Agreement on North Atlantic Ocean Stations
Source:
THE GOVERNMENTS OF Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America, being Member States of the International Civil Aviation Organization (hereinafter called "the Organization"),
HAVING, at a Conference convened in Paris by the Council of the Organization (hereinafter called " the Council") pursuant to Article XVII of the International Agreement on North Atlantic Ocean Weather Stations signed in London on 12 May 1949, and the Protocol thereto signed in Montreal on 28 May 1952, considered the revision and renewal of that Agreement, and
HAVING resolved to conclude a new agreement to secure the continued provision, financing, maintenance and operation of ocean station vessels at stations in the North Atlantic and thereby to contribute to the safety, regularity, efficiency and economy of air navigation in that region in accordance with the general aims and objectives of the Organization,
HAVE APPOINTED for this purpose the undersigned Representatives who HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
Article I
1. The Contracting Governments named in this Article shall provide, maintain and operate, subject to the conditions prescribed in this Agreement, suitable ocean station vessels (hereinafter referred to as "vessels"), at stations in the North Atlantic (hereinafter referred to as "the Stations"), as specified in the following table and in paragraph 2 of this Article:
Station..Location..Governments responsible......Number of vessels to be operated
B........5630N.....Canada...................................................1
B........5100W.....United States............................................2
C........5245N.....United States (for both C stations)......................3
C........3530W
D........4400N.....United States (for both D stations).....................21/2
D........4100W
E........3500N.....United States (for both E stations).....................21/2
E........4800W
A........6200N.....Norway (shared across A, I, J, K and M stations)..........2
A........3300W.....Sweden (shared across A, I, J, K and M stations)
I........5900N
I........1900W.....United Kingdom (shared across A, I, J, K and M stations)..4
J........5230N
J........2000W
K........4500N.....France (shared across A, I, J, K and M stations)..........2
K........1600W
M........660N......Netherlands (shared across A, I, J, K and M stations).....2
M........0200E
The locations of the Stations are indicated on the map in Annex I to this Agreement.
2. The operation of Stations A, I, J, K and M shall be shared among the vessels of France, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, and the United Kingdom, as the authorities of the Governments of these countries shall arrange, on the following bases:
(a) In respect of the period ending 31 December 1954:
Station......Governments responsible
A............Norway and Sweden
I............United Kingdom
J............United Kingdom
K............France
M............Netherlands
(b) In respect of the period 1 January 1955 to 30 June 1956:
(i) In principle, Stations A, I, J and K shall be manned in rotation by the vessels of the following countries, in such manner that each shall furnish at the Stations indicated the number of patrols set opposite its name:
..................A.....I.....J.....K
France............6.....-.....6....11
Netherlands.......5.....6.....6.....6
United Kingdom...12....17....11.....6
For the foregoing purpose, a patrol shall consist of 24 days on station.
(ii) Station M shall be manned by Norway and Sweden.
3. If the operation of this Agreement is extended pursuant to Article XIX, the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article shall continue to apply with appropriate revision of dates.
Article II
1. The location of any of the Stations may be changed:
(a) by the Contracting Government or Governments responsible for operating vessels thereat, provided that the consent of a majority of the other Contracting Governments is first obtained by or through the Council, or
(b) by the Council, provided that the consent of a majority of the Contracting Governments, including the consent of the Contracting Government or Governments responsible for operating vessels at the Station concerned, is first obtained.
Article III
1. In respect of the period commencing 1 July 1954 and ending 30 June 1956, the following Contracting Governments shall pay annually to the Organization, in half-yearly instalments on 1 October and 1 April, the amounts set opposite their respective names:
Belgium [sterling]64,469
Denmark [sterling]41,565
Israel [sterling]11,000
Italy [sterling]30,537
Switzerland [sterling]45,807
2. The following Contracting Governments shall be entitled to receive, from the amounts paid pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, the amounts set opposite their respective names:
France [sterling]69,168
Netherlands [sterling]5,510
Norway } [sterling]46,467
Sweden }
United Kingdom [sterling]72,233
3. Any amounts received by the Organization from the Governments of Spain and Iceland as a contribution to the cost of operation of the Stations shall be shared by the following Contracting Governments in the proportions set opposite their respective names:
Belgium 8.08%
Denmark 5.21%
France 15.20%
Italy 3.82%
Netherlands 19.02%
Norway } 13.92%
Sweden }
Switzerland 5.74%
United Kingdom 29.01%
4. (a) Amounts received by the Organization pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article shall be paid by the Organization as soon as practicable to the Governments listed in paragraph 2 of this Article in proportion to the amounts set out opposite their respective names.
