Baltic Sea Maritime Safety Information Working Group (BSMSIWG)
Please note that this site no longer is updated regularly. The chair refers to the IHO Portal for meetings and information regarding this working group.
Photo from joint BSMSIWG / NSMSIWG meeting 2025
Operational points of contact for National co-ordinators
All documents from the 8th meeting, and future meetings are posted on the IHO Portal.
You are adviced to: Go to the IHO website Click on IHO Portal and login/create account. Go to BSHC site on the portal. You find the working group under “Task groups”.
This site will no longer be used to manage meetings in this working group.
a) To facilitate that the GMDSS MSI services in the Sub-area are arranged in compliance with the regulations and recommendations of the IMO, IHO and other relevant organisations. b) To facilitate cooperation concerning technical and administrative matters related to the MSI service. c) To facilitate the exchange of information about events that could affect safety at sea within the Sub-area. d) To facilitate the exchange of advice concerning all aspects of MSI work. e) To facilitate harmonization of new and existing methods that make MSI and other relevant information to shipping available by means other than GMDSS. f) To evaluate and compile views on new and changed methods of providing MSI and to forward these to the relevant body. g) To exchange information about major planned operations at sea that are expected to affect international shipping in coastal waters of neighboring countries. h) To discuss and summarize the Sub-area’s common views and suggestions for changes to regulations and recommendations, to be forwarded to WWNWS-SC by Sweden. i) To coordinate and harmonize applicable S-100 based MSI services in the Baltic Sea sub-area following the IHO S-100 Roadmap. j)[Routinely engage with North Sea MSI and other neighboring Working Groups, as appropriate, to enable the successful execution of the Terms of Reference, either by electing a proxy to represent each group or to hold Joint meetings at the discretion of the Chair.]
The working group should report to the BSHC Conferences.
Rules of Procedures
a) Membership is open to member states and associate member states of the BSHC. Each member state shall be represented by governmental organizations dealing with MSI and/or other relevant information to shipping. The National Coordinator of Norway, the NAVAREA I Coordinator, the IMO Navtex Coordinating panel and other relevant official international bodies could also be invited to the BSMSIWG meetings and may be consulted through correspondence. b) Non-governmental organizations may attend meetings wholly or to the extent decided by the chair. c) BSMSIWG meetings should be held at least once per year. d) Interim meetings may be held at the discretion of the Chair. e) At the end of a BSMSIWG meeting, the approximate time, type and location for the next meeting should be decided. f) A preliminary invitation for in person meetings, including, dates and location should be sent out by the Chair or Secretary by e-mail at least 5 months before the meeting. g) A preliminary invitation to virtual meetings including date should be sent out by the Chair or Secretary by e-mail at least 2 months before the meeting. h) The final invitation, including logistic information, a first draft agenda, a request for additional agenda items, a national report, and other papers, should be distributed not later than 3 months before in person meetings and 1 month for virtual meetings. i) The[position of] BSMSIWG chair should be [held by the Baltic Sea Sub-Area Coordinator], proposed by the WG and thereafter elected by the BSHC conference. The secretary should be elected by the WG. j) The agenda should be adopted at the beginning of the meeting. k) Decisions should be made through consensus among the BSHC Member States. l) Decisions and agreed upon actions made during the meeting should be summarized at the end of the meeting and included as an annex to the minutes. m) The draft minutes shall be distributed within six weeks of the meeting’s conclusion. Comments should be returned no later than three weeks after the distribution of the draft minutes. n) The continued existence of BSMSIWG and the Terms of Reference shall be a standing point on the agenda. Any suggestions for changes should be addressed by the chair of the working group to the chair of the following BSHC conference.
