Ships Code Card

for selected ships

The information given in this Code
Card is designed to assist officers
when entering information in the
Ships Meteorological Logbook
(Metform 911A). It provides
condensed details of the applicable
international code form for ship
reports (FM 13 XI SHIP), further
details of which are given in the Ships
Code and Decode Book (Met.O.509)

CODING NOTES
If information for a part of a group is not available, a solidus (/) or
appropriate number of solidi should be reported.
Details of the code groups required to be reported for Supplementary
Ships are given in the Ships Code and Decode Book.
A check should always be made to ensure that there is no inconsistency
between the present weather (ww) and visibility (V V).
As far as practicable observing ships should continue to make observations
when in coastal waters.

BBXX

D . D

2 sn TdTdTd

2 PwPw HwHw

YY GG iw

4 PPPP

3 dw1dw1 dw2dw2

99 LaLaLa

5 a ppp

4 Pw1Pw1 Hw1Hw1

Qc LoLoLoLo

7 ww W1W2

5 Pw2Pw2 Hw2Hw2

iR ix h V V

8 Nh CL CM CH

6 Is EsEs Rs

222 Ds vs

8 sw TbTbTb

0 ss TwTwTw

ICE ci Si bi Di zi

N dd ff

1 sn TTT

00 fff

BBXX Identification letters for a

weather report from a ship
D . D Ships call sign
Enter only the ships call sign.

YY Day of the month (UTC)

01 First day of the month.
02 Second day of the month etc.

GG Time of observation
To nearest hour (UTC).

iw Wind speed indicator

Code
0 Wind speed estimated
1 Wind speed from anemometer
3 Wind speed estimated
4 Wind speed from anemometer

 speed in m/sec
 speed in knots

N Total amount of cloud

dd Direction of surface wind

Code
0
1
2
3
4
5

Amount of sky covered

None (cloudless).
One eighth of sky covered or less, but not zero.
Two eighths of sky covered.
Three eighths of sky covered.
Four eighths of sky covered.
Five eighths of sky covered.

6
7
8
9
/

Six eighths of sky covered.

Seven eighths of sky covered or more, but not eight eighths.
Eight eighths (sky completely covered).
Sky obscured by fog or other meteorological phenomena.
Cloud cover obscured for other reasons or not observed.

True direction from which the wind is blowing,

the first two figures of the 360 notation, e.g.
Code
Direction
00*
Calm (no waves)
01
010
02
020
03
030
04
040
05
050
06
060
*NB A northerly wind must always be coded as 36
For intermediate values the higher value is coded

ff Speed of surface wind in knots

The wind speed should be estimated as accurately as possible, e.g. a high force 4 might be recorded as 15 knots (code figure 15).
Otherwise the code figure corresponding to the mean wind speed for the observed Beaufort force should be recorded.

It may be difficult to estimate the wind force by sea state at night. In such cases estimates might be made by the appearance
of funnel smoke or by a wetted finger, making allowance for the ships course and speed.

Fetch, depth, swell, heavy rain and tide effects should be taken into consideration when estimating the wind from the
appearance of the sea state.

In coastal waters, or near land with an offshore wind, wave heights will be smaller and the waves steeper.

Code
(speed
in knots)
00
0103
0406

Beaufort
scale

Mean wind
speed (knots)

Description

0
1
2

00
02
05

Calm
Light air
Light breeze

0710

09

1116
1721

4
5

13
19

2227

24

2833

30

LoLoLoLo Longitude, degrees and tenths

3440

37

Divide the minutes by six and disregard the remainder.

4147

44

4855

10

52

5663

11

60

64 and
over

12

99 Indicator figures for ship report

LaLaLa Latitude, degrees and tenths

Qc Quadrant of the globe

Code
1
3
5
7

Lat.
N
S
S
N

Long.
E
E
W
W

iR Indicator for precipitation

UK ships should normally enter code figure 4.

ix Indicator for weather group

Ships should normally enter the following code
1

Station manned, group 7wwW1W2 included.

