

TOR NZ VOS January 2007

TOR NZ VOS February 2007

TOR NZ VOS March 2007

Inspection RegimeInspection Regime• All NZ VOS inspected at least once per

year

• Some ships receive several visits

• All barometers calibrated against PMO’s Vaisala PTB220AD Transfer Standard barometer which is traceable to National/International standards

• Foreign VOS ships visited when possible and on request

New InitiativesNew InitiativesMCSS• MetService submitted VOS IMMT data to the

GCCs in Dec 2006- first submission for many years

• The IMMT files were collated from VOS using TurboWin since 2004

VOSClim• MetService plans to begin recruiting ships to

VOSClim during 2007

Challenges & DifficultiesChallenges & Difficulties

• Volatility – Maersk Line changes in 06/07 have affected the NZ VOS

• ISPS code needs forward planning• Ship Security & the potential impact on VOF from

release of Ship details on web• Looking at options to collate new Pub47 metadata• Language problems - clear instructions• Not all ships have PCs for TurboWin• Impact of short port stays

Excellent International Co-operationExcellent International Co-operation

• I work in isolation ‘down under’• I find the marine work challenging and

interesting• Thanks to global PMOs and VOS FP for

help and advice• International Co-operation is excellent. • Response is always positive, timely,

helpful & encouraging