NAV 327

VOYAGE PLANNING

MIDTERM WEEK 2

CAPT. SABINO C. JIPOS

TOPICS:
PLANNING
VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES
LEARNING OUTCOME:
LO1.12: IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENT VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES TO BE UTILIZED IN A
CERTAIN VOYAGE.
LO1.13: DESCRIBE THE USE OF SHIP REPORTING SYSTEM IN THE PLANNED VOYAGE

LO1.14: DEMONSTRATE THE PROPER USE OF SHIP REPORTING SYSTEM IN THE

PLANNED VOYAGE
Week 3:
**VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES**
Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) – is a Marine Traffic
monitoring system established by harbor or port
authorities, similar to air traffic control for aircraft. In
the USA, VTS were established and operated by the
United States Coast Guard Navigation Center.
Generally, ships entering a VTS area report to the
authorities, usually by radio and tracked
By the VTS Control Center.
Ships must keep on watch on a specific frequency for
navigational or other warnings, while they may be
contacted by the VTS operator if there is risk of
accident or, in areas where traffic flow is regulated, to
be given advice on when to proceed.
SOLAS Chapter V (Safety of Navigation) states that
government may establish VTS when, in their opinion,
the volume of traffic or the
Degree of risk justifies such services.
The world’s first harbor surveillance radar was
inaugurated in Liverpool, England in July 1948 and
in March 1950, a radar surveillance system was
established in Long Beach, California – the first such
system in the United States.
The value of VTS in Navigation safety was first
recognized by IMO Resolution A.158 (ES.IV).
Recommendation on Port Advisory
Systems adopted in 1968, but as technology advanced
and the equipment to track and monitor shipping traffic
became more sophisticated, it was clear guidelines were
needed in standardizing procedures in setting up VTS.
As a result, in 1985, IMO adopted Resolution A.578
(14) guidelines for vessel traffic services which said
that VTS was particularly appropriate in approaches
and access channels of a port and in areas having high
Density movements of noxious and dangerous cargoes,
navigational difficulties, narrow channels, or
environmental sensitivity.
Revised guidelines for traffic services, including
guidelines on recruitment, qualifications and training of
VTS operators, were adopted as assembly Resolution
A.857 ( 20) in November 1997.
A revised SOLAS Chapter V on Safety of Navigation
was adopted in December 2000, and entered into force
in July 1, 2002.
The importance of vessel traffic services:
A) Can be better understood from the function it plays
in managing ship traffic/
B) Helps ensuring safety of ships along with helping
attain maximum traffic flow from any given route.
Vessel Traffic Services can be classified as:
1) Surveilled – They consist of land based sensors for
attaining important marine information.
2)Non-surveilled – Consist of one or more reporting
points at where ships notify about their identity, course,
speed and other data. Using data, courses of various
vessels are mapped out and regulated to avoid any
mishaps.
Basically, the VTS contributes the following tasks:
A) Safety of Life at Sea and the Safety of Navigation
by identifying and monitoring vessels, by planning for
movement of vessels
In the VTS area and the disclosure of information and
assistance to the navigator.
B) Increased Efficiency of maritime traffic
C) Prevention of Marine Pollution and anti-pollution
measures.
D) Protection of Communities and infrastructures in
the VTS and adjoining areas.
E) Provide contribution to the increased efficiency of
port activities and to support security activities in the
Maritime Sector.
VTS monitoring all ships in the vicinity:
Vessel Traffic Management Information System
(VTMIS) is an extension of VTS in the form of an
integrated maritime surveillance system.
They should not interfere with the operation of VTS in
any way.
VTS Controller – is the title given to the person
responsible for managing the operation and maintenance
of VTS and all that occurs within the VTS area.
. Ship Reporting System
 The purpose and aim of SRS is to keep a vigilant eye on the
sea traffic. In cases of rendering help, the systems enable to
give pieces of information about navigational hazards,
medical advice, directing the closest ship towards the vessel
in peril, and defining the areas of searching.