(b) Any amounts received by the Organization pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article shall be allotted and in due course paid by the Organization to the Contracting Governments listed in paragraph 3 of this Article in the proportions therein indicated.
Article IV
1. (a) On or before 1 March 1955, each of the Contracting Governments shall furnish to the Council, in such form as the Council may prescribe, full particulars of actual flights across the North Atlantic by its civil aircraft during the year 1954.
(b) On or before 1 March 1955, each of the Contracting Governments responsible for the operation of one or more vessels shall furnish to the Council, in such form as the Council may prescribe, full particulars of the costs of operation of such vessel or vessels, for the year 1954.
(c) Upon receipt of the foregoing information, the Council shall review the relationship between the costs of operation of the vessels used to man stations A, I, J, K and M, and the amount of cash which should be available from cash contributions in respect of the operation of such vessels and, if it considers it necessary to establish an equitable distribution of responsibilities among the States concerned, it shall calculate a revision of the obligations to pay and rights to receive cash, pursuant to Article III, in accordance with the principles on which this Agreement has been based. The results of this calculation shall be transmitted to the Contracting Governments not later than 1 May 1955.
2. Unless this Agreement is terminated on 30 June 1956, pursuant to Article XIX, the obligations of Contracting Governments to pay, and their rights to receive payments, under the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 respectively of Article III, shall, for the year commencing 1 July 1956, be as revised in accordance with the Council's calculations.
3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, with appropriate revision of the dates mentioned therein, shall govern the rights and obligations of Contracting Governments to furnish information, to receive the results of the Council's calculations based thereon, and to receive and make payments, in respect of subsequent years, so long as this Agreement is not terminated.
Article V
The Government of Ireland shall pay to the Organization an annual contribution in cash of [sterling]1,000, which shall not be subject to increase under the terms of this Agreement, so long as aircraft of that country do not.operate across the North Atlantic.
Article VI
1. The Contracting Governments undertake that the vessels operated by them at the Stations shall perform the services specified in Annex II to this Agreement.
2. Annex II to this Agreement may be amended by the Council with the consent of a majority of the Contracting Governments, including the consent of the Governments responsible for operating at least fifteen vessels under this Agreement.
Article VII
The Council shall coordinate the general program of operation of the Stations in consultation with such other international organizations as it so considers appropriate. It shall keep the World Meteorological Organization advised of the meteorological aspects of any action which it proposes to take in connection with such coordination and shall invite the World Meteorological Organization to send representatives to any meeting called for the purpose of accomplishing such coordination.
Article VIII
Subject to the provisions of Annex II to this Agreement,
(a) the Stations shall be operated in accordance with the applicable standards, recommended practices, procedures and specifications of services approved by the Council insofar as they affect the safety of air navigation;
(b) the manner of making meteorological observations and of collecting reports at the Stations and transmitting them to main meteorological offices or forecasting centres shall be in accordance with the appropriate procedures and specifications prescribed by the World Meteorological Organization.
Article IX
No charges shall be imposed by any Contracting Government for any of the services, required under this Agreement, rendered by the vessels operated by them at the Stations, except as agreed by all the Contracting Governments.
Article X
1. Each Contracting Government shall furnish to the Council such reports as may reasonably be required by the Council concerning the utilization of the services provided by the vessels operated at the Stations.
2. Each Contracting Government operating any of the vessels shall furnish to the Council such reports as may reasonably be required by the Council concerning the operation of the vessel or vessels so operated by it.
3. The Council shall furnish to the Contracting Governments each year a report on the operation and utilization of the Stations based on the reports furnished by Contracting Governments.
