VESSEL
TRAFFIC SERVICES
The purpose of a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) is to provide active
monitoring and navigational advice for vessels in particularly confined
and busy waterways. There are two main types of VTS, surveilled
and non-surveilled. Surveilled systems consist of one or more land-based
sensors (i.e. radar, AIS
and closed circuit television sites), which output their signals
to a central location where operators monitor and manage vessel
traffic movement. Non-surveilled systems consist of one or more
reporting points at which ships are required to report their identity,
course, speed, and other data to the monitoring authority. They
encompass a wide range of techniques and capabilities aimed at preventing
vessel collisions, rammings, and groundings in the harbor, harbor
approach and inland waterway phase of navigation. They are also
designed to expedite ship movements, increase transportation system
efficiency, and improve all-weather operating capability.
VHF-FM communications network forms the basis of most major
services. Transiting vessels make position reports to a vessel
traffic center by radiotelephone and are in turn provided
with accurate, complete, and timely navigational safety information.
The addition of a network of radars, AIS, and close circuit
television cameras for surveillance and computer-assisted
tracking, similar to that used in air traffic control, allows
the VTS to play a more significant role in marine traffic
management, thereby decreasing vessel congestion, critical
encounter situations, and the probability of a marine casualty
resulting in environmental damage.
The Coast Guard operates 12 Vessel Traffic Centers (VTC):
Prince William Sound, Puget Sound, Valdez, Seattle, San Francisco,
Los Angeles/Long Beach, Houston-Galveston, Berwick Bay, Louisville,
Saint Mary's River, Port Arthur, Tampa, and New York.
Clicking on any of the VTS areas will take
you to a description of its operating area and links to its user
manual & homepage (if available). If you're looking for a quick
reference guide, please see our 'VTS Radio
Procedures'.
Note: VTS Louisville
is only operational during high water.
Next Page: VTS History
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