VTS Services

1. General Information

2. The seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area

3. Procedure of provision the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS navigation services

4. Statistical information

5. Contact information


     1. General information


     The FSUE “Rosmorport” Astrakhan Branch renders navigation services with the use of vessel traffic management system in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya (hereinafter the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS) to vessels calling at the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya or transiting through the seaports water areas
     The seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS meets all the modern requirements and operates im order to enhance the navigation safety level, navigation efficiency, sea life protection, protection of the marine environment and the coast on the Volga-Caspian Marine Shipping Canal water areas, (hereinafter the VCMSC), of the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya and approaches to them.

     The seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS consists of:
     - seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS center;
    - radio technical post No. 1 in the seaport of Astrakhan (hereinafter RTP-1)
    - radio technical post No. 2 in the seaport of Olya (hereinafter RTP-2);
    - radio technical post No. 3 on Iskusstvenny island (hereinafter RTP-3);

    - radio technical post No. 4 at the 145th km of the VCMSC on Bezymyanny Island(hereinafter RTP-4).
     With the use of the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS the following operations are performed:
    - transfer of navigational, operational and other information to vessels;
    - vessel traffic organization;
    - assistance in navigation in areas with a radius of 3 nautical miles from RTP-1, RTP-2, RTP-3 and RTP-4;
    - radar control of vessels navigation and anchorages in seaports of Astrakhan and Olya and the VCMSC water areas.
     On the basis of inspection certificate No. 3/1-2645-2012A dated 24.08.2012 the Astrakhan Branch received in the established order certificate of the Federal Agency of Sea and River Transport No. VTS-3/1-2645-2012 dated 24.08.2012 on compliance of the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS with Technical and operational requirements No. MF-02-22 / 848-70 and IMO Resolution A.857 (20), imposed on port VTS of the highest category.
     The seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS operates round-the-clock. Operator team of the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS consists of 15 people. All of them have been trained and certified in accordance with the recommendations of IALA V-103.


     2. The seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area


     The seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area includes:

     a) water space of the Volga River estuarine area with distributaries and anabranches within the boundaries from the line running along perpendicular drawn to the fairway axis at 3029 km of the Volga River and crossing the riverbed till the line running along perpendicular drawn through the 0 km point of the VCMSC (3063.7 km of the Volga River) to the line of the fairway axis and crossing the riverbed;

     b) The VCMSC from 0 km (3063.7 km of the Volga River) to 170 km.
 
     Within the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area reliable VHF radio-telephone communication with the vessels is provided. Radar control is provided in full in the following areas:
     - in the RTP-1 area: 4.58 nautical miles to the north, 4.18 nautical miles to the south;

     - in the RTP-2 area: at least 7.8 nautical miles to the north, at least 8.6 nautical miles to the south

     - in the RTP-3 area: 11.56 nautical miles to the north, 14.56 nautical miles to the south;

     - in the RTP-4 area: 9.75 nautical miles to the north, 12 nautical miles to the south.


     Operating Area of coastal stations of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) completely covers the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area.

     3. Procedure of provision the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS navigation services

     The seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS navigation services are rendered by the Astrakhan Branch in accordance with the requirements of the IMO Resolution А.857(20), General Rules of Navigation and Mooring in the Seaports of the Russian Federation and their approaches, approved by Ministry of Transport Order No. 140 dated 20.08.2009, Compulsory Regulations in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya approved by Ministry of Transport Order No. 222 dated 11.07.2012


     All ships and vessels equipped with radio communications of the maritime mobile service, regardless of their departmental affiliation and forms of ownership, located the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area, must meet the rules of navigation in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area.

     Transfer of navigational, operational and other information to vessels is carried out by seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS at the request of a vessel or under order of the seaport of Astrakhan and Olya captain, when navigation conditions changed or changes are planned, upon receipt of a storm warning, which may affect the safety of navigation the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area.

     Assistance in navigation (navigation assistance) is provided to vessel at the request of the vessel or by the decision of the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS operator. mainly in difficult meteorological conditions, in case of failure or absence of onboard instruments ensuring safe movement of the vessel in this navigation situation. When providing navigation assistance by the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS automatic target tracking errors are:


  RTP-1 RTP-2 RTP-3 RTP-4
For distance  18,7 м  25 м  28,8 м  24 м
For bearing  0,59  0,46  0,48  0,46
For speed 1,07 knots  1,0 knots  0,77 knots  1,0 knots
For course  1,8  1,2  1,8  1,2

     Procedure and method of navigation assistance, including interval of messages is discussed with the vessel. Start and finish of navigation assistance must be approved by both parties. During navigation assistance rendering the vessel must confirm receipt of information and recommendations from the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS and report its current actions.


     Organization of vessel navigation in seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area is carried out by seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS operator by:


     a) indication to vessels:
     - order and starting time of movement;
     - route, interval and speed;
     - anchorage or shelter places,
     b) giving recommendations to vessels regarding:
     - order of passing areas of one-way traffic, leaving 
     additional vessels’ passages.
     - prohibition of further movement;
     - actions for prevention of immediate danger.

     In seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area there are established permissive procedure for vessel movement. Entrance / exit of vessels into/from the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area, approach of vessel to the point embarkation of the pilot or start of movement are carried out only after obtaining a permission of the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS operator.

     Masters of vessels proceeding to the seaport of Astrakhan, must establish communication with the ports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS on 74 VHF channel not less than 2.5 miles before approaching the points of 3029 kilometer of the Volga River and 75 kilometer of the VCMSC  and receive confirmation of recognition and and report the following information: 
     - vessel’s IMO number; 
     - type, name of the vessel; 

     - vessel number assigned by the maritime mobile service;
     - country flag;      
     - port of destination; 
     - maximum draft of 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, 
     and receive authorization for entrance the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area. 