Article XI
Any Contracting Government may agree with any other Contracting Government to take over all or any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any such agreement shall be notified by the Contracting Governments concerned to the Secretary-General of the Organization who shall notify the other Contracting Governments.
Article XII
The Organization shall be reimbursed for its extraordinary expenses incidental to this Agreement, so far as possible from the contributions provided for in Article V, and, subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article III, from any contributions in cash received by it under the provisions of Article XVII. Any balance remaining from such contributions after the extraordinary expenses of the Organization have been met shall be allocated by the Council to the Contracting Governments on an equitable basis in accordance with the principles on which this Agreement has been based. If the contributions are insufficient to reimburse the Organization, the balance remaining due shall be met by the Contracting Governments in equal shares.
Article XIII
In the event that a Contracting Government, without the consent of the other Contracting Governments, fails to discharge in whole or in part its obligations under this Agreement in cash or otherwise, the Council shall consult with the other Contracting Governments as to appropriate action and shall convene a conference if an arrangement acceptable to a majority of those Governments, including all those whose financial responsibilities are affected, cannot be concluded through such consultation.
Article XIV
The Council may at any time convene a conference of interested Governments to consider any matter connected with this Agreement if it is requested to do so by one or more Contracting Governments and is satisfied that a conference is necessary.
Article XV
Any dispute relating to the interpretation or application of this Agreement or Annex II, which is not settled by negotiation, shall, upon the request of any Contracting Government party to the dispute, be referred to the Council for its recommendation.
Article XVI
l. This Agreement shall remain open until 30 April 1954 for signature by the Governments named in the preamble thereof.
2. This Agreement shall be subject to acceptance by signatory Governments. Instruments of acceptance shall be deposited as soon as possible with the Secretary-General of the Organization.
Article XVII
l. Any non-signatory Government may accede to this Agreement by depositing with the Secretary-General of the Organization an instrument of accession, together with an undertaking to make, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, such contributions, in cash or otherwise, as the Council may consider reasonable having regard to the benefits derived by that Government from the operation of the Stations.
2. The Council may also make arrangements, on a similar basis, with any Government which is not a party to this Agreement.
Article XVIII
This Agreement shall come into force, as between the signatory Governments which have notified their acceptance, not earlier than 1 July 1954, when instruments of acceptance have been deposited by Governments responsible for the operation of not less than fifteen of the vessels referred to in Article I of this Agreement. As regards any Government notifying its acceptance thereafter, the Agreement shall come into force as from the date on which that Government deposits its instrument of acceptance.
Article XIX
1. This Agreement shall terminate on 30 June 1956, unless its operation is extended pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article.
2. (a) Unless notice in writing is given, prior to 1 July 1955, to the Secretary-General of the Organization by one or more of the Contracting Governments responsible in the aggregate for the operation or financing of not less than two vessels under this Agreement, of the desire of such Government or Governments that this Agreement shall terminate on 30 June 1956, its operation shall be extended until 30 June 1957.
For the purpose of this subparagraph, the cost of financing the annual operation of a vessel shall be deemed to be [sterling]80,922.
(b) The operation of this Agreement shall be further extended, from year to year, unless notice in writing to the Secretary-General, as provided in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, is given at least one year prior to the date of termination of the last previous extension.
3. (a) Upon receipt of a notice of desire to terminate this Agreement in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article, the Secretary-General shall notify the Contracting Governments accordingly; and
(b) the Council shall convene a conference as soon as practicable to consider the situation and the possibility of concluding a new Agreement.
Article XX
1. Any Contracting Government may withdraw from this Agreement on 30 June 1956 or, if this Agreement is extended in accordance with Article XIX, on the termination date of any period of extension, by giving at least 12 months prior notice to the Secretary-General of the Organization, of the intention of such Government to terminate its participation.
2. Following receipt by the Secretary-General of notice of withdrawal from any Contracting Government, the Council shall consult with the other Contracting Governments as to appropriate action and shall convene a conference if an arrangement acceptable to a majority of the Governments, including all those whose financial responsibilities are affected, cannot be concluded through such consultation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have affixed their signatures on behalf of their respective Governments.
