VTS Services

1. General information 
2. VTS coverage areas 
3. VTS services terms and conditions 
4. Statistics 
5. Contacts


     1. General information 

     The FSUE “Rosmorport” Arkhangelsk Branch renders navigational services using port Vessel Traffic System in the seaport of Arkhangelsk (the Arkhangelsk VTS) to vessels (except for small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships) calling at Arkhangelsk Seaport or passing through its water area. 

     Small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships, located in the coverage area of Arkhangelsk VTS, can be provided with assistance in navigation only, upon their request and within technical limits of the VTS equipment.

     The Sabetta vessel tracking management system was built in the seaport of Sabetta in 2017. At present, it functions in trial mode before it receives examination by Rosmorrechflot for its compliance with the performance specifications approved by Russia’s Transport Ministry Order No. 226 of July 23, 2015 and IMO Resolution А.1158(32).

     The Arkhangelsk VTS meets all current requirements and functions to increase the navigation safety level, shipping efficiency, safety of life at sea, marine environment protection, and seacoast safeguard within the seaport’s water area and at its approaches. 


     The Arkhangelsk Branch, using the VTS, implements: 
       - transmission of navigation, meteorological, current and other information; 
       - arrangement and regulation of navigation on the basis of navigation operations everyday schedule, approved by Arkhangelsk Seaport Master; 
       - navigation assistance by the vessel master’s request or by the VTS operator’s decision; 
       - control over the navigation. 

 

     The Arkhangelsk VTS includes: VTS Centre (Economia) and four radar posts: VTS site-1 (Economia), VTS site-2 (Mudyug), VTS site-3 (Talagi) and VTS site-4 (NSC). 
     According to the results of certification procedure the Arkhangelsk Branch received Rosmorrechflot certificate dated 23.10.2020 № VTS-3/1-3191-2020 on the compliance of the Arkhangelsk VTS with the technical and operational requirements established by order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia dated July 23, 2015 No. 226 and IMO А.1158(32) Resolution presented to the VTS of the highest category. 
     The Arkhangelsk Port VTS functions on a round-o-clock basis.
     The VTS operating personnel consists of 10 professionals certificated in accordance with the IALA V-103 Recommendations. 

     2. VTS coverage areas

     Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area

    In accordance with Compulsory regulations in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, approved by the Ministry of Transport Order No. 183 dated 09.06.2014, Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area is the Arkhangelsk seaport water area, within borders established by the Russian Government Order No. 797-r dated 19.05.2010 (as amended and augmented), except for section No. 2 of the seaport water area, located in the Severnaya Bay of the Gulf of Dezhnev of Alexandra Land of Franz Josef Land.
     In the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area, reliable detection, determination of coordinates and auto tracking of vessels most typical for the area of navigation (steel vessels of 80 meters or more in length with an effective reflective surface of about 300 square meters, with visibility of 0.5 nautical miles, rainfall intensity of 60 mm / h and sea force 5) is performed, and reliable VHF radio communication with vessels and radar control are ensured. Operating area of coastal stations of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) totally covers the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area. 

     Sabetta VTS coverage area

     The description of the Sabetta VTS coverage area will be established upon examination for its compliance with the performance specifications approved by Russia’s Transport Ministry Order No. 226 of July 23, 2015 and IMO Resolution А.1158(32).


     3. VTS services terms and conditions  

     Arkhangelsk VTS services terms and conditions

     Navigation services using in the Arkhangelsk VTS are provided by the branch for vessels (except for small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships) in accordance with the requirements of IMO Resolution А.1158(32), Common Rules of Navigation and Mooring of Vessels in the Seaports of the Russian Federation and Their Approaches approved by the Ministry of Transport order No. 395 dated 12.11.2021 and Compulsory regulations in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, approved by the Ministry of Transport Order No. 183 dated 09.06.2014 (hereinafter – the Compulsory regulations). 
     For small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships, Arkhangelsk VTS provides assistance in navigation upon their request within its technical limits.

     All ships and vessels located in the Arkhangelsk VTS area, regardless of their department belonging and form of property, are obliged to implement the requirements to the navigation in the Arkhangelsk VTS area. 

