2. Astrakhan VTS coverage area
3. Astrakhan VTS navigation services terms and conditions
4. Statistics
5. Contacts
The FSUE “Rosmorport” Astrakhan Branch renders navigation services to vessels (except for small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships) calling at the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya or transiting through the seaports water areas with the use of the vessel traffic system Astrakhan (hereinafter Astrakhan VTS).
Small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships, located in the coverage area of Astrakhan VTS, can be provided with assistance in navigation only, upon their request and within technical limits of the VTS equipment.
Astrakhan VTS meets all the modern requirements and operates in order to enhance navigation safety, navigation efficiency, sea life protection, protection of the marine environment and the coast on the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (hereinafter VCSSC) water areas, of the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya and approaches to them.
Astrakhan VTS consists of:
- Astrakhan 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 Iskusstvennyy island (hereinafter RTP-3);
- radio technical post No. 4 on an island at the 145 km of the VCSSC (hereinafter RTP-4).
With the use of Astrakhan 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;
- vessel traffic regulation;
- radar control of vessels navigation.
---Upon the survey conducted in accordance with the Regulations on Approval of Types of Equipment and Survey of Facilities and Centers, approved by Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia dated 10.02.2010 No. 32, the Astrakhan Branch has acquired the Rosmorrechflot Certificate dated 03.10.2022 No. VTS-22.90017.141 on the Astrakhan VTS compliance with the requirements for VTS radar systems, actual for VTS of the highest category, approved by Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia dated 23.07.2015 No. 226.
Astrakhan VTS operates round-the-clock. Operator team of Astrakhan VTS consists of 15 people. All of them have been trained and certified in accordance with the recommendations of IALA V-103.
2. Astrakhan VTS coverage area
The Astrakhan 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 3,029 km of the Volga River and crossing the riverbed till the line running along perpendicular drawn through the 0 km point of the VCSSC (3,063.7 km of the Volga River) to the line of the fairway axis and crossing the riverbed;
b) The VCSSC from 0 km (3,063.7 km of the Volga River) to 170 km.
Within the Astrakhan 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 Astrakhan VTS coverage area.
3. Astrakhan VTS navigation services terms and conditions
The Astrakhan VTS navigation services to vessels (except for small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships) are rendered by the Astrakhan Branch in accordance with the requirements of the IMO Resolution А.1158(32), General Rules of Navigation and Mooring in the Seaports of the Russian Federation and their approaches, approved by Ministry of Transport Order No. 395 dated 12.11.2021, Compulsory Regulations in the seaport of Astrakhan approved by Ministry of Transport Order No. 74 dated 22.03.2012, Compulsory Regulations in the seaport of Olya approved by Ministry of Transport Order No. 222 dated 11.07.2012.
Small boats, pleasure boats and sports sailing ships can be provided with assistance in navigation only, upon their request and within technical limits of the VTS equipment of the Astrakhan VTS.
All ships and vessels equipped with radio communications of the maritime mobile service, regardless of their departmental affiliation and forms of ownership, located in the Astrakhan VTS coverage area, must meet the rules of navigation in the Astrakhan VTS coverage area.
A regulatory approval system of vessel movement is effective in the Astrakhan VTS coverage area. A vessel can enter or leave the coverage area, approach to the pilot’s reception point or start moving in the Astrakhan VTS coverage area only upon receipt of an Astrakhan VTS operator’s permit.
Captains of vessels, proceeding to the seaport of Astrakhan, should establish communication with Astrakhan VTS on VHF Channel 74 at least 2.5 nautical miles before approaching points 3,029 km of the Volga River and 75 km of the VCSSC, and for vessels, proceeding to the seaport of Olya, establish communication with Astrakhan VTS on VHF Channel 69 at least 1,5 nautical miles before 170 km of the VCSSC or 75 km of the VCSSC, receive confirmation about recognition and report about:
- 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, information about hazard cargo;
- presence of technical faults and other limitations which influence navigation safety,
and receive permission to enter/leave the Astrakhan VTS coverage area.
Astrakhan 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.
A vessel located in the Astrakhan VTS coverage area should inform about the detection of marine environment pollution, inconsistencies in the operation or location of aids to navigation, facilities or phenomena that pose a danger or impede navigation.
When an identified vessel enters the Astrakhan VTS coverage area, Astrakhan VTS indicates to it the recommended route, the procedure for passing fairways and their crossings, anchorage, informs the vessel about the place where the pilot is accepted, and about the situation on the route, and transmits other information.
After receiving information from the vessel that the mooring has started, Astrakhan VTS stops monitoring the vessel’s traffic.
Transfer of navigational, operational and other information to vessels is carried out by Astrakhan VTS at the request of a vessel or under order of the seaport of Astrakhan or Olya captain, when navigation conditions changed or changes are planned, upon receipt of a storm warning, which may affect the safety of navigation the Astrakhan VTS coverage area.
