Vessel Traffic Service

The Vessel Traffic Service (VTS ) is a common electronic monitoring system, which controls the ship traffic at sea and partly also directed. This often occurs in areas where a traffic separation scheme has been established, for example in the German Bight and in the English Channel.

VTS is operated by seaports and transport authorities and with air traffic control in aviation comparable. There is technically mainly from radar surveillance, video surveillance system, VHF radio and the Automatic Identification System, as well as computers. It serves both the navigation and the smooth running of the shipping industry.

VTS ensures this by

• Collecting data
• Evaluation (evaluation)
• Disclosure of the data

Each VTS must be based on the provisions of the IMO; currently applies IMO A. 857 (20 ), until 1997 IMO A. 578 (14). Rarely, the VTS is also used in inland waters.