Furuno 16 manual EGC Settings, What is the EGC Enhanced Group Call service?

2. SYSTEM INITIALIZATION

2.4EGC Settings

2.4.1What is the EGC (Enhanced Group Call) service?

The EGC service enables EGC information providers to send SafetyNETTM, FleetNETTM and System messages via an LES to a specific groups of ships, or to all ships within a defined geographical area.

Each type of EGC service is sent as follows:

1)The information provider prepares the message, and then accesses the appropriate Country of the international telex network to send the message to an LES.

2)The LES processes and forwards it to the NCS for the ocean region designated by the provider.

3)Then, the NCS broadcasts the message throughout the ocean region. (The operator may choose the EGC messages to receive by position (one position) and geographical position (nine areas). For further details see paragraph 2.4.2.)

Information Provider

*Meteorological body LES1

*Navtex station

*Coast guard

* Rescue center	LES2
* Shipping company,
etc.
	LES3

Ch1

Ch2

Ch3

Satellite

NCS common channel

MES

MES

MES

NCS

Ch1-Ch3 are dedicated channels for each LES.

The EGC system

Three EGC services are available:

1)SafetyNETTM

This provides a means for information providers to distribute Maritime Safety Information (MSI) from shore-to-ship. Authorized information providers include:

a)Hydrographic Offices, for navigational warnings

b)National Weather Services, for meteorological warnings and forecasts

c)Rescue Co-ordination Center, for shore-to-ship distress alerts and other urgent information

d)International Ice Patrol, for North Atlantic ice hazards

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