518 khz MCTS Sydney/VCO, Nova Scotia confimra mi informe de sus emisiones Navtex por vía postal.
Heather Ozon, Officer-in-Charge incluye una amplia información técnica e histórica.
We have the
following scheduled NAVTEX broadcast times:
• English
(Q) 518kHz: 0240/0640/1040/1440/1840/2240z
• French
(J) 490kHz: 0255/0655/1055/1455/1845/2255z
Our
broadcasts consist of ice (winter only), weather, Notices to shipping and
Notices to Fishermen information for mariners. We transmit with 1 kw during
daylight hours and drop that to between 0.450-0.500 kw during the evening, from
our transmitter site located at 45 11'08"N 59 53'40"W (Port
Caledonia, Nova Scotia). We are required to provide a minimum 300nm (nautical
miles) coverage area. But, as you've personally experienced, our coverage extends
far beyond this, with the proper conditions.
Other
broadcast services we provide are seasonal ice charts via radio facsimile (4416
kHz and 6915 kHz). As part of GMDSS, we are also equipped with a VHF-DSC system
and continuously monitor VHF channel 70.
Up until
June 1999, we provided services in Morse code on 500 kHz. It was a great
sadness to us all when that service was discontinued. Even though other forms
of communications have replaced it, Morse code proved over time to be one of
the most effective means we had to stay in touch with ships at sea.
We also
provide a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) function in 2 distinct areas:
•
Chedabucto Bay and the approaches to the Straits of Canso (body of water which
separates Cape Breton Island and the rest of the province of Nova Scotia)
•
Northumberland Strait (body of water which separates the province of Prince
Edward Island from the rest of Canada)
This is
done with the assistance of one radar installation at 45 30'53"N 61
15'15"W (Eddy Point, Nova Scotia). We began handling these duties
in late 2000, early 2001.
Our Coast
Station is staffed by 11 operators and one Officer-in-Charge. We have quite a
large coverage area, encompassing the waters around Cape Breton Island, the
province of Prince Edward Island and the waters off the province of New
Brunswick, north to the province of Quebec's border. This is achieved via 10
communication sites controlled from Sydney. Most of our radio work is performed
in the VHF maritime bands even though we still monitor the MF international
distress and calling frequency of 2182 kHz, broadcast on 2749 khz, utilize 2582
khz and 2530 khz for ship-store communicatios, and also have a dedicated
frequency to communicate with Canadian Coast Guard vessels.
Best Regards, Mr. Ozon!
