New meeting and overtaking prohibition areas introduced on Finland’s coasts: find them in the Fintraffic Master's Guide service

On 1 October 2024, 18 new meeting and overtaking prohibition areas have been introduced in Finland. The purpose of the meeting and overtaking prohibition areas for sea traffic is to restrict types of meeting and overtaking that may be hazardous for the vessels themselves or the environment.

“One of the most effective means to ensure the safe passage of merchant shipping in Finland’s coastal area is to ensure safe meeting and overtaking with traffic regulations. These nearly 20 new meeting and overtaking prohibition areas will further increase the safe passage of cargo and passenger ships while preventing congestion,” says Development Manager Esa Kallio from Fintraffic’s Vessel Traffic Services.

The new meeting and overtaking prohibition areas on the Finnish coast by VTS area and channel are:

Hanko VTS:

• Kistkär–Tulliniemi fairway: Hanko Tulliniemi
• Utö–Hanko fairway (eastern part): Albertsklackarna 
• Lappohja fairway: Nybergskan–Skomakarskär

Helsinki VTS:

• Helsinki West Harbour fairway: Katajaluoto–Lintupaadet 
• Inkoo fairway: Jaakobin salmi

Kotka VTS:

• Loviisa fairway: Hudö 
• Loviisa fairway: Trollholmen

Archipelago VTS:

• Hepokari fairway: Suntinkari–Nuhja
• Isokari–Lövskär fairway: Kungsholm 
• Prästskär parallel fairway: Väst Prästkär 
• Nyhamn–Rödskär fairway: Ost Prästskär

West Coast VTS:

• Merikarvia northern fairway: Merikarvia (Marjakari–port borderline)
• Eurajoensalmi fairway: Eurajoki (Eurajoki 4–port borderline)

Bothnia VTS:

• Kemi-Ajos fairway: Kemi (Ke 5–Inakari 1)
• Oulu fairway: Oulu (O 5–O 9) 
• Kalajoki-Rahja fairway: Ulkopauha–port borderline 
• Kokkola Kantasatama fairway: Port entrance 
• Pietarsaari fairway: Kallan

The new meeting and overtaking prohibition areas have entered into force with the VTS traffic regulation of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom on 1 October 2024. In addition to new meeting and overtaking prohibition areas, the new VTS traffic regulations also include changes to existing meeting and overtaking prohibition areas, which have been expanded, among other things. The traffic regulations also contain an updated tugboat requirement, which more clearly protects the use of the fairway by vessels in meeting and passing prohibition areas in which the prohibitions did not previously apply to tugboats. 

The new meeting and overtaking prohibition areas and other changes to existing areas have been updated to the areas’ special instructions for vessel traffic, i.e. Master's Guides, being introduced on 1 October. The Master's Guide service is available at mastersguide.fintraffic.fi.