Vessel Traffic Services
The extent of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) for ships enroute to St. John's is determined, in large part, by the size, type and nationality of the vessel. If the ship is 500 GRT or more, it will be subject to two levels of service; offshore VTS (ECAREG) and high-level VTS (St. John's Traffic). If the vessel is a tanker, extra work is involved in order to ensure compliance with special regulations for vessels of that type. Foreign ships, in some instances, will be subject to an External Affairs Clearance and, in all cases except with pleasure craft less than 200 GRT, the vessel will be subject to pilotage requirements in St. John's Harbour.
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Ships of 500 GRT or vessels transporting pollutants or dangerous cargo, are required to make application 24 hours prior to entering Canadian waters. Specified in that application are items such as Vessel's Name, Call Sign, Master, Destination, ETA, Last Port, Draft, Cargo, and Vessel Status relating to conditions that may affect its safe passage into Canadian waters.
Once ECAREG CANADA is satisfied that all requirements have been met, the vessel is cleared and arrival information is passed to St. John's Traffic. When the vessel arrives at St. John's Traffic Zone Limits, it is cleared into the zone and brought into a regulating pattern that would require VHF reporting procedures, in accordance with designated calling-in points. If the vessel is subject to compulsory pilotage, a pilot is dispatched to board at the approaches to St. John's.
In the event that a vessel is not subject to the ECAREG Regulations, it will still have to comply with high-level VTS Regulations, providing that it is 20 meters or more in length. The status of each vessel will be a determining factor in the amount of work involved with each vessel.
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