In Murmansk branch on August 14, 2013 a working meeting was held with representatives of the Vardo VTS (Norway) on the implementation of Resolution MSC. 348 (91) dated 28.11.2012 on the approval of a new ship reporting system Barents SRS came into force on June 1, 2013.

Norwegian delegation was led by the head of the Vardo VTS Mr. Stale Sveinungsen, who introduced the Murmansk branch professionals with experience in ship reporting systems gained in Norway, and briefly described the results of the Vardo VTS on provision of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution in its coverage area in the Barents Sea.

Acting Chief of the Kola Bay VTS Vasily Khilchenko informed the Norwegian colleagues on the work of the Kola Bay VTS and future plans for its development including in the sphere of functioning of the ship reporting system.

Following the meeting, which was held in a friendly atmosphere, the two sides reaffirmed the need for further cooperation in order to improve maritime safety in the Barents Sea water area using the VTS of two countries.


For information:
The Vardo VTS, one of the five existing VTS in Norway, has been operational since January 1, 2007. The coverage area of the Vardo VTS is the sea area of the Barents Sea to the Lofoten Islands (archipelago in the Norwegian Sea, off the north-west coast of Norway), in which the control over navigation by radar-location monitoring, ship reporting and Automated Information System is exercised.