Help gather weather data for the global maritime community

Do you check the Bureau of Meteorology’s coastal and high seas forecasts and warnings as a part of your safety preparation before heading out?

Marine weather observations play a crucial role in the preparation of the bureau’s coastal and high seas forecasts and warnings. Each year the bureau issues over 18,000 marine forecasts for 78 coastal waters zones covering 37,000 kilometres of Australia’s coastline. These marine forecasts are regularly broadcast on marine radio to keep people on vessels informed about approaching weather.

In 2018, the Australian Voluntary Observing Fleet collected over 40,000 high-quality weather observations at sea. Data sparse areas are highlighted in red.

Although meteorological information is gathered by various means—satellites, buoys, floats and radar—vessels play a very important part in gathering information to share with others.

A network of vessels around the world records and transmits weather observations as a part of the Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) scheme. As the name suggests, the vessels involved take part on a voluntary basis. This scheme is an international program made up of member countries of the World Meteorological Organization.

As Australia’s contribution to the VOS scheme, the Bureau of Meteorology currently operates a fleet of over 50 vessels—the Australian Voluntary Observing Fleet—that give their time to provide high quality weather observations in the Australian region.

The bureau is always looking for vessels to join the fleet, particularly vessels operating in important areas and areas that we don’t receive a lot of data from—such as the Gulf of Carpentaria, Great Barrier Reef and the Great Australian Bight.

Crew of the Chevron Shipping vessel, Asia Venture, presented with certificate of appreciation from the World Meteorological Organisation for regularly providing over 100 observations per month to the Australian Voluntary Observing fleet

The program is open to all types of vessels, from yachts, research vessels and fishing trawlers, to liquefied natural gas vessels and large international ships.

The bureau supplies vessels with the necessary meteorological equipment and provides regular training and support to the crew on how to record and transmit accurate weather observations.

To volunteer your vessel to be a part of the Australian Voluntary Observing Fleet, email marine_obs@bom.gov.au

Check the marine weather forecasts at bom.gov.au/marine