h Height of base of lowest cloud in

the sky
If sky is not visible owing to fog, or if height is unknown,
then / is reported. If there is fog, and the sky is visible
through it, the cloud is reported as if no fog were present.
A height exactly equal to one of the heights in the table
is reported by the higher code figure.
Code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Height (ft)
0 to 150
150 to 300
300 to 600
600 to 1,000
1,000 to 2,000
2,000 to 3,000
3,000 to 5,000
5,000 to 6,500
6,500 to 8,000
8,000 or more or
no cloud

Height (m)
0 to 50
50 to 100
100 to 200
200 to 300
300 to 600
600 to 1,000
1,000 to 1,500
1,500 to 2,000
2,000 to 2,500
2,500 or more or
no cloud

V V Horizontal visibility
If visibility varies in different directions then the shorter
distance is coded.
Code
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99

Visibility (km)
<50 m
50 m
0.2
0.5
1
2
4
10
20
50

Visibility (n mile)
<0.03
0.03
0.1
0.3
0.5
1.1
2.2
5.5
11
27

Sea criterion

Sea like a mirror.

Ripples with the appearance of scales are formed but without foam crests.
Small wavelets, still short but more pronounced: crests have a glassy appearance
and do not break.
Gentle breeze
Large wavelets. Crests begin to break. Foam of glassy appearance.
Perhaps scattered white horses.
Moderate breeze Small waves, becoming longer; fairly frequent white horses.
Fresh breeze
Moderate waves, taking a more pronounced long form; many white
horses are formed. (Chance of some spray).
Strong breeze
Large waves begin to form, the white foam crests are more extensive
everywhere. (Probably some spray).
Near gale
Sea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in
streaks along the direction of the wind.
Gale
Moderately high waves of greater length; edges of crest begin to break into
the foam is blown in well-marked streaks along the direction of the wind.
Strong gale
High waves. Dense streaks of foam along the direction of the wind. Crests
of waves begin to topple, tumble and roll over. Spray may affect visibility.
Storm
Very high waves with long overhanging crests. The resulting foam in great
patches blown in dense white streaks along the direction of the wind.
On the whole the surface of the sea takes on a white appearance.
The tumbling of the sea becomes heavy and shocklike. Visibility affected.
Violent storm
Exceptionally high waves (small and medium-sized ships may be lost to view
behind the waves). The sea is completely covered with long white patches of
foam lying along the direction of the wind; everywhere the edges of crests are
blown into froth. Visibility affected.
Hurricane
The air is filled with foam and spray. Sea completely white with driving spra
Visibility very seriously affected.

00 fff

NB When the wind speed, in units indicated by iw is 99 units or more, ff above is reported as 99 and the group 00fff is reporte

1 Indicator figure for temperature group

sn Sign of temperature
Code
0
1

Temperature positive or zero

Temperature negative

TTT Air temperature in whole degrees and tenths

2 Indicator figure for dew-point group

sn Sign of temperature
Code
0
1

Temperature positive or zero

Temperature negative

TdTdTd Dew-point temperature in whole degrees

and tenths

4 Indicator figure for pressure group

PPPP Pressure in millibars and tenths
Only initial 1 is omitted, e.g. 998.6 is coded as 9986 and 1014.7 is coded
0147.
NB The millibar is numerically equivalent to the hectopascal (hPa)

5 Indicator figure for pressure

a Characteristic of barometr
(for ships with barographs
Code Description
0
Rising then falling.
1
Rising then steady;
or rising then rising
more slowly.
2
Rising (steadily or
unsteadily).
3
Falling or steady then
rising; or rising then
rising more rapidly.
4
Steady.
5
Falling then rising.
6
Falling then steady;
or falling then falling
more slowly.
7
Falling (steadily or
unsteadily).
8
Steady or rising, then
falling; or falling, then
falling more rapidly.

ppp Change of atmospheric p

preceeding observation i
0.1 mb is coded as 001
1.0 mb is coded as 010
10 mb is coded as 100

, to the nearest ten degrees, given in

Code
07
08
09
18
27
36
99
and never 00.

7 Indicator for weather group

ww Present weather
Use highest code figure applicable (except that 17 takes preference
over 20 to 49 incl.)