     A regulatory approval system of vessel movement is effective in the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area in accordance with the daily schedules for the arrangement and vessels traffic in the seaport. Vessels should enter, leave or start moving in the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area only upon receipt of an Arkhangelsk VTS operator’s permit.

     Captains of vessels, proceeding to the seaport of Arkhangelsk from the sea, should establish contact with the Arkhangelsk VTS on VHF channels 16 and 14 (call sign “Arkhangelsk-Radio-17”) and receive confirmation about recognition two nautical miles before approaching the border of the water area of ​​the seaport of Arkhangelsk.

     Captains of vessels proceeding to the seaport of Arkhangelsk from inland waterways should establish contact with the Arkhangelsk VTS two kilometers before the southern border of the seaport of Arkhangelsk on VHF channels 16 and 14 (call sign “Arkhangelsk-Radio-17”) and receive confirmation about recognition.

     To enter the Arkhangelsk VTS water area, vessels must report:

          - type, name of the vessel; 

          - country of the ship's flag;      

          - port of destination; 

          - maximum draft and air draught of the vessel; 

          - type and amount of cargo, class of hazard if available; 

          - number of crew members and passengers; 

          - presence of technical faults and other limitations which influence navigation safety.

     Archangelsk VTS is entitled to ask a vessel for additional data and information in accordance with the General Rules for Vessel Navigation and Mooring in Russia’s Seaports and on the Approaches Toward Them.

 

     When an identified vessel enters the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area, the Arkhangelsk VTS informs the vessel about the place where the pilot is accepted, the situation on the route, and transmits other information. In particular, in accordance with the Compulsory Regulations in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, vessels proceeding to the seaport water areas from “Mudyugsky No. 1” light buoy to the Talaga oil base or towards the Arkhangelsk seaport water area southern border and backwards inform the Arkhangelsk VTS on their time of passage of the following control points of the seaport of Arkhangelsk:

          - “Mudyugsky No. 1” floating light;

          - Mudyug towers rear range parallel (in the period of icebreaking escort of vessels);
          - Lebedinsky light parallel;

          - Perekhodny rear range parallel (Chizhovsky road);

          - Economsky lighted buoy;

          - “Arkhangelsk-radio-5” and “Arkhangelsk-radio-17” responsibility areas border crossing points;

          - mouth of the Povrakulka ducts (Hydrolysis plant);

          - Amosovsky and Korabelny range markers crossing points;

          - Moseev island;

          - Kegostrovsky buoy (only when proceeding to the Nikolsky arm or from the Nikolsky arm);

          - railway and road bridges.

     Vessels located in the coverage area of ​​the Arkhangelsk VTS, in accordance with the Compulsory Regulations in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, also inform the Arkhangelsk VTS:

          - on approaching the mooring or anchorage place;

          - on forced anchoring on or near fairway, indicating the place coordinates;

          - on completion of mooring, anchoring or unanchoring.

     During icebreaker escort period, vessels located in the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area, in accordance with the Compulsory Regulations in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, additionally report:
          - on the vessel being stuck in ice, indicating the place coordinates;

          - on passage of ice pedestrian and vehicle crossings.

     After receiving information from the vessel that the mooring has started, Arkhangelsk VTS stops monitoring the vessel’s traffic.


     Transmission of navigational, meteorological, current and other information to vessels is carried out by the Arkhangelsk VTS, under request of the vessel or the seaport of Arkhangelsk Master order, in cases, when there are or are planned some changes in navigational situation, upon receipt of a storm warning, which can influence the navigation safety in the seaport of Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area. Transmission of the critical information can performed by general announcement.


     Arkhangelsk VTS provides assistance in navigation at the request of the vessel or by decision of the Arkhangelsk VTS in difficult hydrometeorological conditions in case of absence or failure of technical means on board to ensure the safe movement of the vessel. When assisting in navigation, the Arkhangelsk VTS regularly transmits to the vessel information:

     • about the position of the vessel against the navigation landmark, fairway and waypoints;

     • about navigational dangers near the vessel and on its route;

     • about the position and movement of other vessels, as well as recommendations for the further movement of the vessel.

     The Arkhangelsk VTS ensures, when providing assistance in navigation, the accuracy of target auto-tracking within the range of values ​​indicated in the attached table.

