Vessel traffic service
The provisions on vessel traffic service are laid down in the Vessel Traffic Service Act and in the Government Decree on Vessel Traffic Service.
Towards safer maritime traffic
The goal of the vessel traffic service is to improve safety at sea and to contribute to the smooth flow and efficiency of vessel traffic. It also aims to prevent accidents and their potential environmental hazards.
To reach these goals, Fintraffic’s Vessel Traffic Centres operate 24/7 all year round. Thanks to continuous services, vessels receive information on matters related to safe maritime traffic and navigational assistance at all hours.
Vessel traffic guide in the Master Guide service
Fintraffic’s Master’s Guide is a service for seafarers that is meant to support route planning, and the information provided by the service is tailored based on the port of destination. Guides personalised based on the port of destination or the VTS zone are available in the service. These guides contain information relevant for route planning, such as information on VTS zones and national maritime guidelines. The guide also directs users to the most important data sources used by Finnish maritime authorities, ports and other stakeholders in the maritime traffic sector.
To access the Master's Guide Service, click here.
Participation in vessel traffic service
Vessels of 24 metres in length overall or more are obliged to participate in the vessel traffic service. When navigating in the VTS area, vessels are required to maintain a continuous listening watch on the working channel used in the area. Furthermore, vessels are obliged to obey the rules relevant to the traffic in the VTS area.
Vessels navigating in the VTS area, which are not obliged to participate in the vessel traffic service, are recommended to maintain a listening watch on the working channel in the VTS area or sector in question.
Operational hours and location of Vessel Traffic Centres
In Finland the vessel traffic service (VTS) are operated by Fintraffic Vessel Traffic Services (Fintraffic VTS). Vessel Traffic Centres are located in Turku and Helsinki.
The sea areas at the Finnish coast are divided into six VTS areas. These are Bothnia VTS, West Coast VTS, Archipelago VTS, Hanko VTS, Helsinki VTS and Kotka VTS. In addition, Saimaa VTS operates in the Saimaa deep water fairway.
Along the coast VTS service is provided 24 h/day throughout the year. There may be operational interruptions due to technical problems or an unexpected shortage of personnel. Information about the interruptions is given as navigational or local warnings. Saimaa VTS only provides services during its operational period. The operational period is largely equivalent to the opening hours of the Saimaa Canal, but Fintraffic VTS will provide information about when the operational period begins and ends.
Service provided by the Vessel Traffic Centres
Vessel traffic service includes providing information, responding to developing unsafe situations, and organising traffic.
To improve safety and to create consistent maritime situational awareness, English is used as the primary communication language in the VTS areas along the Finnish coast. As required, vessel traffic service is also provided in Finnish and Swedish.
The services provided in the different VTS areas are described in the regional Master’s Guides.
Pilotage
If the vessel has been granted an exemption from pilotage, the master of the vessel shall, on arrival in the VTS area, inform the VTS Centre of the licence numbers of the PEC licence holders on the bridge involved in or supervising the operations related to the steering and handling of the vessel.
This report can also be submitted in advance. An advance notice can be made for several voyages at the same time.
Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd is responsible for the pilotage in Finland, see www.finnpilot.fi/en.
Pilot orders shall be submitted to Finnpilot’s Pilot Dispatch Centre, https://finnpilot.fi/en/for-customers/pilot-dispatch/. Pilotage order form: www.pilotorder.fi.