Direction
070
080
090 .. etc.
180 etc.
270 etc.
360
Indeterminate

0049 No precipitation at ship at time of observation

0003 Change of sky in last hour
00 Cloud development not observed or not observable.
01 Clouds dissolving or becoming less developed.
02 State of sky on the whole unchanged.
03 Clouds generally forming or developing.
0409 Haze, dust, sand or smoke
04 Visibility reduced by smoke, e.g. veldt or forest fire, industrial
smoke. volcanic ash.
05 Haze.
06 Widespread dust in suspension in the air, not raised by wind at or
near ship at time of observation.
07 Visibility reduced by blowing spray.
08 Dust devils within last hour. (Not for marine use.)
09 Duststorm or sandstorm within sight at the time of observation or
during preceding hour.
1012 Shallow fog or mist
10 Mist (visibility 1,000 metres or more).
Not deeper than 10 m
11 Shallow fog in patches.
12 Shallow fog, more or less continuous.
at sea or 2 m ashore.
1316 Phenomena within sight but not at station
13 Lightning visible, no thunder heard.
14 Precipitation not reaching the ground or surface of sea.
15 Precipitation beyond 5 km (2.7 n mile), reaching surface.
16 Precipitation within 5 km (2.7 n mile), reaching surface.
17 Thunder audible during the 10 minutes preceding the time of
observation, but no precipitation at time of observation
1819 Phenomena within last hour or at time of observation
18 Squall(s).
At or within
19 Funnel cloud(s).
sight of ship.
(Tornado cloud or waterspout.)
2029 Phenomena within last hour but not at time of observation
20 Drizzle (not freezing) or snow grains.
21 Rain (not freezing).
Not falling
22 Snow.
in showers.
23 Rain and snow, or ice pellets.
24 Drizzle or rain, freezing.
25 Shower(s) of rain.
26 Shower(s) of snow, or of rain and snow.
27 Shower(s) of hail, or of hail and rain.
28 Fog in the past hour but not at present (visibility was less than 1,000 m
but is now 1,000 m or more).
29 Thunderstorm (with or without precipitation or lightning).
See also 9194.
3039 Duststorm, sandstorm, drifting or blowing snow
30 Duststorm or sandstorm, falling*, slight or moderate.
31 Duststorm or sandstorm, unchanging*, slight or moderate.
32 Duststorm or sandstorm, rising*, slight or moderate
33 Duststorm or sandstorm, falling*, severe.
34 Duststorm or sandstorm, unchanging*, severe.
35 Duststorm or sandstorm, rising*, severe.
36 Drifting snow, below eye level, slight or moderate.
37 Drifting snow, below eye level, heavy.
38 Blowing snow, above eye level, slight or moderate.
39 Blowing snow, above eye level, heavy.
(*These terms refer to development during the preceding hour.)
4049 Fog at time of observation
40 Fog bank at a distance at the time of observation, but not at ship
during last hour, the fog extending to a level above that of the
observer (visibility 1,000 m or more).
4149 Visibility less than 1,000 m
41 Fog in patches.
42 Fog, thinning in last hour, sky discernible.
43 Fog, thinning in last hour, sky not discernible.
44 Fog, unchanging in last hour, sky discernible.
45 Fog, unchanging in last hour, sky not discernible.
46 Fog, beginning or thickening in last hour, sky discernible.
47 Fog, beginning or thickening in last hour, sky not discernible.
48 Fog, depositing rime, sky discernible.
49 Fog, depositing rime, sky not discernible.

Probable height
of waves (m)
Average
Maximum

0.1
0.1
0.2
0.3

spindrift;

ay.

0.6

1.0

1.0
2.0

1.5
2.5

3.0

4.0

4.0

5.5

5.5

7.5

7.0

10.0

9.0

12.5

11.5

16.0

14 and over

ed immediately after the group Nddff.

-change group
ric tendency in last three hours
s)








Barometer same or higher

than three hours ago.

Barometer higher than

three hours ago.

Barometer same as three hours ago.

Barometer same or lower
than three hours ago.

Barometer lower than

three hours ago.

pressure in three hours

in tenths of millibars

5099 Precipitation at ship at time of observation

(The intensity of the precipitation reported is that at the actual time
of observation. The term intermittent indicates that either the
precipitation began, or that there were breaks during the preceding
hour, without presenting the character of a shower).
5059 Drizzle
50 Slight drizzle. Intermittent.
51 Slight drizzle. Continuous.
52 Moderate drizzle. Intermittent.
Not freezing.
53 Moderate drizzle. Continuous.
54 Dense drizzle. Intermittent.
55 Dense drizzle. Continuous.

