The purpose of VTS is to enhance the safety of life at sea, improve the safety and efficiency of navigation, and support protection of the environment within VTS areas by mitigating the development of unsafe situations. In Finland, Fintraffic’s Vessel Traffic Services Ltd provides vessel traffic services to merchant shipping and other marine traffic while maintaining safety radio operations. Vessel Traffic Service includes providing information, responding to developing unsafe situations, and organizing traffic.
The role of VTS is crucial in congested waterways where the risk of accidents is high. VTS operators employ advanced technology, including fused radar and AIS (Automatic Identification System) track information, PTZ cameras, and communication tools to track and inform about vessel movements, advise on safe navigation practices, and intervene when necessary to avert potential hazards. Whether the traffic is conventional or smart, it is essential for VTS to ensure that all vessels participating in VTS share a common situational picture and assist them in decision-making, whether onboard or ashore.
The shift towards remote pilotage operations necessitates that VTS operations evolve to support the new setup. Remote pilotage, where a pilot provides guidance from a shore-based station rather than onboard, poses unique considerations for VTS. Therefore, seamless collaboration and careful coordination between VTS and pilots are vital for fueling shared success. By leveraging advanced monitoring and communication systems, sharing sensor data, and promoting a culture of cooperation among maritime stakeholders, VTS operators and remote pilots ensure that fairways remain navigable even in the face of evolving traffic.
Fintraffic’s goal is to ensure that Finland has the world’s safest, smoothest and most environmentally friendly traffic by working together, both as a team and with our stakeholders and customers. Our mission is to provide the world’s best traffic management and smart transport services – together.
