Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)

7. – In order to assist vessels navigating in the Eastern and Western Channels and further to protect the fixed traffic link a VTS system with a mandatory ship reporting system has been established. The VTS system, which covers the central part of the Storebæ lt, is called " Great Belt Traffic", and hereafter referred to as “GBT”. GBT is based on and operated in accordance with the provisions of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Resolution on " Guidelines for Vessel Traffic Services".

(2) The reporting system is adopted by IMO as a mandatory ship reporting system.

8. – The following lines limit the VTS area:

1) Northern limit

A line between Sjæ lland and Fyn following the latitude 55º 35'N.

2) Southern limit

A line connecting the following points:

and a line between the following points:

See page 13 (Limits of VTS-Area in Storebæ lt).

9. – The call sign of the VTS system is " Great Belt Traffic" (GBT), and the communication with vessels will be carried out on VHF, channel 11, 10 and 16.

(2) The working period of the VTS system is 24 hours.

10. – The procedures for participating in the reporting system are as follows:

1) Categories of ships required to participate in the ship reporting system in the Great Belt Traffic (GBT) are:

(a) All ships with a gross tonnage equal to or exceeding 50 GT; and
(b) all ships with an air draught of 15 metres or more.

The ships shall report to GBT when entering the VTS area.

2) Preferably GBT shall be called on VHF, channel 11, and the report shall be transmitted on that channel or any other available channel, assigned by GBT.

3) The report shall contain the following information:

Ship’s name and call sign;
Position;
Course (N or S bound);
Speed;
Pilot embarked;
Ship’s route (Ø sterrenden or Vesterrenden),
Defects and deficiencies; and
Dead weight tonnage and air draft.

4) The report shall be drafted according to Annex.

5) Ships obliged to report to GBT shall do so before leaving a harbour situated within the VTS area.

6) A ship, which is not able to communicate on VHF, shall report to GBT via a Danish coastal radio station two hours prior to the passage of the bridge area. The report, which shall be sent as a telegram with the code word “GBT”, shall also contain information about other possible methods of communication with the ship. The transmission is free of charge.

7) GBT can give advice to ships, which due to their course, size (DWT), or air draught may constitute a risk to the West Bridge. Ships wishing to pass the East or West Bridge can, furthermore, on VHF channel 11 or any other available VHF-channel as assigned by GBT receive information about the present situation in the bridge area, e.g. about buoyage, lights, traffic, wind and current.

8) Information about specific situations concerning safety of navigation in the area will be broadcast by GBT on VHF, channel 11. The broadcast will be preceded by an announcement on channel 16. All ships sailing through the area shall listen to the announced broadcast.

9) The language used for communication shall be Danish or English.

Chapter 4