56
57
58
59

Freezing drizzle. Slight.

Freezing drizzle. Moderate or dense.
Drizzle and rain. Slight.
Drizzle and rain. Moderate or dense.

6069 Rain
60 Slight rain. Intermittent.
61 Slight rain. Continuous.
62 Moderate rain. Intermittent.
63 Moderate rain. Continuous.
64 Heavy rain. Intermittent.
65 Heavy rain. Continuous.
66 Freezing rain. Slight.
67 Freezing rain. Moderate or heavy.
68 Rain or drizzle and snow. Slight.
69 Rain or drizzle and snow. Moderate or heavy.
7079 Solid precipitation, not in showers
70 Slight fall of snowflakes. Intermittent.
71 Slight fall of snowflakes. Continuous.
72 Moderate fall of snowflakes. Intermittent.
73 Moderate fall of snowflakes. Continuous.
74 Heavy fall of snowflakes. Intermittent.
75 Heavy fall of snowflakes. Continuous.
76 Ice prisms.
77 Snow grains.
78 Isolated star-like snow crystals.
79 Ice pellets.

Not
freezing.

With or without fog.

8090 Showery precipitation. No thunder at time of observation or

during preceding hour
80 Slight rain shower(s).
81 Moderate or heavy rain shower(s).
82 Violent rain shower(s).
83 Slight shower(s) of rain and snow.
84 Moderate or heavy shower(s) of rain and snow.
85 Slight snow shower(s).
86 Moderate or heavy snow shower(s).
87 Slight showers of snow pellets or small hail*.
88 Moderate or heavy showers of soft or small hail*.
Not associated
89 Slight showers of hail*.
90 Moderate or heavy showers of hail*.
with thunder.
(*The hail may be accompanied by rain, snow, or both.)

9194 Thunderstorm* during the preceding hour but not at the time of
observation
91 Slight rain.
Precipitation
92 Moderate or heavy rain.
occurring at
93 Slight snow, or heavy rain and
snow, mixed, or hail.
time of observation.
94 Moderate or heavy snow, or rain
and snow, mixed, or hail.

9599 Thunderstorm at time of observation

95 Slight or moderate thunderstorm
without hail.
Precipitation
occurring at
96 Slight or moderate thunderstorm
with hail.
time of observation.
97 Heavy thunderstorm without hail.
98 Thunderstorm with dust or sandstorm.
99 Heavy thunderstorm with hail.
(*Thunder heard; lightning may or may not be seen.)

W1W2 Past weather

Weather in past six hours, or since last observation if not over six
hours ago
0
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Cloud covering half or less of sky throughout appropriate period.

Cloud covering half or less of the sky for part of appropriate period
and more than half the sky for part of the period.
Cloud covering more than half of sky throughout appropriate period.
Visibility less
Sandstorm, duststorm or blowing snow.
Fog or thick haze.
than 1,000 m.
Drizzle.
Rain.
Snow, or rain and snow mixed.
Shower(s).
Thunderstorm(s), with or without precipitation.

The highest applicable figure should be selected. An exception is

made, however, in cases where the precipitation etc. is confined to the
past hour, and is sufficiently well indicated by the ww code figure.
Two code figures are applicable to the weather during the preceding six
hours, the highest code figure is recorded under W1 and the next
highest is recorded for W2. If the weather has been the same
throughout the period, the code figures for W1W2 will be the same.

medium, if no low) cloud

(see N for coding details)

CL Cloud types Cu, Cb, Sc, St

Code
to be decided by the following order of priority;
/ Cloud CL not visible owing to darkness, fog,
sandstorm, etc.
0 No clouds of type CL
9 Cb present: the upper part of at least one is clearly
fibrous often in the form of an anvil.
3 Cb present: none of the upper parts is clearly fibrous or
in the form of an anvil.
4 Sc formed from the spreading out of Cu; Cu may also
be present.
8 Cu and Sc present, with bases at different levels.
2 Cu of moderate or strong vertical extent is present.
If none of the above cloud types is present choose whichever one
of the following represents the greatest amount of sky cover;
1
5
6

Cu with little vertical extent and seemingly flattened or

ragged Cu, other than that associated with bad weather.
Sc other than that formed by the spreading out of Cu.
St in a more-or-less continuous sheet or layer, or in
ragged shreds (other than ragged St of bad weather),
or both.
Ragged St and/or ragged Cu predominant, both
associated with bad weather, usually below As or Ns.