     Within the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area, information on differential corrections of the control and correction station of the GLONASS/GPS global navigation satellite systems is transferred by means of automated information systems.

     The procedure for providing assistance in navigation, including the interval for transmitting information, is agreed between Arkhangelsk VTS and the vessel using communication means. The vessel is notified by Arkhangelsk VTS of the start and end of assistance in navigation, confirms the receipt of information and recommendations from Arkhangelsk VTS, and informs Arkhangelsk VTS of the actions taken.

     It is up to the captain of the vessel to choose the way to control the vessel while following the recommendations and instructions of Arkhangelsk VTS. If it is impossible to comply with the Arkhangelsk VTS instructions, the captain of the vessel passes this information to the Arkhangelsk VTS operator using communication means and informs him of his further actions and intentions.


     The vessel traffic in the coverage area of the Arkhangelsk VTS is organized considering the specifics of the seaport of Arkhangelsk on the basis of the daily schedule for the placement and movement of vessels in the seaport of Arkhangelsk and includes:

     - issuing permits for the movement of vessels and the placement of vessels in the coverage area of ​​the Arkhangelsk VTS;

     - using mandatory vessel reports on the beginning, end of movement and passage of regulated waypoints;

     - using routes and priority directions for vessel traffic;

     - establishing vessel traffic intervals.

     Daily schedules for the movement and placement of vessels are approved by the captain of the seaport of Arkhangelsk and are posted daily at 16.00 Moscow time in the information and telecommunication network Internet: http://www.mapm.ru/Port/Arkhangelsk


     Vessel traffic is regulated by Arkhangelsk VTS by issuing binding instructions to vessels regarding:

     - sequence and time of the beginning of movement;

     - route, interval and speed;

     - the procedure for the passage of fairways and their crossings by vessels;

     - ban on further movement;

     - location of anchorages and shelters.

 

        In accordance with the Compulsory Regulations in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, compulsory escort of vessel with the use of Arkhangelsk VTS, as well as assistance rendering in navigation, are carried out in the seaport of Arkhangelsk water area within borders form point with coordinates 65°01,4'N  40°10,2'Е along the arc of a circle drawn with radius of 5 miles from points installation of Mudyugsky No. 1” lighted buoy to the point with coordinates 65°52,5'N  40°00,0'Е, then along the line passing through the following points:

   No. 1 64°45,7'N  40°22,0'Е;

   No. 2 64°45,9'N  40°26,8'Е,

then along the coastal line of the left bank of the Maimaksa river to the parallel passing through the Economsky lighted range front range marker, then along the parallel with the transition to the right bank of the Maimaksa river and then along it to the left bank of the Kuznechikha river to the parallel passing through the upper end of berth No. 17 of the oil base of OAO NK “Rosneft-Arkhanhelskneftproduct” with transition to the right bank of the Kuznechikha river and along its right bank to its mouth, then north along the right bank of the Maimaksa river, along the western bank of the Muravoy and Lebedin islands with the transition to the Yuzhny Cape of the Mudyugsky Island and then along the western coast of the Mudyugsky island and Golaya Koshka Cape to the southern end of the nameless spit of the Zimny shore of the Dvina Bay and along its western shore to the starting point with coordinates 65°01,4'N  40°10,2'Е.

     In the rest part of the seaport of Arkhangelsk the Arkhangelsk VTS provides information and traffic organization services only with the use of the Automatic Identification System and VHF radio communication based on motion graphics and placement of vessels, approved by the seaport of Arkhangelsk Master.

     A vessel that has anchored, started or completed mooring to a berth in the seaport of Arkhangelsk, started moving after unmooring or leaving the berth, should inform Arkhangelsk VTS about it.

     Permission to move when unmooring or leaving the berth should be requested by the vessel from Arkhangelsk VTS 15 minutes before the start of movement.

     The permission is canceled and should be requested again if the vessel does not start the permitted actions within 15 minutes from the moment of communication with the Arkhangelsk VTS operator.

 

     The main means of communication between the Arkhangelsk VTS and vessels in the seaport of Arkhangelsk is radio telephone communication in the VHF band of the maritime mobile service.