     Any vessel in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area, intending to depart from the berth in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya, carry out shifting along the berth or unanchoring, must obtain a permit for this actions from the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS operator on duty not less than 10 minutes prior to the start of actions.

     Permission is canceled and must be requested again, if within 30 from the time of communication with the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS operator the vessel did not start the allowed actions.
 

     The main means of communication between the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS and served by it vessels is VHF radio-telephone communication of the maritime mobile service. 

     Vessels located in the seaport of Astrakhan must maintain a continuous radio watch on the main (working) 74 UHF channel (call sign “Astrakhan-VTS”), and vessels located in the seaport of Olya on the main (working) 69 UHF channel (call sign “Astrakhan-VTS”). 

     Radio watch should be held continuously from the date of request a permission for movement, and before the end of movement or exit from the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area on the following radio channels:


     VHF radio-telephone channels and radio call signs used to ensure safety of navigation in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area


Seaport of Astrakhan


Service name VHF channel
Call sign Phone
working
backup  
Vessel
Traffic
Service of
the FSUE
 "Rosmorport"
 Astrakhan
 branch
On the sea
VHF band
74 (frequency
 156.725 MHz)
80 (the receiver frequency (hereinafter - PRM) 157.025 MHz transmitter (hereinafter - PRD) 161.625 MHz Astrakhan-
VTS
+7 (8512)
58-65-17
On the river
VHF band
5 (frequency
300.2 MHz),
42 (frequency
 300.075 MHz)
-
FSI "AMP
 Caspian
Basin" Port
 state control
 inspection
On the sea
band 9
(frequency
156.45 MHz)
- Port
Control
 Astrakhan
+7 (8512)
58-57-11
On the river
VHF band 5
 (frequency
300.2 MHz)
FSI "AMP
 Caspian
Basin" Department
of vessels
traffic planning FGU
On the sea
band 9
(frequency
156.45 MHz)
- Astrakhan
 radio 11
+7 (8512)
58-64-59
On the river
VHF band
5 (frequency
300.2 MHz)


Seaport of Olya


Service name VHF channel
Call sign Phone
working
backup
Vessel
Traffic
Service of
the FSUE
 "Rosmorport"
 Astrakhan
 branch
16 (frequency
 156.8 MHz),
69 (frequency
 156.475 MHz)

74 (frequency
156.725 MHz),
79 (PRM frequency
156.975 MHz,
PRD frequency
161.575 MHz),
80 (PRM frequency
157.025 MHz,
PRD frequency
161.625 MHz)
Astrakhan-
VTS
+7 (8512)
 58-65-17 
FSI "AMP
 Caspian
Basin"
Olinsky
Branch
16 (frequency
 156.8 MHz)
- Olya
Port
Control
+7 (85147)
947-32


     Break of communication is permitted only for operators of the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS after the end of movement (anchorage or berthing) or when leaving the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage areas.

     Conduction on the above-mentioned channels of negotiations not related to the safety of navigation and vessels traffic management is prohibited.
     Connection between the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS and vessels in carried out in accordance with the Rules of radio communications of maritime mobile service and maritime mobile satellite service of the Russian Federation, approved by the Ministry of Transport of Russia from 04.11.2000 under No.137 and Rules of radio communications on inland waterways of the Russian Federation, approved by Order No. 59 dated 09.11.1994 of the Department of Inland Water Transport of the Ministry of Transport of Russia.

     Radio communication with vessels is carried out in English with the use of “IMO Standard phrases for marine radio communication”, approved by Resolution A.918 (22). Message transmission from vessels in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS and message format should, wherever possible, comply with IMO Resolution A.851 (20) “General Principles for Ship Reporting Systems and Ship Reporting Requirements”.
 

     For the provision of the Astrakhan Branch navigation services using the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS, vessels calling at the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya and transiting their water areas pay navigation dues (VTS). Information about navigation dues rates (VTS) and the procedure for their collection can be found in section “Harbor Dues and Tariffs of the Astrakhan Branch".


     4. Statistical information


     Information on the number of vessels in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area, including called at/departed from the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya or transiting their water areas

Year

Total number of vessels located in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS coverage area

Including called at/departed from the seaport of Astrakhan

Including called at/departed from the seaport of Olya

Including transiting the seaport of Astrakhan water area

Including transiting the seaport of Olya water area

2008

17,688

7,198

731

2009

44,382

8,454

928

2010

53,491

8,715

1,111

2011

60,581

9,219

925

2012

64,578

8,310

4,510

1,128

3,742

2013 71,731 9,000 5,558 1,101 4,183
2014 79,986 9,705 5,965 1,041 3,989
2015

91,895

8,760 5,072 1,350 4,223
2016 114,030 8,746 5,257 1,327 4,707
2017 96,540 8,563 4,909 1,224 4,194
2018 91,706 7,987 4,182 1,281 3,715
2019 96,183 8,540 4,584 1,163 4,190
2020 92,960 8,914 4,649 1,490 4,182
2021 67,366 7,836 3,919 1,536 3,585

     5. Contact information

     Additional reference information on procedure of provision of navigation services using the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya VTS by the Astrakhan Branch can be obtained by phone:

     +7 (8512) 58-65-17 (round-the-clock),
     or by sending a request via fax +7 (8512) 58-65-17 or email: suds@ast.rosmorport.ru.