CM Cloud types Ac, As, Ns

Code
to be decided by the following order of priority;
/ Cloud CM not visible owing to darkness, fog, sandstorm, etc.
0 No clouds of type CM.
9 Ac present in chaotic sky, generally at several levels.
8 Ac present with sproutings in the form of turrets or
battlements, or with small cumuliform tufts.
7 Ac present with As or Ns.
6 Ac formed by the spreading out of Cu or Cb, with no
As or Ns present.
5 Ac progressively invading the sky. No As or Ns present.
4 Ac in patches continually changing in appearance. No
As or Ns present.
7 Ac present at two or more levels. No As or Ns present.
7 or 3 Ac at one level: the greater part is opaque (CM=7) or
is semi-transparent (CM=3). No As or Ns present.
2 As mostly opaque, or Ns, but no Ac.
1 As mostly semi-transparent. No Ac or Ns.

CH Cloud types Ci, Cs, Cc

Code
to be decided by the following order of priority;
/ Cloud CH not visible owing to darkness, fog, sandstorm, etc.
0 No clouds of type CH.
9 Cc alone or predominantly greater than other CH
clouds combined.
7 Cs covering the whole sky, with or without Ci or Cc.
8 Cs, not increasing, not covering whole sky.
6 Cs progressively invading the sky: the continuous veil
extends more than 45 above horizon, but does not
cover whole sky.
5 Cs progressively invading the sky but the continuous
veil does not reach 45 above the horizon.
4 Ci invading the sky. No Cs present.
3 Dense Ci originating from Cb. No Cs present.
2 Ci, dense patches, turrets or tufts, greater than Ci in
filaments, strands or hooks OR
1 Ci, in filaments, strands, or hooks not progressively
invading the sky, greater than Ci in dense patches,
turrets or tufts.

222 Section indicator figure

Ds Course made good during last three hours
Code
0
1
2
3
4

True direction
Ship stopped
NE
E
SE
S

Code
5
6
7
8
9

True direction
SW
W
NW
N
No information

vs Average speed during last three hours

Code
0
1
2
3
4

Speed (knots)
Ship stopped
1 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 15
16 to 20

Code
5
6
7
8
9

Speed (knots)
21 to 25
26 to 30
31 to 35
36 to 40
Over 40

Code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Code
0
1

Sign
Positive or 0
Negative
Positive or 0
Negative
Positive or 0
Negative
Positive or 0
Negative

Type of measurement
Intake
Intake
Bucket
Bucket
Hull contact sensor
Hull contact sensor
Other
Other

TwTwTw Sea-surface temperature in

degrees and tenths

25
2
3
4
5
69
6
7

2 Indicator figure, wave group

PwPw Period of sea waves in seconds

HwHw Height of sea waves in units of 2 metres

e.g. 01 = 0.5 m
If there is a swell with no wind the group 2PWPWHWHW
is omitted. Calm is reported as 20000.

3 Indicator figure, direction of swell waves group

dw1dw1 Direction from which first swell waves
are coming in tens of degrees

dw2dw2 Direction from which second swell

waves are coming in tens of degrees

Code
00
36

True direction
Calm, no waves
360

Code
18
99

True direction
180
Confused, direction
indeterminate

4 Indicator figure, first swell wave group

Si Stage of development
Code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6

7
8
9
/

Pw1Pw1 Period of first swell waves in seconds

Hw1Hw1 Height of first swell waves in units
of 12 metres
e.g. 01 = 0.5 m, 02 = 1 m

5 Indicator figure, second swell wave group

Pw2Pw2 Period of second swell waves in seconds
Hw2Hw2 Height of second swell waves in
units of

metres

6 Indicator figure, ice accretion group

Is Type of ice accretion
Code
1
2
3
4
5

Description
Icing from sea spray.
Icing from fog.
Icing from spray and fog.
Icing from rain.
Icing from spray and rain.

