Position Reporting to Lloyds of London

[laika]

The PBO forum thread on radio comms with passing vessels reminded me of a question I've sometimes wondered about. Thanks to mentions in "A World of My Own" and "La Longue Route", ZD2 ("Please report my position to Lloyds of London") must be one of the 3 flag codes most widely recognized by amateur and armchair sailors.

What is the process for a vessel reporting another's position to Lloyd's, what are the chances of a commercial vessel actually doing that these days, and how would concerned folks then acquire the information from Lloyds?

Whilst the 2003 ICOS I downloaded still says "2" is Lloyds, is this actually implicitly understood to be MRCC Falmouth these days?

Always thought it might be handy if electronic comms were knocked out and I was overdue on a long voyage

 

[laika]

For anyone who is interested some emailing gave me a reply from a gentleman at Lloyds List Intelligence.

ZD2 is effectively defunct. In the 34 years he's been working there he doesn't recall a single case where a vessel's position has been reported using it. The maritime information they collect (generally via electronic tracking means) is available on their web site, but it's subscription only.

So I'm guessing (comments welcome) the thing to do on sighting ZD2 are:
a) Report to MRCC Falmouth if equipped with long range comms
b) Find a means of letting them know it's 201<first substitute> and watch out for a passing flight of TBM avengers

 

[oldbilbo]

Some years ago, while heading south under spinaker one morning down the meridian of 15° West, almost a week out of Liverpool arounf Ireland, and a few hundred miles west of Ushant, we spotted a Very Large Container Vessel converging from the west. I thought it friendly, and prudent, to give them a call.

The high sides let me read 'Linea Mexicana', so I called them that. A young officer answered, with evident surprise, and a few moments later we saw the huge vessel begin to turn to avoid.

When she was north-astern, we called again, indicating we had a request. A much older voice replied warily. Simply, we asked that, when they could establish passing contact with UK Coastguard at Falmouth, they simply reported our name, position and time. I reasoned to myself that, if a need ever arose for a search, there would be less of the North Atlantic to be recce'd. 'Linea Mexicana' was pleased to agree with our request....

A trio of weeks later, after a pleasant encounter with La Corunna and an eventless return, I happened to ask - on VHF - the cheery young watch-lady at Brixham Coastguard about our Mexican encounter. After a while, she came back with the news that our 'passing' and request had been fully reported and logged, and that everyone seemed pleased with the exercise of a once-commonplace maritime tradition.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

For anyone who is interested some emailing gave me a reply from a gentleman at Lloyds List Intelligence.

ZD2 is effectively defunct. In the 34 years he's been working there he doesn't recall a single case where a vessel's position has been reported using it. The maritime information they collect (generally via electronic tracking means) is available on their web site, but it's subscription only.

So I'm guessing (comments welcome) the thing to do on sighting ZD2 are:
a) Report to MRCC Falmouth if equipped with long range comms
b) Find a means of letting them know it's 201<first substitute> and watch out for a passing flight of TBM avengers

Thanks, Laika. That's really interesting.