DONE in Paris, the twenty-fifth day of February of the year nineteen hundred and fifty-four, in the English, French and Spanish languages (all three texts being equally authoritative), in a single copy which shall be deposited in the Archives of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Certified copies thereof shall be transmitted by the Secretary-General of the Organization to all signatory and acceding Governments.
[Signatures not reproduced here.]
ANNEX I
TO THE AGREEMENT ON NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN STATIONS
[ED: Map not reproduced here.]
ANNEX II
TO THE AGREEMENT ON NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN STATIONS
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED BY OCEAN STATION VESSELS
A - Meteorological services
1. Meteorological observations shall be made on all ocean station vessels in accordance with the following program:
(a) surface observations, eight times daily, the observations to include all elements prescribed by the World Meteorological Organization for ships' observations;
(b) special observations of meteorological phenomena and of important changes, which may occur between the regular observations;
(c) upper wind observations not less than four times daily, such observations to be made normally by radar methods. The requirement is for upper wind observations to an altitude of a least 55,000 feet. In the event of failure of the radar equipment, however, the observations shall be made by visual methods;
(d) upper air pressure, temperature and humidity observations four times daily, whenever practicable, and, in any case, not less than twice daily.
2. Reports of the observations referred to in paragraph 1 above shall be transmitted to the appropriate shore stations in the prescribed International Meteorological Codes.
3. Reports of observations from other ocean station vessels may be received and re-transmitted in accordance with national or bilateral arrangements.
4. Reports of observations from an ocean station vessel shall be transmitted to aircraft, on request, in plain language, Q Code or in the appropriate International Meteorological Code.
5. Meteorological reports required by aircraft contemplating ditching shall be given in plain language, or, if language difficulties are anticipated, in Q Code. The report shall consist of the following elements in the order given:
(a) sea level pressure;
(b) surface wind speed in knots and direction in degrees magnetic;
(c) swell intensity and direction in degrees magnetic;
(d) state of sea;
(e) visibility;
(f) amount and height of base of low cloud (both main layer and any scattered clouds below);
(g) present weather.
6. Each Contracting Government operating one or more ocean station vessels shall provide, to all other Contracting Governments, copies of all regular surface and upper air meteorological observations made by such vessel or vessels.
7. Statistical meteorological records and summaries of the observations made by the ocean station vessels shall be maintained in standard form and copies exchanged between the Contracting Governments.
B - Search and rescue services
1. The ocean station vessels shall form part of the general search and rescue organization and shall participate in search and rescue operations in accordance with ICAO procedures and with those of the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. To this end they shall remain as close as practicable to their assigned locations, unless it becomes necessary for them to leave such location for search and rescue operations.
2. The ocean station vessels shall, as far as possible, assist aircraft, which have signified their intention of ditching alongside the vessel, to execute this manoeuvre successfully.
3. The ocean station vessels shall carry such search and rescue equipment as is necessary in effecting sea rescue, and such medical equipment as is necessary to succour survivors.
4. The crews on the ocean station vessels shall be expertly trained in effecting sea rescues.
C - Communication services
The communication equipment on ocean station vessels shall be sufficient to ensure:
(a) the receipt of safety, distress or emergency calls from mobile units, air or surface;
(b) communication with surface vessels or aircraft for distress, emergency and safety purposes;
(c) communication on the regional search and rescue and scene of action frequencies;
(d) the provision of normal aeronautical mobile communications with aircraft;
(e) communication with land stations.
D - Radio navigational aids to aircraft
The ocean station vessels shall provide, when circumstances so require, radio navigational aid to aircraft by the following means:
(a) direction finding;
(b) radio beacon;
(c) microwave search radar.
E - Incidental services
In addition to the services specified in paragraphs A, B, C and D above, the ocean station vessels shall perform such incidental services as may be required, on the understanding that the performance of such services does not involve any appreciable addition to the obligatory personnel and equipment carried. These incidental services include:
(a) collection and retransmission of reports of observations from merchant ships when practicable and permissible;
(b) any supplementary air traffic control functions which may be prescribed.
F - Other services to be performed in connection with the operation of ocean station vessels
The Contracting Governments shall use their best endeavours to facilitate the inclusion, in the observational program of the ocean station vessels, of such oceanographical and other scientific observations as may be found desirable.