Astrakhan VTS provides assistance in navigation at the request of the vessel or by its own decision 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, Astrakhan 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.
When providing navigation assistance by Astrakhan VTS automatic target tracking errors are:
| RTP-1 | RTP-2 | RTP-3 | RTP-4 | |
| For distance | 18.7 m | 25 m | 28.8 m | 24 m |
| 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 |
The procedure for providing assistance in navigation, including the interval for transmitting information, is agreed between Astrakhan VTS and the vessel using communication means. The vessel is notified by Astrakhan VTS of the start and end of assistance in navigation, confirms the receipt of information and recommendations from Astrakhan VTS, and informs Astrakhan 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 Astrakhan VTS. If it is impossible to comply with the Astrakhan VTS instructions, the captain of the vessel passes this information to the Astrakhan VTS operator using communication means and informs him of his further actions and intentions.
If the captain finds it impossible to comply with Astrakhan VTS instructions, he must report to the operator of Astrakhan VTS using the means of communication and inform him about his further actions and intentions.
The vessel traffic in the Astrakhan VTS coverage area is organized considering the specifics of the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya on the basis of the daily schedule for the placement and movement of vessels in the corresponding seaport and includes:
- issuing permits for the movement of vessels and the placement of vessels in the Astrakhan VTS coverage area;
- planning vessel traffic;
- using mandatory vessel reports on the beginning, end of movement and passage of regulated waypoints;
- using routes and priority directions for vessel traffic;
- using one-way vessel traffic along the fairways;
- establishing vessel speed and traffic intervals.
Vessel traffic is regulated by Astrakhan 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.
A vessel that has anchored, started or completed mooring to a berth in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya, started moving after unmooring or leaving the berth, should inform Astrakhan VTS about it.
Permission to move when unmooring or leaving the berth should be requested by the vessel from Astrakhan VTS no less than 10 minutes before the start of movement.
The permission is cancelled and should be requested again if the vessel does not start the permitted actions within 10 minutes from the moment of communication with the Astrakhan VTS operator.
The main means of communication between Astrakhan VTS and the vessels it serves 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) UHF channel 74 (call sign “Astrakhan-SUDS”), and vessels located in the seaport of Olya – on the main (working) UHF channel 69 (call sign “Astrakhan-SUDS”).
A vessel leaving the Astrakhan VTS coverage area (3,029 km of the Volga river) should inform Astrakhan VTS of this and request permission to end the radio watch on working channel 74 VHF of the seaport of Astrakhan sector of the Astrakhan VTS, call sign “Astrakhan -SUDS”.
A vessel leaving the Astrakhan VTS coverage area (170 km of the VCSSC) should inform Astrakhan VTS of this and request permission to end the radio watch on working channel 69 VHF of the seaport of Olya sector of the Astrakhan VTS, call sign “Astrakhan - SUDS”.
A vessel leaving the seaport of Astrakhan sector or the seaport of Olya sector of the Astrakhan VTS coverage area (in the area of 75 km of the VCSSC) should inform Astrakhan VTS of this and request permission to end the radio watch and switch to the working channel VHF of corresponding sector of the seaport Astrakhan or Olya of the Astrakhan VTS.
Radio watch should be held continuously from the date of requesting a permission for movement, and before the end of movement or exit from the Astrakhan VTS coverage area on the following radio channels:
VHF radio-telephone channels and radio call signs used to ensure safety of navigation in the Astrakhan 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- SUDS |
+7 (8512) 58-65-17 |
|||
|
On the river VHF band 5 (frequency 300.2 MHz), 42 (frequency 300.075 MHz) |
- | ||||
|
FSBI “AMP of the 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) |
|||||
|
FSBI “AMP of the Caspian Basin” Department of vessels traffic planning |
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) |
Olya- Port Control |
+7 (8512) 58-65-17 |
|
|
FSBI “AMP of the Caspian Basin” Olinsky Branch |
16 (frequency 156.8 MHz) |
- |
Olya- Port Control |
+7 (85147) 947-32 |
|
Break of communication is permitted only by operators of Astrakhan VTS after the end of movement (anchorage or berthing) or when leaving the Astrakhan VTS coverage area.
Conduction on the above-mentioned channels of negotiations not related to the safety of navigation and vessels traffic management is prohibited.
Connection between Astrakhan 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 to Astrakhan 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 Astrakhan 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 “Harbour Dues and Tariffs of the Astrakhan Branch".
Information on the number of vessels in the Astrakhan 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 Astrakhan 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 |
| 2008-2020 ⇲ | |||||
|
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 |
| 2022 | 52,409 | 7,033 | 3,819 | 1,419 | 3,394 |
| 2023 | 51,303 | 8,730 | 4,410 | 2,239 | 3,747 |
5. Contacts
Additional reference information on procedure of provision of navigation services using Astrakhan 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.