     Communication between the Arkhangelsk VTS and vessels in the seaport of Arkhangelsk is carried out on VHF channel 14 (channel of control, call and communication with vessels during their movement), VHF channel 69 (channel for connection with vessels when assisting in navigation), call sign “Arkhangelsk-Radio-17”.

     Vessels traffic control in the seaport of Arkhangelsk water area, which is carried out by the seaport of Arkhangelsk Master, is performed on VHF channels 14 and 16, call sign “Arkhangelsk-Radio-5”. 

     A vessel leaving Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area must inform Arkhangelsk VTS and request permission to end the radio watch on VHF working channel 14, call sign “Arkhangelsk -Radio-17”.

 

VHF radio channels and radiotelephone call sign of requesters, used to ensure the safety of navigation in the Arkhangelsk VTS coverage area

 

Communicant

VHF communication channels

Call sign

calling channel

working channel

Vessel traffic control post of the Arkhangelsk Branch of the FSBI of “Western Arctic Seaport Administration”

16

14

Arkhangelsk-Radio-5

Vessel traffic service

16

14, 69

Arkhangelsk -Radio-17

 

      Maintaining of radio communications not related to safety of navigation on VHF channels 14, 16, 69 in the seaport of Arkhangelsk is not allowed.

     Vessels under way, as well as standing on roads and at seaport berths shall maintain a continuous radio watch on VHF channels 14 and 16.

     Vessels staying at berth are prohibited:
          a) to switch on vessel radio location station in the operating mode;

          b) to switch off the vessel automated identification system.

     During mooring operations, vessels moored with tug support shall switch to the VHF operating communication channel available on the tug, informing the Arkhangelsk VTS about it. After the end of operation, vessels shall switch to the VHF operating communication channel 14, informing the Arkhangelsk VTS about it.
 

     Radio communications between the Arkhangelsk VTS operator and vessels must be carried out in accordance with “Rules of radio communication of maritime mobile service and the maritime mobile satellite service of the Russian Federation”, and the message format should, where possible, meet the IMO Resolution A.851 (20) “General Principles for Ship Reporting Systems and Ship Reporting Requirements”. For radio communications with the crews of foreign vessels, English language is used in terms of “IMO's Standard Marine Communication Phrases”.

     
     The VTS services provided for vessels calling at the seaport of Arkhangelsk or passing through its water area en route are charged by navigation dues. The information about navigation dues and their collection can be found in subsection “The Arkhangelsk Branch Harbour Dues and Tariffs”. 


     Sabetta VTS services terms and conditions


     Navigation services using Sabetta VTS before making its examination for its compliance with the performance specifications approved by Russia’s Transport Ministry Order No. 226 of July 23, 2015 and IMO Resolution А.1158(32) are not rendered.


     4. Statistics 

     Amount of vessels in the Arkhangelsk VTS area having called at the seaport of Arkhangelsk or having passed through its water area en route

Year Total amount of
vessels in the
Arkhangelsk VTS
coverage area 
Including vessels
that entered/left
the seaport of
Arkhangelsk
Including vessels
that passed via
the water
area of the seaport
of Arkhangelsk en route
2007-2019 ⇲
2007 11,535 2,711
2008 9,169 2,443
2009 7,271 1,983
2010 8,158 2,088
2011 8,157 2,244
2012 8,739 2,443
2013 9,131 2,313
2014 11,802 2,215
2015 21,008 2,844
2016 23,698 3,483
2017 22,558 3,581
2018 22,940 3,948
2019 23,840 4,202
2020 26,017 4,443
2021 26,942 4,778
2022 28,517 6,877
2023 27,939 5,785

     5. Contacts 

     For any additional reference information about the VTS services provided by the Arkhangelsk Branch with the use of VTS, please contact: 

     in the seaport of Arkhangelsk
     by telephone (round-the-clock):
     +7 (8182) 67-10-18, 
     or send a request by fax +7 (8182) 67-11-34 or by e-mail: vts@ark.rosmorport.ru  

     in the seaport of Sabetta
     by telephone (round-the-clock)

     +7 (921) 293-95-15,

     or send a request by fax: +7 (8182) 65-07-69 or by e-mail: SabettaVTS@ark.rosmorport.ru