Master's Guide

Instructions for Finnish vessel traffic service can be found in the Fintraffic Master’s Guide. The service is available at mastersguide.fintraffic.fi.

Participation in vessel traffic service

Vessels of 24 metres in length overall or more are obliged to participate in the vessel traffic service. When navigating in the VTS area, vessels are required to maintain a continuous listening watch on the working channel used in the area. Furthermore, vessels are obliged to obey the rules relevant to the traffic in the VTS area. Vessels navigating in the VTS area, which are not obliged to participate in the vessel traffic service, are recommended to maintain a listening watch on the working channel in the VTS area or sector in question.

More detailed instructions are described in the regional Master’s Guides.

Participation in the Gulf of Finland mandatory ship reporting system

Vessels of 300 gross tonnage and over are required to participate in the Gulf of Finland mandatory ship reporting system GOFREP. Also, vessels under 300 gross tonnage are encouraged to listen to the relevant VHF-traffic channel.

Vessels under 300 gross tonnage are required to report in circumstances where they:

• are not under command
• are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre
• are at anchor in the TSS
• have defective navigational aids

More detailed instructions are described in the Master’s Guide.

South Åland Sea TSS

The South Åland Sea TSS has no ship reporting system, but the vessel traffic is monitored. More detailed instructions are described in the Master’s Guide.

NOTE! Bring all ship-generated waste to port and take advantage of the No-Special-Fee incentive system that covers the entire Baltic Sea region.