Nav Brief - The vital nature of VTS

David Patraiko FNI - Director of Projects, The Nautical Institute

Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) is an essential service provided by a shore authority to help manage ship traffic. It aims to improve safety and security, protect the environment and improve commercial efficiency, particularly in congested areas. Not all ports have a VTS; it is up to the country’s government to arrange for this service where, in their opinion, the volume of traffic or the degree of risk requires it under their responsibilities stated in SOLAS.

It is vitally important that VTS provision is harmonised on a global basis so that all ports are consistent and that mariners can feel comfortable using these services wherever they are in the world. This crucial work is carried out by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).

VTS is shore-based and the support it provides can range from providing simple information messages, such as the position of other traffic or meteorological hazard warnings, to extensive traffic organisation within a port or waterway.

Many mariners don’t recognise that there are three distinct types of VTS service:

• INS – Traffic Information Service ensures essential information is available in time for onboard navigational decision making
• TOS – Traffic Organisation Service prevents dangerous maritime traffic situations from developing and provides for the safe and efficient movement of vessel traffic within the VTS area
• NAS – Navigational Assistance Service assists onboard navigational decision making and monitors its effects.

It is important to recognise that even in an area with NAS, where the VTS is providing decision making assistance, you remain in control of how your vessel moves. Any guidance must be result based – it tells you what the outcome of your actions should be, but not what to do to get that outcome. For example, the VTS may tell you to make good a course, but not what to steer to make that course good.

VTS operators are maritime professionals trained to a standard set by IALA and agreed by the IMO. As with any exchange between fellow professionals, it is important to understand and observe good etiquette in all communications. This is further explored in the article by Jillian Carson-Jackson on page 6.

As with all issues of The Navigator, this edition aims to start conversations for the purpose of professional development. Discuss VTS with your bridge teams and with pilots, and look to the internet for more information, or possibly even visit a VTS centre. Learning more about how to cooperate with VTS will make you a better, safer mariner – and might even open up career options for the future.