The Shipping Forecast
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The announcement of the shipping forecast is one of the most comforting to be heard on BBC Radio 4. No matter what calamitous events are happening, the shipping forecast is a calm constant in an ever-changing world.
The tune ‘Sailing by’ follows the final Radio 4 programme at night before closedown. It is played at 00:45 to introduce the late night forecast. Its repetitive tune serves as a signal for sailors tuning in to easily identify the correct station.
The broadcast reports weather conditions and forecasts for the seas around the British Isles. The Met Office provides the data and the BBC broadcasts it ‘on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’ four times a day, at 00:48, 05:20, 12:01 and 17:54. The measured tones of the broadcaster betray no surprise or emotion and are reassuring, even when gales are forecast for the entirety of the British coastline. The forecast has a poetry of its own, the names of the 31 sea areas familiar to all who listen, at sea, on land, in fair weather or foul.
Even though modern ships have onboard technology to advise them of weather conditions they still tune in to the broadcast to check their information. The forecast follows the same format of around 350 words, beginning with any gale warnings that may be in force followed by the general synopsis, which is a brief summary of weather conditions in the seas around the UK and Ireland. Then the area forecasts are given, including wind direction and speed, weather, visibility, and any ship icing.
Driving home late at night, or tucked up in bed, the shipping forecast is soothing and familiar, though less so to storm-tossed fishermen in icy seas, or lifeboat crews hastening to an imperilled vessel.
It is an important element of the fabric of our (UK) lives.
We have a Dunoon mug showing the sea areas surrounding the British Isles. It also features the Beaufort scale.
