World Vessel Traffic Services Guide - United Kingdom - Port of London

Transcription

1 World Vessel Traffic Services Guide - United Kingdom - Port of London Approaches The Port of London is normally approached using one of three channels. The main Deep Water route is from the North East from the Sunk Light Vessel via the Black Deep and Knock John Channel. To avoid congestion in the Deep Water route, vessels of less than 6m draught approaching from the North East should use the East Swin and Barrow Deep that runs parallel to the Black Deep or make their approach from the East via Princes Channel. If pilotage services are required and passage is made from the North East, a surcharge may be imposed on vessels of less than 7.5m draught. Vessels approaching from the South and East should use the Princes Channel. Marginally greater depths exist in Fisherman s Gat which joins up with the main Deep water Route in the middle of the Black Deep. Vessels approaching the Port of London from the North East should first establish contact with Sunk VTS (VHF Ch 14) on entering the Sunk VTS area Reports Control of the Port of London is exercised from two control centres: Port Control Centre London (PCCL) at Gravesend and the Thames Barrier Navigation Centre (TBNC) at Woolwich. VTS SECTORS Sectors: Port of London VTS Area consists of three sectors (see diagram at LON-09): PORT CONTROL CENTRE LONDON ESTUARY SECTOR from Seaward limit of the VTS Area to Sea Reach No 4 Buoy VHF CH 69 RIVER SECTOR from Sea Reach No 4 Buoy to Crayfordness VHF CH 68 THAMES BARRIER NAVIGATION CENTRE BARRIER SECTOR from Crayfordness to Teddington Lock (landward limit of the Port of London) VHF CH 14 DIRECTIONS It is the duty of the master of a vessel to which a direction is given to comply with the direction. However, the

2 giving of a direction does not diminish or effect the responsibility of the master in relation to his vessel, persons, cargo or property. A VTS Instruction prefixed with the message marker INSTRUCTION carries the authority of a Harbour Master s Direction. RADIO WATCH All vessels must keep a continuous listening watch on the designated frequency when underway or at anchor. REPORTING VESSELS A Reporting Vessel means every vessel required to report position, intentions or movements. These are: Vessels of more than 40 m length overall, 50 GRT or tugs engaged in towing. Reporting Arrival ARRIVAL GENERAL REQUIREMENTS All Reporting Vessels should call the "London VTS" for clearance and to report, on arrival at the outer limits, vessel security status and that his vessel Complies with PLA navigational safety requirements. This latter report confirms that: Charts and associated navigational publications are corrected and up to date. The Master has prepared an appropriate Port Passage Plan for passage in the Thames. There are no deficiencies or defects in respect of crew, navigational equipment, propulsion or manoeuvring machinery Arrangements have been made for appropriate mooring assistance at the intended berth. VIA: LONDON VTS OUTER LIMIT REPORTING POINTS: Vessels should report to "London VTS" on VHF Ch 69 as follows: Sunk Head Tower (vicinity N E) The London Arrival Departure Arc (10nm arc centred on N E) 24 hours before entry TO: Port Control Centre London The information required as shown on the standard Port of London Authority - Movement, Pilotage and PEC Notifications form (can be downlaoded from or using the web-based ordering system PISCES. (Pilotage requirements will be forwarded to appropriate Pilot Station) VIA: AGENT Not later than 8 hours (Sunk) or 6 hours (NE Spit & Warp) before arrival pilot station TO: Port Control Centre London Vessels requiring pilots should confirm ETA pilots. Any changes may be notified through the same contact up until 4 hours before pilot is required. Thereafter the pilots station should be notified direct (see below) VIA: AGENT NOTE: Pilotage confirmation will be forwarded to appropriate Pilot Station 2 hours before pilot station or within VHF Range of Pilot Station TO: North East Spit Pilots, Sunk Pilots or Gravesend Pilots (for Gravesend and Warp)

3 GIVING: ETA at the appropriate Pilot station VIA: VHF CH 09 At the Berth Report on arrival and when all fast Departure Reports MOVEMENT AND DEPARTURE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS All Reporting Vessels must: 10 mins before - Inform the appropriate VTS Centre of their intention to navigate. Immediately before proposing to navigate Request and obtain permission to proceed. If navigation has not commenced within 15 minutes of original request inform appropriate VTS Centre of intentions. 24 hours before Movement or Departure TO: Port Control Centre London or Thames Barrier Navigation Centre as appropriate. GIVING: The modification details as required on the standard Port of London reporting form or by the web-based ordering system (see LON - 2). VIA: AGENT Not later than 6 hours before Movement or Departure TO: Port Control Centre London or Thames Barrier Navigation Centre as appropriate (may be reduced to 4 hours notice if pilot not required beyond Sea Reach 1 buoy.). Vessels requiring pilots should confirm ETD. Any changes may be notified through the same contact up until 6 hours before pilot is required. Thereafter, the VTS Centre should be notified direct. VIA: AGENT or direct ( or appropriate VHF Ch). THAMES BARRIER - SPECIAL ZONE A special zone exists between Margaret Ness and Blackwall Pt known as the Barrier Control Zone. All reporting vessels intending to navigate through the Zone or to a berth within the Zone, are required to give their ETA at the Barrier when: a) Passing Crayfordness Pt inward bound b) 10 mins before leaving a berth which lies between Crayfordness Pt and Margaretness inward bound c) All vessels fitted with VHF when clearing Tower Bridge outward bound d) 10 mins before leaving a berth or lock between Tower Bridge and Blackwall Pt outward bound All vessels fitted with VHF whether intending to transit through the Thames Barririer or not are required to: a) Call London VTS and seek permission to proceed 10 minutes before and on leaving the berth as for the

