JCOMM SHIP OBSERVATION TEAM(SOT-IV)- FOURTH

SESSION (16-21 APRIL 2007)

SOT Activities in Pakistan

By

Muhammad Touseef AlamDirector

Pakistan Meteorological Department

PAKISTAN-AN INTRODUCTION

• South Asian Country stretches from Southwest to Northeast between Lat 23.36N to 36.30N and Long. 60.40E to 77.40E.• Iran & Afghanistan in the west, India in the east, China in the north and Arabian Sea in the south.• Enjoys all sorts of climate - very cold winters in northern parts and hottest summer in sandy deserts of south.

MAP OF PAKISTAN

ARABIAN SEA

Marine Met Services by Pakistan Met Department (PMD)

PMD is entrusted with the responsibility of providing the Marine Met Service for Metarea IX.

Metarea IX

Provision of weather warnings and sea bulletins.

Marine Meteorological support for maritime search and rescue.

Provision of information by radio-facsimileProvision of Special bulletin in the wake of

TC Development.

MARINE MET SERVICES BY PAKISTAN MET DEPARTMENT (PMD)

MARINE MET SERVICES (CONT.)

Users - the ships roaming in the area are transmitted the bulletin on-line via SafetyNet (Telnet) message using INMARSAT (CES- coastal earth station, Perth Australia).

FLEET FORECAST

For North Arabian Sea (B00, B30), Gulf of Oman (B25 ) and Persian Gulf (B20).PROVIDED TWICE A DAY TO:

Pakistan Navy Pakistan National Shipping Corporation

(PNSC) Karachi Port Trust (KPT) andFishermen.

FLEET FORECAST (CONTD.)MORNING FLEET FORECAST

GENERAL INFERENCE, DATED 15th FEBRUARY 2005

Weather: Fair/partly cloudy with misty/foggy morning B00, B30 & B25 and Cloudy chances of rain in Eastern sector B20.

AREA FORECAST VALID FOR 12 HOURS COMMENCING 15/1000 U.T.C

Area Weather Surface Wind

State of Sea Swell Period Visibility

B00 Fair/Partly cloudy with hazy morning.

N/NW’ly 10-15kts gusting 20kts

Slight/Moderate

0.5-2.5m

2-6 Sec

* Moderate reducing to poor in haze.

B30 Fair/Partly cloudy with hazy morning.

N/NW’ly 10-15kts gusting 20kts

Slight/Moderate

0.5-2.5m

2-6 Sec

* Moderate reducing to poor in haze.

B25 Fair/Partly cloudy with hazy morning.

NW’ly 10-15kts gusting 20kts

Slight/Moderate

0.5-2.5m

2-6 Sec

* Moderate reducing to poor in haze.

B20

Cloudy chances of rain.

S/SE’ly 10-15kts gusting 20kts

Slight/Moderate

0.5-2.5m

2-6 Sec

* Moderate reducing to poor in rain.

Out look for subsequent 12 hours: same.

* Very poor Less than 0.5 nautical miles (nm) Poor 0.5 nm to 2 nm Moderate 2 nm to 5 nm Good greater than 5 nm

PN-SHIPS’ FORECAST

Provided specifically to PN Ships for area (100 NM from Karachi coast ).

MET FORECAST FOR PN SHIPS (Issued On 14th FEBUARY 2005/0700UTC, valid for 24 hours)

Part-1. NO STROM WARNING.

Part-II. No Alert Message. Forecast: - AREA Wind Weather Visibility Sea State * Average

Barometric Pressure

* Temperature (Max)

* Temperature (Min)

Humidity

A NW/W’ly 10-15kts

Fair/partly cloudy with misty/foggy morning

7km reducing to 2km in mist or less then 1 km in fog.

3 (as per Beaufort scale).

1014-1016hpa (approximately)

26-28°C(app) 17-19°C(app)

80-90%

B SW/W’ly 10-15kts .

Partly cloudy / with misty/foggy morning

7km reducing to 2km in mist or less then 1 km in fog.

3 (as per Beaufort scale).

1013-1015hpa (approximately)

23-25°C(app) 13-15°C(app) 80-90%

C SW/W’ly 10-15kts Gusting 20kts.

Partly cloudy / with misty/foggy morning

7km reducing to 2km in mist or less then 1 km in fog.

3 (as per Beaufort scale).

1014-1016hpa (approximately)

22-24°C(app) 12-14°C(app) 80-90%

Barometric Pressure & Temp (max/min) are based on land (real time) observation.

(Senior Forecaster)

TROPICAL CYCLONE (TC) ALERT

PMD does alert the maritime community of any Tropical Depression activity in the area.

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Alert – cont.

PN, KPT, PNSC are issued Alert Signals depending on TC intensity.

TC:Location,

Intensity,Movement,Expected landfall and would-be damages.

OBSERVATION FROM VOSOCTOBER-06 TO FEBRUARY-07

Name of VOS

1. Sinai

2. Persia

3. Makaran

4. Iran Hesabi

5. OEL Aishwarya

6. Khairpur

7. Corinthiakos

8. Luni Castle

9. Thor Captain

10. Precious Panama

Observation Frequency Per Month

02

01

22

02

02

15

02

02

03

03

FEEDBACK & DIFFICULTIES

Poor response from users – only Pakistan Navy (PN) responds.

Scanty Observations – Ships Particularly Long Voyage-bound are reluctant to provide.

Data record is in raw form - only hard copy. Misconception amongst the mariners that

observations are of no value when their vessels are close to the Coast.