A VTS operator has to direct traffic movement and give navigational warnings. Vessels have to make contact at reporting points on entering or leaving a VTS area. Vessel traffic systems use tools like radars and buoys to monitor and direct vessel traffic similarly to how road traffic is managed using CCTV and lane markings, but vessel systems have fewer light signals. Participation in a VTS depends on applicable rules and regulations.

1. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
WEEK THREE: THE LANGUAGE OF VTS

2. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
1) What are the duties of a VTS operator? Make sentences
starting “A VTS operator has to…..”
2) When does a vessel have to contact VTS?
3) In what ways are vessel traffic systems like road systems
and how are they different?
2

3. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
1) What are the duties of a VTS operator? Make sentences
starting “A VTS operator has to…..”
2) When does a vessel have to contact VTS?
3) In what ways are vessel traffic systems like road systems
and how are they different?
A VTS operator has to direct traffic movement and give navigational warnings
Vessels have to make contact at reporting points on entering or leaving a VTS
area
Roads/ fairway. Roundabouts/ roundabouts. Traffic lanes/ traffic separation
systems. Police use CCTV/ VTS & coastguards use radars. Many light signals/
few light signals. Curb and White lines mark edge of the road/ buoys mark edge
of the fairway

4. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
1. Vessel leaving:
2. Vessel outward:
3. Hampered vessel:
4. Vessel inward:
5. Vessel crossing:
6. Vessel under escort:
7. Static vessel:
4
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
D
E
A
C
B
G
F

5. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
Match these questions and answers with each vessel A-G.
1) A: What is your new course?
B: my new course is two-six-zero degrees
2) A: Are you underway?
B: No, I am not underway at this time
3) A: What is your position?
B: I am at reporting buoy Delta Sierra Lima Seven
4) A: Do I have clearance to exit port?
B: Yes, you are clear to exit
5) A: What type of vessel are you?
B: I am a dredger
6) A: Do you require further tug assistance?
B: No, I do not require further tug assistance
7) A: What is your intention?
B: I intend to cross the fairway
5
F
C
E
D
B
A
G
E
F
C
D
A
G
B

6. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
Match the explanation with the corresponding word
a) Leaving a berth or anchorage 1) outbound vessel
b) Making a large alteration of course 2) crossing vessel
c) Proceeding across a fairway, lane or route 3) departing vessel
d) Proceeding from harbor/anchorage to sea 4) turning vessel
e) Proceeding from sea to harbor or dock 5) inbound vessel
6
A 3
B 4
C 2
D 1
E 5

7. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
SMPC’S: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Study this exchange between a ship’s officer and a VTS. Fill in the gaps 1-6 with message
markers. Question or answer. Listen to the recording once to check your answers.
PEQ17 Traffic, this is Echo-Quebec-one-seven ❶_______________: Do I have permission to
use the fairway at this time? Over
VTS This is traffic ❷________________: yes, you have permission to use the fairway at
this time, over.
PEQ17 Traffic ❸_________________: do I have permission to enter Caesar’s Channel? Over
VTS Papa-Echo-Quebec-one-seven. ❹____________________________ What is your
draft? Over
PEQ17 Stand by, over
VTS Standing by
PEQ17 Traffic, this is Papa-Echo-Quebec-One-Seven. ❺: _________________ my draft is
one-zero meters. Over
VTS No, you cannot enter Caesar’s Channel. Your vessel is constrained by her draft. Over
PEQ17 ❻_____________________ What time am I permitted to transit? Over
VTS This is traffic. No information at this time. Over
7
QUESTION
ANSWER
QUESTION
QUESTION
ANSWER
QUESTION

8. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
Answer these questions
1) Where must the ship not go?
2) Why must the ship wait for high tide?
3) What phrase mean “can I”?
4) What phrase mean “you can”?
5) What phrase means “now”?
6) What phrase means “ship is too big”?
8
CAESAR’S CHANNEL
CHANNEL IS NOT DEEP ENOUGH
SHIP’S DRAFT IS TOO GREAT
DO I HAVE PERMISSION
YOU HAVE PERMISSION
AT THIS TIME
YOUR VESSEL IS CONSTRAINED BY HER DRAFT

9. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
Complete the text with the correct preposition:
IN- ON- AT- FOR- TO- OF- FROM- INSIDE- OUTSIDE-
WITHIN- ABOUT
Growth ❶________________international commerce and tourism as well as technical development has
resulted ❷________________ high traffic density ❸______________ many sea areas. Moreover,
vessels are bigger and faster. The approaches ❹________________ pilot boarding stations, ports and
river waterways are all areas ❺________________ potential traffic congestion and complexity. To reduce
the risk ❻_______________ collision ❼_________________ busy port waters as well as
❽_______________ more open coastal waterways vessel traffic services (VTS) have been implemented.
Vessel traffic services are shoreside information processing systems which range ❾_______________the
provision ❿_________________ simple information messages ⓫to ships, to extensive management
⓬______________ traffic ⓭_______________ a port or waterway. Information messages can include
position ⓮______________ other traffic, defects ⓯_______________ aids to navigation or
meteorological hazard warnings. As stated ⓰________________ the IMO Resolution A.857(20), the
efficiency ⓱________________ a VTS will depend ⓲_________________ the reliability and continuity
of communications and ⓳__________________ the ability to provide good and unambiguous information.
Furthermore, the quality ⓴__________________ accident-prevention measures will depend
❷❶_________________ the system’s capability ❷❷_______________ detecting a developing
dangerous situation and ❷❸____________________ the ability to give timely warning
❷❹___________________ such dangers.
9
in
in in
to
of
of in
in
from
of
of within
of in
in
of on
on
of
on of
on
of

10. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
1) High traffic density is a result of:
a) Traffic congestion
b) Growth in international commerce
c) Vessels getting bigger and faster
d) Technical complexity
2) Traffic congestion may occur in
a) Approaches to ports
b) Pilot boarding stations
c) All areas
3) Vessel traffic services have been carried into effect to
a) Reduce the risk of collision in open seas areas
b) Reduce the risk of collision in ports and coastal waterways
c) Manage traffic in open seas
4) Vessel traffic services are:
a) shore-based information processing systems
b) shore-side navigation systems
c) Systems to manage all traffic
5) From an information message you can get:
a) The exact position of your vessel
b) Information about deficiencies in buoys
c) Information about prevailing weather conditions
6) The efficiency of a VTS depends on:
a) The ability to provide ambiguous information
b) The continuity of communications
c) The reliability of equipment used for communications
7) The system should be able to:
a) Develop a dangerous situation
b) Give timely warning of a dangerous situation
c) Detect the vessel which has developed a dangerous situation
10
From the alternatives provided, choose the best one to complete the text








11. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
Complete the sentences with one of the following words: FOLLOW- AVOID-
IDENTIFY-IMPROVE-PROTECT-PARTICIPATE-APPLY-LIMIT
1. In the event of pollution, VTS directs other vessels to _________________the area.
2. Vessel traffic services ________________the safety and efficiency of vessel
traffic.
3. Vessel traffic services ________________to all merchant and government vessels.
4. Leisure crafts, too, should _____________the instructions given by the VTS center.
5. VTS helps to ________________________the effects of pollution.
6. Also, in the event of pollution, VTS helps to __________the source of the pollution.
7. Leisure crafts may or may not ______________________in a VTS.
8. Vessel traffic services ___________________the marine environment.
11
avoid
improve
apply
follow
limit
identify
participate
protect

12. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
From the alternatives provided, choose the best one to complete the text
1) The purpose of VTS is:
a) To improve the profitability of the vessel traffic
b) To protect the marine environment from maritime
traffic
c) To increase the safety of the vessel traffic and the
safety of life at sea
2) In the event of pollution, VTS
a) Helps to identify the source of pollution
b) Helps to get the pollution offender into a court of law
c) Directs other vessels to the area of the pollution
3) VTS are relevant to:
a) Merchant vessels only
b) All vessels in an area
c) All vessels in an area, except leisure crafts, which
shouldn’t listen to instructions given by a VTS
4) Participation in a VTS
a) is obligatory for all vessels
b) Depends on governing rules and regulations
c) Is voluntary but highly recommended
5) If a vessel is not acting in accordance with the agreed
procedures, a VTS operator:
a) Should be quiet and wait until the vessel has violated
the agreed procedures
b) Should inform the vessel about the procedures
c) Should give instructions to the vessel so as not to waste
time
d) Should inform the coastguard
12






13. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
Combine the two sets of words
1 Co-ordination of a) pollution
2 Prevention b) Vessel movements
3 Provision c) Navigational information
4 Level d) vessels
5 Identification e) service
6 Strategic planning f) Pollution response
13
F
A
C
E
D
B

14. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
Complete the sentences using one of the following words
SHIP’S MOVEMENTS- THE WATERWAY- NAVIGATIONAL CHART- THE VESSEL-
THE SHIP’S MASTER- A TRAFFIC IMAGE- A VTS PASSAGE PLAN
1. Responsibility for safe navigation lies with __________________________
2. The master of a vessel has knowledge of ___________________________
3. The main tool of a VTS operator is ________________________________
4. The operators can monitor _____________________online.
5. A VTS operator has specialized knowledge of ________________
6. An electronic ____________________displays the fairway and aids to navigation
7. _______________________cannot supersede the decisions of the master.
8. ___________________has responsibility for managing the traffic in the area.
14
the ship’s master
the vessel
A traffic image
ship’s movement
the waterway
navigational chart
A VTS passage plan
A VTS operator

15. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
Complete the sentences using one of the following words
SUPERSEDE- PREDICT- COMPREHENSIVE- COMBINES- LIES-
SURVEILLANCE- RESPONSIBILITY-DISPLAYS-MONITORED
1. Responsibility for safe navigation _______________with the ship’s master.
2. A VTS operator has ___________________for managing the traffic in the area.
3. A traffic image is a _____________________overview of the traffic in the area.
4. Ship’s radar echoes are identified and put under ______________________
5. An electronic navigational chart _________________________the fairway.
6. A VTS passage plan cannot _____________________the decisions of the master.
7. First, the ship’s movements are _________________________by radar.
8. The operators can _______________________________ship’s future path
9. Then, the computer ________________the radar image with the electronic chart.
15
lies
responsibility
comprehensive
surveillance
displays
supersede
monitored
predict
combines

16. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
From the alternatives provided, choose the best one to complete the text
1) AIS has
a) Improved safety at sea to some extent
b) Reduced safety at sea to some extent
c) improved safety at sea a lot
2) Installation and operation of a ship borne automatic
identification system is voluntary for ships of
a) 299 gross tonnage
b) 301 gross tonnage
c) 500 gross tonnage
3) A ship borne AIS is based on
a) A VHF transmitter
b) A VHF transmitter and a VHF receiver
c) A VHF receiver
4) AIS provides
a) A traffic image
b) Information via text messages only
c) Information about vessel traffic
d) Information for a VTS center but not for
vessels
5) Information provided by AIS includes
a) Estimated time of departure
b) Owner of the ship
c) Ship’s nationality
d) Ship’s position
6) Transponder targets are displayed on:
a) A radar screen
b) A digital chart
c) A screen on a VHF radio
7) AIS technology has
a) Reduced the problem with target swapping
b) Eliminated the problem with target swapping
c) Increased the problem with target swapping
16








17. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
Construct three sentences. Pick up one word from each category following the formula.
Who (an agent) + does what (a verb) + A REPORT OF DEFICIENCIES+ to whom or to
which (an object) + to whom (a receiver) + when (time) + where (location)
Agents
A vessel heading
A VTS authority
The VTS center
A vessel
Receivers
Mariners
The Kotka VTS center
To a VTS center
The vessel
A verb
Gives
Does
Confirms
Submits
Objects
With instructions
Her name
The traffic report
A traffic report
Time
After entering
When entering
Prior to entering
When leaving
Location
A VTS area
Gulf of Finland
VTS area
The Kotka VTS area
17

18. COMPILED
AND
RPEPARE
D
BY
MARIA
VERONICA
VALDIVIA
1. A vessel submits a report of deficiencies to a VTS prior to
entering a VTS area
2. A vessel heading for the Port of Kotka gives a traffic
report to the Kotka VTS center via VHF when entering the
Kotka VTS area.
3. The VTS confirms that it has received the traffic report
and provides the vessel with instructions
18