4 General Requirements for reporting vessels. b) Contact London VTS entering the Thames Barrier Control Zone at Margaretness or Blackwell Point and report their position and intentions, and for allocation of a navigational span for the Thames Barrier. Pilotage Pilotage is COMPULSORY as follows: 1. To the West of Margaret Ness: Vessels of more than 50 m in length 2. To the West of Sea Reach 1: Vessels of more than 50m in length that are Specified or Passenger/Marine Pollutant carrying vessels or vessels of more than 50 m in length and with a draught in excess of 5m. All vessels over 80m in length Vessels of more than 50m and with a draught in excess of 4m in restricted visibility 3. To seaward of Sea Reach 1 Vessels of more than 50m in length that are Specified or Passenger/Marine Pollutant carrying vessels or vessels between 50m and 90 m in length and with a draught in excess of 6m. All vessels over 90m in length Vessels between 50m and 90m in length and with a draught in excess of 4m in restricted visibility. Note. Compulsory Pilotage area does not include: a) A closed dock or lock b) Any part of the Medway Ports, c) The River Lee or Bow Creek Procedure to obtain a PILOT 1. Make Reports as detailed on Page LON-2. These reports will be forwarded to appropriate Pilot Station. 2. Ships engaged in short voyages may give ETA from previous port, but longer notice if possible. 3. Ships requiring a pilot to board at a continental port must contact Gravesend Pilot Station (Tel: see page LON-12) at least 5 days before pilot is required. Such pilots are not authorised to act as deep sea pilots. 4. Ships of 160 metres LOA/11,000 GT or more must employ a berthing pilot when berthing at Shellhaven, Coryton, Canvey Island or Canvey Methane Terminal. PILOT STATIONS 1. SUNK PILOT STATION N E. For all ships subject to pilotage entering or leaving from or to the North and North East. (A surcharge will apply for vessels of less than 7.5m draught taking a pilot from Sunk LV). CALL: "Sunk Pilots" on VHF CH NE SPIT BUOY (51 25 N E). For all ships subject to pilotage entering or leaving from or to the East or South. The pilot station lies within a prohibited anchoring area and two pilot station diamonds are indicted on the chart. The outer diamond is designated for Deep Draught vessels. Deep draft ships which cannot use the Princes Channel may proceed to the Sunk Pilot Station. CALL: "North East Spit Pilots" on VHF CH WARP. Ships which are exempt from compulsory pilotage for some outer areas of the London Pilotage Area

5 may embark and land pilots in the vicinity of Warp and to the East of Sea Reach No 1 buoy. CALL: "Sheerness Pilots" on VHF CH GRAVESEND. Ships which are exempt from compulsory pilotage for some outer and inner areas of the London Pilotage Area may ship and land their pilots at Gravesend, off Royal Terrace Pier and will do so if requiring pilotage beyond Margaretness. CALL: "London Pilots" on VHF CH 09. Pilotage Contact Numbers: See page LON-12 Adverse Weather Conditions When a pilot launch is unable to operate in the normal location due to adverse weather conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstances, information will be broadcast on the service available by the appropriate pilot station on VHF radio and Pilotage Information Messages will be broadcast by Coast Radio Stations. Anchoring CHOICE OF FAIRWAYS AND ANCHORAGES 1. Unless special circumstances exist, NO VESSEL must use a fairway in the approaches to the Thames, or anchorage, unless the fairway or anchorage is most suitable for her draft or size. 2. If a vessel intends to use a fairway or anchorage which is not the most suitable for her, she must immediately inform London VTS. PROHIBITED WAITING 1. No vessel shall at any time wait in the Thames except: a) At a mooring allocated to the vessel by London VTS, or b) In a designated anchorage area. 2. No vessel shall wait in a designated anchorage area for longer than the specified period. PROHIBITED ANCHORING No vessel shall at any time anchor in a fairway except: 1. In an emergency 2. For the purpose of manoeuvring 3. When anchoring in a designated anchorage area Services Offered AIS coverage is maintained throughout the VTS area through an AIS Network of 5 active base stations and 1 passive base station. "Addressed" AIS messages should be sent to the group MMSI: The following categories of VTS are provided: Traffic Information Service - throughout.

6 Traffic Information Service - throughout. Traffic Organisation Service - seaward limit of the VTS Area to London Bridge. Navigational Assistance Service - outer port limits to Greenwich. Navigational information broadcasts, comprising Traffic, Navigation, Weather and Tidal information are made as follows: Estuary and Barrier Sectors - On VHF CH 69/14 (respectively) - AT 15 and 45 MINUTES PAST EACH HOUR River Sector - On VHF CH 68 - ON THE HOUR and 30 MINUTES PAST THE HOUR Information available on request VIA: VHF CH 69, 68 and 14 Additional Information Details required for arrival, departure and movements should be passed using the standard Port of London Authority - Movement, Pilotage and PEC Notifications form which may be downlaoded from the Port of London Authority websiteor using the web-based ordering system PISCES.: Contact Information Port Control Centre London London River House Royal Pier Road Gravesend Kent DA12 2BG Tel: FAX: VHF London VTS CH 68, 69 shipcon@pla.co.uk Thames Barrier Navigation Centre Unit 28 Unity Way 34 Bowater Road Charlton London SE18 5FT Tel: Fax: VHF London VTS CH 14

7 PILOTS (Boarding in Thames and continental ports) Tel: FAX: PILOT STATIONS NE Spit Pilot Station VHF CH 09 Sunk Pilot Station VHF CH 09 Gravesend Pilot Station VHF CH 09 Warp VHF CH 69