CFR > Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters > CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER P—PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY (parts 160 to 169) > PART 161—VESSEL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT > SUBPART B—Vessel Movement Reporting System (§161.15 to §161.23) > 161.18—Reporting requirements.

161.18—Reporting requirements.

(a) A Center may: (1) Direct a vessel to provide any of the information set forth in Table 161.18(a) (IMO Standard Ship Reporting System);
Table 161.18(a)—The IMO Standard Ship Reporting System
A ALPHA Ship Name, call sign or ship station identity, and flag.
B BRAVO Dates and time of event A 6 digit group giving day of month (first two digits), hours and minutes (last four digits). If other than UTC state time zone used.
C CHARLIE Position A 4 digit group giving latitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with N (north) or S (south) and a 5 digit group giving longitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with E (east) or W (west); or.
D DELTA Position True bearing (first 3 digits) and distance (state distance) in nautical miles from a clearly identified landmark (state landmark).
E ECHO True course A 3 digit group.
F FOXTROT Speed in knots and tenths of knots A 3 digit group.
G GOLF Port of Departure Name of last port of call.
H HOTEL Date, time and point of entry system Entry time expressed as in (B) and into the entry position expressed as in (C) or (D).
I INDIA Destination and expected time of arrival Name of port and date time group expressed as in (B).
J JULIET Pilot State whether a deep sea or local pilot is on board.
K KILO Date, time and point of exit from system Exit time expressed as in (B) and exit position expressed as in (C) or (D).
L LIMA Route information Intended track.
M MIKE Radio State in full names of communications stations/frequencies guarded.
N NOVEMBER Time of next report Date time group expressed as in (B).
O OSCAR Maximum present static draught in meters 4 digit group giving meters and centimeters.
P PAPA Cargo on board Cargo and brief details of any dangerous cargoes as well as harmful substances and gases that could endanger persons or the environment.
Q QUEBEC Defects, damage, deficiencies or limitations Brief detail of defects, damage, deficiencies or other limitations.
R ROMEO Description of pollution or dangerous goods lost Brief details of type of pollution (oil, chemicals, etc) or dangerous goods lost overboard; position expressed as in (C) or (D).
S SIERRA Weather conditions Brief details of weather and sea conditions prevailing.
T TANGO Ship's representative and/or owner Details of name and particulars of ship's representative and/or owner for provision of information.
U UNIFORM Ship size and type Details of length, breadth, tonnage, and type, etc., as required.
V VICTOR Medical personnel Doctor, physician's assistant, nurse, no medic.
W WHISKEY Total number of persons on board State number.
X XRAY Miscellaneous Any other information as appropriate. [i.e., a detailed description of a planned operation, which may include: its duration; effective area; any restrictions to navigation; notification procedures for approaching vessels; in addition, for a towing operation: configuration, length of the tow, available horsepower, etc.; for a dredge or floating plant: configuration of pipeline, mooring configuration, number of assist vessels, etc.].
(2) Establish other means of reporting for those vessels unable to report on the designated frequency; or
(3) Require reports from a vessel in sufficient time to allow advance vessel traffic planning.
(b) All reports required by this part shall be made as soon as is practicable on the frequency designated in Table 161.12(c) (VTS and VMRS Centers, Call Signs/MMSI, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas).
(c) When not exchanging communications, a VMRS User must maintain a listening watch as described in § 26.04(e) of this chapter on the frequency designated in Table 161.12(c) (VTS and VMRS Centers, Call Signs/MMSI, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas). In addition, the VMRS User must respond promptly when hailed and communicate in the English language.

Code of Federal Regulations

Note: As stated in 47 CFR 80.148(b) , a VHF watch on Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) is not required on vessels subject to the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act and participating in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system when the watch is maintained on both the vessel bridge-to-bridge frequency and a designated VTS frequency.
(d) A vessel must report:
(1) Any significant deviation from its Sailing Plan, as defined in § 161.19, or from previously reported information; or
(2) Any intention to deviate from a VTS issued measure or vessel traffic routing system.
(e) When reports required by this part include time information, such information shall be given using the local time zone in effect and the 24-hour military clock system.

Code of Federal Regulations

[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by USCG-2003-14757, 68 FR 39366, July 1, 2003]