Your vessel is participating in the Voluntary Observing Ship Program, at 1200 ZT on 31 August, your position is LAT 43°14'S, LONG 175°44'E. You are preparing WS Form B-80 as seen in illustration D041NG below. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind?

Question

Your vessel is participating in the Voluntary Observing Ship Program, at 1200 ZT on 31 August, your position is LAT 43&deg;14'S, LONG 175&deg;44'E. You are preparing WS Form B-80 as seen in illustration D041NG below. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind?

Accepted Answer

Option A: 31003, 99432, 31757. Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) weather report encoding rules dictate that the YYGGW group for the 31st day at 1200 ZT with an estimated wind uses indicator 01003. Latitude and longitude groups incorporate proper hemisphere indicators per WMO Pub 47 regulations.