For decades, most of weather moored buoys have been reporting their data onto the GTS in FM13 SHIP code. For a few months, some of these data are converted in FM94 BUFR according to template TM308009 (B/C10 - ship data). They are so transmitted in both codes, in parallel. Tropical moored buoys (TAO, PIRATA and RAMA networks) using Argos as communication system report their data in FM18 BUOY. and FM94 BUFR in parallel. The unvalidated template for data buoys is used in this latter case. Some morred buoy networks, operated by non-meteorlogical agencies, transmit their data in BUFR only, according to the unvalidated template for buoy data. They did not spend time and money to develope the transmission with the near-obsolete dataformat FM18 BUOY.
BUFR template used for moored buoy data should be now TM315008. This latter was recently validated. As for drifting buoys, GTS headers for moored buoy data start with character string 'IOB'.