• Communication among SRS is carried out by means of Global
Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS). Reports are sent to
a coastal radio stations. The coastal radio station then, passes
them to the head office. On the basis of the reports received, the
head office allows the ship to sail.
Mandatory Ship Reporting System in Malacca Strait
and Singapore:
The IMO has adopted the Mandatory Ship Reporting
System in the straits of Malacca and Singapore known
as “STRAITREP” as proposed by Indonesia,
Malaysia and Singapore.
The objectives of Straitrep are as follows:
1) Enhance Safety to Navigation
2) To Protect the Marine Environment.
3) To Facilitate the movements of vessels
4) To Support SAR and Oil Pollution
Regulation V/8-1 of the International Convention for
the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1972, concerning
the adaptation by the organization of ship reporting
system.
The VTS authorities for the STRAITREP are as
follows:
I- Sector 1 to Sector 5 = Klang VTS
 II- Sector 6 = Johor VTS
 III- Sector 7 to Sector 9 = Singapore VTS
 Every ship needs to maintain a VHF radiotelephone
listening watch on appropriate channel depending on
what sector where ship is. The VHF Ch, 16 and any
other channel specified by the appropriate VTS
authority.
 Singapore strait and Singapore port waters are some of
the busiest in the world. An advance VTS is essential for
the safe and efficient navigation of ships in these waters.
Description of the Mandatory Ship Reporting System in
the Straits of Malacca and Singapore:
A) Vessel of 300 grt and above.
B) Vessels of 50 meters or more in length
C) Vessel engaged in towing or pushing with combined
GT of 300 and above, or with a
combined length of 50 meters or more.
D) Vessels of any tonnage carrying of hazardous cargo, as
defined in paragraph 1.4 of resolution MSC 43(64)
E) All passenger vessels that are fitted with VHF,
regardless of length or GT.
F) Any category of vessels less than 50 meters in
length or less than 300 GT which are fitted with VHF
and in an emergency, uses the appropriate traffic lane
or separation zone, in order to avoid immediate
danger.
The Report Required from a ship contains only
information which is essential to meet the
objectives of the STRAITREP:
 1. Information considered essential:
 A- Name of Ship, Call sign, IMO identification number
(if available)
 C or D- Position
 P- Hazardous cargoes
 Q or R – Breakdown, damage and/or deficiencies
affecting the structure, cargo or equipment of the ship or
any other circumstances affecting normal navigation in
accordance with the provisions of the SOLAS and
MARPOL conventions.
2. Information considered necessary when
requested by VTS authority:
E and F- Course and Speed of Ship
Recalling Article 28(b) of the convention of IMO
concerning the functions of the committee (MSC).
Having considered at its sixty-fourth session,
guidelines and criteria for ship reporting systems
developed for this purpose:
1. Adopts the guidelines and criteria for ship Reporting
System set out in the annex to the
Present resolution.
2. Determines that the guidelines and criteria for ship
reporting system shall enter into force on 1 January
1996, at the same time as SOLAS regulation V/8-1.
3. Invites governments developing ship reporting system
for adoption by the organization in accordance with
SOLAS V/8-1 to take account of the guidelines and
criteria set out in the annex to the present resolution.
4. Requests the secretary-general to bring this
resolution to the attention of all contracting
governments to the SOLAS convention and to
members of the organization which are not contracting
governments to the convention.
Participating ships required by a system to report to a
shore-based authority should do so without delay upon
entering and, if necessary when leaving the area of the
system in accordance with the provisions
Of each system so adopted. A ship may be required to
provide additional reports or information to update or
modify an earlier report.
Failure of a ship’s communication equipment should
not, of itself, be considered as a failure to comply with
the rules of a system: however, the Master should
endeavor to ensure communication is restored as soon as
practicable. If the technical failure prevents the ship
from reporting, the Master should
Enter the fact and reasons for not reporting in the ship’s
log.
Vessel Traffic Services

MIDTERM

** END OF WEEK 2**