www.liikennevirasto.fi

Vessel Traffic Services in Finland

Thomas Erlund , Head of Vessel Traffic Services

www.liikennevirasto.fi

The Finnish Transport Agency

• Multidisciplinary expert organisation specialising in

transport. It is responsible for the Finnish transport

infrastructure and the overall development of Finland’s

transport system;

• enables smooth, efficient and safe travel and transport;

• promotes an effective transport system, traffic safety

and a balanced and sustainable development of the

regions;

• annually purchases maintenance, planning, surveying

and other similar services for about 1.6 billion euros,

which represents about one-third of Finland’s

infrastructure field;

• operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of

Transport and Communications and employs 700

professionals. The nine regional Centres for Economic

Development, Transport and the Environment employ

about 600 professionals in the transport and

infrastructure field;

• offers employment opportunities to approximately

12,000 persons a year.

www.liikennevirasto.fi

• Approximately 90% of Finland’s exports and 70% of

imports are transported by sea.

• In 2010, 93 million tons of goods was

transported between Finland and foreign countries.

This was nearly 11 tons more than the previous year.

Exports amounted to 42 million tons and imports to

51 million tons. In overseas maritime traffic 17 million

passengers were transported. There was an increase

of 13% compared to the previous year.

• 7 million tons of transito shipments.

• In 2010, 13 million tons of goods and 4 million

passengers were transported in domestic waterborne

traffic.

• Transport volumes in the Baltic Sea region are

growing, and it is estimated that in 2013 we will reach

the same level as during the top years 2007/2008.

• There are 51 ports in Finland,of which Kilpilahti is the

largest both in terms of exports and imports.

• In Finland, there are 23 ports that are kept open all

year round. 80% of the freight traffic passes through

these.

The significance of the Baltic sea for Finland’s

economy

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Biggest import ports in Finland 2012

Mn ton

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Mn ton

Biggest export ports 2012

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VTS in Finland

● Ministry of Transport and Communications as the Competent authority

● Finnish Transport Agency as the VTS authority, with a internal decission the task given to the Vessel

Traffic Service unit

● Shallow and narrow waterways

● Several nature preserves (Baltic Sea as PSSA)

● Promotion of traffic awareness

● Increase in traffic and cargo volumes

● Pro- Active

www.liikennevirasto.fi

VTS in Finland.

VTS Act 2005 revised 2011. PoR included,

Port agreements. On basis of a cooperation

agreement, the VTS authority may operate a

vessel traffic service in cooperation with other

authorities or port or harbour operators.

Ice breaking information coordination, all

ports covered by ice every winter (Gulf of

Finland approx. 100 days/year)

Maritime Interagency cooperation with the

other active governmental maritime palyers in

Finland. Close cooperation with the Border

guard, Navy and Transport Safety agency.

Cooperation groups with pilots. Establishing

“Best Management Practises” between VTS

and Pilots.

The safety and efficiency of maritime traffic & protection of environment

www.liikennevirasto.fi

The Finnish VTS act

Based on international agreements

SOLAS V, chapters 8-12

- establishing a VTS

- in force, first of July 1999

IMO resolution A.857(20) Guidelines for VTS

- detailed rules authorities

(VTS and Competent)

- definition and jurisdiction

IMO resolution MSC.43(64)

- vessels reporting requirements

IALA:s VTS Manual and Recommendations

- guidance for authority

- other recommendations and guidlines

EU Directives

- Among 59/EY/2002 Vessel Traffic Monitoring

and establishing a Vessel Traffic Monitoring

System

A side of the Act, used:

IMO A956 AIS, IMO A917 AIS, IMO A.954(23) VHF, IMO

A.918(22) SMCP, IMO A.851(20) SRS, IMO A.572(14)

Routeing. IALA V-103 (1-4), V127, V-128 etc

www.liikennevirasto.fi

VTS unit

• Personnel 82, where of 75 VTS operators & supervisors.

• 3 VTS Centers, Lappeenranta, Helsinki, Turku.

• NEW. Turku, Auriga Port Center. Three VTS centers operating in western Finland was centralized into one facility.

• New technical design. VOIP VHF

• Other stakeholders moving in:

• Western Finland Coast guard district & MRCC

• Trafi

• Port of Turku

• Maritime Academy, NOVIA

• Services provided by VTS;

• INS, NAS, TOS.

Auriga Port Center

started week 11/

2013

www.liikennevirasto.fi

VTS workstations

• Workstation with ENC charts integrated with radar-, AIS and maritime safety device

information

• Remotely controlled radar stations

• AIS – base stations combined with VHF radio stations (~40 base stations)

• Remotely operated cameras and AtoN maintanance reporting

• System consist of 90 radars in a one and common data network

• VTS centers are interconnected to merge and pass target information

• Target information is passed on PortNet, Helcom and SSN

• Weather stations (FMI) with presentation system

• Mareographs (FIM) with presentation system

www.liikennevirasto.fi

Traffic Separation Schemes and

Mandatory Ships’ Reporting Systems GOFREP

Mandatory Ship Reporting System, adopted

by the IMO (MSC.139 (76) and MSC.231

(82), in accordance with SOLAS Regulation

V/11. Resolution 572(17)

Master Guide

For mariners, to ease the possibility to find

information about the area. Also available for

VTS areas. www.fta.fi/vts

ÅLTSS

The Åland Sea Traffic Separation Scheme

consists of “South Åland Sea TSS” and the

“DW route inside the borders of the North

Åland Sea TSS”, the “Off Lågskär TSS”

and the “North Åland Sea TSS” and the

“Deep-water route inside the borders of the

South Åland TSS”. These routeing measures

form the proposed Åland Sea routeing

system. COLREG.2/Circ.60, MSC 85

adopted, in accordance with the provisions

of resolution A.858(20), (10 December 2008).

In force 1.1.2010

www.liikennevirasto.fi

www.liikennevirasto.fi

Ahead

• The VTS Quality Management System has

been created in accordance with the ISO

9001:2008 standard. (Training part already

audited.)

• QMS -> Safety Management System

• Harmonization of Ship Reporting in the Baltic

Sea. BALTREP

• Tanker safety project ENSI to be fully

operative also for others than tankers and in

everyday use in the centers.

• Special and advanced English training for

VTSO´s.

• Update of the FSA done 2003 for the

IMO in establishing the GOFREP

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Thank you. Q & A

thomas.erlund@fta.fi GSM +358408299877

UTÖ