Vessel Traffic ServicesLower Mississippi River

Vessel Movement Reporting System User Brief

These Guys!

VTS Authority

• 33 CFR 160 Ports and Waterways Safety– Captain of the Port

• 33 CFR 161 Vessel Traffic Management– VTS Area

What: Services• (a) Hazardous conditions or circumstances;• (b) Vessel congestion;• (c) Traffic density;• (d) Environmental conditions;• (e) Aids to navigation status;• (f) Anticipated vessel encounters;• (g) Another vessel's name, type, position, hazardous vessel operating

conditions, if applicable, and intended navigation movements, as reported;

• (h) Temporary measures in effect;• (i) A description of local harbor operations and conditions, such as

ferry routes, dredging, and so forth;• (j) Anchorage availability; or• (k) Other information or special circumstances.

Vessel Traffic Services3 Basic Functions/Operational Modes:

• Information Service• Navigation Assistance• Traffic Organization

Mission: Safety/Risk Mitigation• Safety of Navigation on the River• Maritime Domain Awareness

Equipment & Sensors: • Automatic Identification Systems• Radar / CCTV / Radio

VHF-FM Ch 1112NM radius around SW Ent LT to MM86 AHP

VHF-FM Ch 12MM86 to 109 AHP

VHF-FM Ch 5AMM 109 to 254.5 AHP

Where

Algiers Point VTS Special AreaMM 93.5 to 95 AHP

Canal St

Governor Nichols Traffic Light

Gretna Traffic Light

ALGIERSCANAL FORBAYMM-88(SHIPS)

INDUSTRIAL CANAL FOREBAY MM-92.7(SHIPS & TOWS)

CRESCENT TOWING SMITHS FLEETMM-93.9(TOWS)

HUEY P LONG BRIDGEMM-106.1 (SHIPS & TOWS)

MARLEX TERMINAL MM-99(SHIPS & TOWS)

Algiers Point Special Area Check-in Points VHF-FM Ch 12VESSEL TYPE 1ST CHECK IN POINT 2ND CHECK IN POINT

Upbound Ships Algiers Canal ForebayMM 90.5

Industrial Canal ForebayMM 92.7

Upbound Tows Industrial Canal ForebayMM 92.7

Crescent Towing Smith Fleet MM 93.9

Downbound Ships & Tows Huey P. Long BridgeMM 106.1

Marlex TerminalMM 99.0

Eighty-one Mile Point VTS Special AreaMM167.5 to 187.9 AHP

Eighty-one Mile Point Special Area Check-in Points VHF-FM Ch 5AVESSEL TYPE 1ST CHECK IN POINT 2ND CHECK IN POINT

Upbound Ships and Tows MM-167.5 Bringer Point Light MM-173.7Downbound Ships and Tows

CosMar Light MM-187.9 Wyandotte Chemical Dock Lights MM-183.9

CosMar Dock Lights MM187.9

Wyandotte Chemical MM 183.9

Bringer Point Light MM 173.7

Sunshine Bridge MM167.5

UPBOUND

81 MILE POINT

UPBOUND

DOWNBOUND

DOWNBOUND

Who: Watch Organization

M*I*R*D

MonitorInformRecommendDirect

Required reporting to VTS33 CFR 161.12.d

As soon as is practicable, a VTS User shall notify the VTS of any of the following:1)A marine casualty as defined in 46 CFR 4.05-1;2)Involvement in the ramming of a fixed or floating object;3)A pollution incident as defined in § 151.15 of this chapter;4)A defect or discrepancy in an aid to navigation;5)A hazardous condition as defined in § 160.203 of this chapter;6)Improper operation of vessel equipment required by part 164 of this chapter;7)A situation involving hazardous materials for which a report is required by 49 CFR 176.48; and8)A hazardous vessel operating condition as defined in § 161.2.

VTS Measure & Directive§ 161.11   VTS measures.(a) A VTS may issue measures or directions to enhance navigation and vessel safety and to protect the marine environment, such as, but not limited to:(1) Designating temporary reporting points and procedures;(2) Imposing vessel operating requirements; or(3) Establishing vessel traffic routing schemes.(b) During conditions of vessel congestion, restricted visibility, adverse weather, or other hazardous circumstances, a VTS may control, supervise, or otherwise manage traffic, by specifying times of entry, movement, or departure to, from, or within a VTS area.

If, in a specific circumstance, a VTS User is unable to safely comply with a measure or direction issued by the VTS, the VTS User may deviate only to the extent necessary to avoid endangering persons, property or the environment. The deviation shall be reported to the VTS as soon as is practicable.

VTS User Manual

Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)

200 Hendee Street New Orleans

24 hr watch: 504-365-2230

VTS

UNCLASSIFIED