1. Service delivery in marine meteorology – key points for consideration
RA III-17-Doc and INF 3.1(6)/1
Service delivery in marine meteorology – key points for consideration
Dr. Xu Tang, D/WDS
Monday 19th November 2018

2. Doc 3.1(6)/1 – Background/Key Points
Early warnings for coastal inundation are a critical service needed in the region
Cg-17 (2015): Members urged to renew focus/strengthen met-ocean services as required by International Convention for Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS)
Since 2016, IMO have requested that met-ocean forecasting requirement under SOLAS will be part of the IMO Member Audit for every country .
EC-70/INF. 5.3(1): (i) Development of guidelines, as contribution to the IMO Member State Audit Scheme, to provide guidance to the IMO Audit team in relation to Met-ocean service standards under SOLAS regulations;
Marine Services online survey is currently open for all RAIII members to complete by December 31.
It’s well noted that 90 % world trade is carried on the sea. That means the high vulnerability and exposure on sea and coastal area together with increasing marine and hydromet hazards are excerting deep influence on sustainability of social and economic development at sea and in coastal area.
Furthermore, there are increasing demands of the improvement of COASTAL SERVICES since there is 40% of global population living within 100km of the coast – and this is still growing. However, Coastal populations (and moving population i.e. tourists) are highly vulnerable to coastal flooding, etc. and Storm surges (and tsunami) are the most underestimated and misunderstood of natural hazards. It’s a major issue to be recognized in RA III.

3. Doc 3.1(6)/1 – Background/Key Points
The WWMIWS METAREA responsibility in RA III polar water is provided by Argentina and Chile. JCOMM has established liaison mechanisms with IAATO for tour operators in polar waters and the UN FAO with respect fishing.
JCOMM provides technical expertise for WMO to meet its mandate in maritime safety, and improve marine and coastal services via activities in DRR, marine environmental emergency response, sea-ice and ocean forecasting;
In 2017, JCOMM introduced National Marine Service Focal Points per Member, for consistency of approach to providing MSI at national level, and so that services not mandated under SOLAS are still subject to the highest levels of consistency for mariners. Of 10 RA III Members, 4 have National Marine Service Focal Points.

4. Doc 3.1(6)/1 – Background/Key Points
Since EC-70, Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) can be designated for numerical ocean wave prediction and marine meteorological services (guided by Manual on Global Data Processing and Forecasting System (WMO-No.485))
EC-70 also requested that all marine forecasters are certified ‘competent’ by 2023 (WMO-No.1205). A JCOMM Task Team will form to develop specific guidance in the context of implementing competencies for marine forecasting.
The Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration Project – CIFDP – is being reviewed to determine ongoing sustainability and value in reducing risk of disaster in the coastal zone –The results are expected to submitted to Congress-18 (relevant to CIFDP-Caribbean).

5. Draft Resolution RA III-17-3.1(6) Marine and Coastal Services
RA III-17 may consider the following decisions:
To ensure that the National Marine Focal Points per Member in RA III has been identified.
To participate in any service delivery assessments and survey sent by WMO, to assess the strengths and gaps in marine services for WMO Members
To encourage RA III Members:
Strengthening its wave and ocean modelling capability to apply to become a wave and/or ocean model RMSC
Involving in accessing marine-related RMSC standard products to consult the catalogues for WIS
To identify RA III Members’ request for assistance to prepare IMO Member State Audit Scheme on met-ocean services for SOLAS and the request for assistance from JCOMM

6. Draft Resolution RA III-17-3.2 (2)/1 Marine and Coastal Services
RA III-17 may consider the following decisions:
To align RA III operational plan to WMO KPI, relevant to marine and coastal services and JCOMM vision and strategy
To develop educational content on coastal hazards (including storm surge awareness video specifically targeted to coastal communities)
To prioritise training needs in coastal inundation and marine services, especially after results of CIFDP assessment and WMO Marine Services survey are known
To add an item to RA III operational plan to ensure Members with responsibility to issue products for WWMIWS to ensure marine forecaster competency by 2023
To request JCOMM Co-Presidents to commit relevant JCOMM activities for RA III

7. Thank you
Gracias