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Navtex is a receiver / display (screen or paper) which can receive navigation warnings and  weather forecasts.  It's very useful, the sets are cheap and easy to use.  The use of the system is free.  You can programme your set to receive different messages, from different stations.  You can get a lot of navigation warnings which are not relevant to you, so you have to keep a careful eye on what is relevant. And brush up your French.....

Navtex is part of the GMDSS  system.  It operates on two frequencies, 518khz and 490khz.

Click here for a map of current warnings  http://www.frisnit.com

Example of output:  (WZ indicates Navigation warning, will be heard as 'Whisky Zulu' from the Coastguard)

Meteorological Warning EB24 [Thu Jan 30 19:25]

NITONRADIO

GALE WARNING THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 1910GMT
PORTLAND
NORTHERLY SEVERE GALE FORCE 9 IMMINENT
NNNN ZCZC TA47

181530 UTC JAN =
OOSTENDERADIO - INFO 10/03 = WRECK 'TRICOLOR' IN POSITION 51-21.9N 002-12.8E MARKED BY CARDINAL BUOYS:
SOUTH CARDINAL LIGHTBUOY 51-21.61N 002-12.20E.
WEST CARDINAL LIGHTBUOY 51-22.06N 002-12.28E.
SOUTH CARDINAL LIGHTBUOY 51-21.67N 002-13.29E RACON D.
EAST CARDINAL LIGHTBUOY 51-22.04N 002-13.75E.
NORTH CARDINAL LIGHTBUOY 51-22.33N 002-12.95E.
SOUTH CARDINAL LIGHTBUOY 51-21.35N 002-15.25E WEST OF FAIRY S LIGHTBUOY AND SHOWING 6 SHORT AND 1 LONG FLASH WHITE.

GUARDSHIP FRENCH NAVY PRESENT AND TO BE CONTACTED ON VHF CHANNEL 67.
SHIPPING IS REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOK-OUT AND TO PASS AT A SAFE DISTANCE.+
NNNN

ZCZC KA84
AVURNAV CHERBOURG 006 DOVER STRAIT - BOULOGNE APPROACH OPHELIE BUOY UNLIT PSN: 5043.9N - 001 30.9E

PAS DE CALAIS - APPROCHES DE BOULOGNE
FEU BOUEE 'OPHELIE' (LFCA 23590) ETEINT PSN: 50 43.9N - 001 30.9E

NNNN

Navigational Warning EA44 [Sat Feb 01 12:46]
WZ 1935
DOVER STRAIT. BERGUES BANK. BEURGUES LIGHTBUOY 51-17N 002-19E. UNLIT
NNNN

Navigational Warning EA71 [Sat Feb 01 12:42]
WZ 170
ENGLAND, EAST COAST, THAMES ESTUARY. FISHERMANS GAT AND BLACK DEEP.
INNER FISHERMAN PORTHAND LIGHTBUOY 51-36.1N 001-19.9E CHANGED TO QUICK FLASH RED. BLACK DEEP NO 10 LIGHTBUOY CHANGED TO GROUP FLASH THREE TEN SECONDS.

Navigational Warning EA41 [Sat Feb 01 12:46]
WZ 1932
BRISTOL CHANNEL. BRIDGWATER BAY APPROACHES. DZ2 LIGHTBUOY 51-14N 003-17W UNLIT.
NNNN

Navigational Warning EA79 [Sat Feb 01 16:15]
WZ 188
DOVER STRAIT. IN RUYTINGEN. UNDERWATER OPERATIONS IN PROGRESS BY C/S MAERSK DEFENDER IN VICINITY 51-15N 002-18E.

CANCEL WZ 175 (EA72)(MA86)

posted 5th November 2009