EsEs Ice thickness in centimetres

Rs Rate of ice accretion
Code
0
1
2
3
4

Description
Ice not building up.
Ice building up slowly.
Ice building up rapidly.
Ice melting or breaking up slowly.
ice melting or breaking up rapidly.

Description
New ice only (frazil ice, grease ice, slush, shuga).
Nilas or ice rind, <10 cm thick.
Young ice (grey ice, grey-white ice) 1030 cm thick.
Predominantly new and/or young ice with some firstyear ice.
Predominantly thin first-year ice with some new and/or
young ice.
All thin first-year ice (3070 cm thick).
Predominantly medium first-year ice (70120 cm thick)
and thick first-year ice (>120 cm thick) and some thinner
(younger) first-year ice.
All medium and thick first-year ice.
Predominantly medium and thick first-year ice with some
old ice (usually more than 2 metres thick).
Predominantly old ice.
Unable to report, because of darkness, poor visibility
or only ice of land origin visible or ship is more than
0.5 n mile away from ice edge.

bi Ice of land origin

Code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
/

Description
No ice of land origin.
15 icebergs, no growlers or bergy bits.
610 icebergs, no growlers or bergy bits.
1120 icebergs, no growlers or bergy bits.
Up to and including 10 growlers and bergy bits
no icebergs.
More than 10 growlers and bergy bits no icebergs.
15 icebergs with growlers and bergy bits.
610 icebergs with growlers and bergy bits.
1120 icebergs with growlers and bergy bits.
More than 20 icebergs with growlers and bergy bits
a major hazard to navigation.
Unable to report, because of darkness, poor visibility or
only sea ice is visible.

Di Bearing of principal ice edge

Code
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
/

Description
Ship in shore or flaw lead.
Ice edge towards NE.
Ice edge towards east.
Ice edge towards SE.
Ice edge towards south.
Ice edge towards SW.
Ice edge towards west.
Ice edge towards NW.
Ice edge towards north.
Not determined (ship in ice).
Unable to report, because of darkness, poor visibility or
only ice of land origin visible.

Code
0
1
2
5
6
7

Sign
Positive or zero
Negative
Iced bulb
Positive or zero
Negative
Iced bulb

Type
Measured
Measured
Measured
Computed
Computed
Computed

TbTbTb Wet-bulb temperature in degrees

and tenths

zi Ice situation and trend over preceding three

hours

8 Indicator figure, wet-bulb group

sw Sign and type of wet-bulb temperature

Description
No ice.
Ship in open lead more than 1 n mile wide or ship
in fast ice with boundary beyond limit of visibility.
Ice concentration uniform.
Open water or very open pack ice,
<3/8 concentration.
Open pack ice 3/8 to <6/8 concentration.
Close pack ice 6/8 to <7/8 concentration.
Very close pack ice 7/8 to <8/8 concentration.
Ice concentration not uniform.
Strips and patches of pack ice with open
water between.
Strips and patches of close or very close pack
ice with areas of lesser concentration between.
Fast ice with open water, very open or open pack
ice to seaward of the ice boundary.
Fast ice with close or very close pack ice to seaward
of the ice boundary.
Unable to report, because of darkness, poor visibility or
because ship is more than 0.5 n mile away from ice edge.

Code
0
1
2
3
4
5
69
6
7
8
9
/

Description
Ship in open water with floating ice in sight.
Ship in easily penetrable ice: conditions improving.
Ship in easily penetrable ice: conditions not changing.
Ship in easily penetrable ice: conditions worsening.
Ship in ice difficult to penetrate: conditions improving.
Ship in ice difficult to penetrate: conditions not changing
Ice difficult to penetrate, conditions worsening.
Ice forming and floes freezing together.
Ice under slight pressure.
Ice under moderate or severe pressure.
Ship beset.
Unable to report, because of darkness or poor visibility.

Met.O.694c 00/0189

Nh Total amount of sky covered by low (or

ICE Ice group indicator

ci Concentration or arrangement of sea ice

Ship in ice or within 0.5 n mile of ice

(see Ships Code and Decode Book for full details of cloud
types abbreviated below)

0 Indicator figure, sea temperature group

ss Sign and type of temperature measurement

Ship in ice

8 Indicator figure, cloud group