TABLE 26.03(f) – VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES (VTS) CALL SIGNS,
DESIGNATED FREQUENCIES, AND MONITORING AREAS (Continued)
Notes
MONITORING AREA
The navigable waters of Puget Sound, Hood Canal and adjacent waters south of a line connecting
Marrowstone Point and Lagoon Point in Admiralty inlet and south of a line drawn due east from the
southernmost tip of Possession Point on Whidbey Island to the shoreline.
The navigable waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca east of 124° 40’ W. excluding the waters in the central
portion of the Strait of Juan de Fuca north and east of Race Rocks; the navigable waters of the Strait of
Georgia east of 122° 52’ W.; the San Juan Island Archipelago, Rosario Strait, Bellingham Bay; Admiralty Inlet
north of a line connecting Marrowstone Point and Lagoon Point and all waters east of Whidbey Island north of
a line drawn due east from the southernmost tip of Possession Point on Whidbey Island to the shoreline.
The waters west of 124° 40’ W. within 50 nautical miles of the coast of Vancouver Island including the waters
north of 48° N ., and east of 127° W.
The navigable waters of the Strait of Georgia west of 122° 52’ W., the navigable waters of the central Strait of
Juan de Fuca north and east of Race Rocks, Including the Gulf Island Archipelago, Boundary Pass and Haro
Strait.
The navigable waters south of 61° 05’ N., east of 147° 20’ W., north of 60° N., and west of 146° 30’ W.;
and, all navigable waters in Port Valdez.
The navigable waters of the Ohio River between McAlpine Locks (Mile 606) and Twelve Mile Island (Mile
593), only when the McAlpine upper pool gauge is at approximately 13.0 feet or above.
DESIGNATED FREQUENCY
2
(Channel designation)
156.700 MHz (Ch. 14)
156.250 MHz (Ch. 5A)
156.725 MHz (Ch. 74)
156.550 MHz (Ch. 11)
156.650 MHz (Ch. 13)
156.650 MHz (Ch. 13)
VTS
1
Call Sign
PUGET SOUND
5
Seattle Traffic
6
Tofino Traffic
7
Vancouver Traffic
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
8
Valdez Traffic
LOUISVILLE
8
Louisville Traffic
1. VTS regulations are denoted in 33 CFR
Part 161. All geographic coordinates (latitude
and longitude) are expressed in North
American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).
2. In the event of a communication failure
either by the vessel traffic center or the vessel
or radio congestion on a designated VTS
frequency, communications may be
established on an alternate VTS frequency.
The bridge-to-bridge navigational frequency
156.650 MHz (Channel 13), is monitored in
each VTS area; and it may be used as an
alternate frequency, however, only to the
extent that doing so provides a level of safety
beyond that provided by other means.
3. Designated frequency monitoring is
required within U.S. navigable waters. In areas
which are outside the U.S. navigable waters,
designated frequency monitoring is voluntary.
However, prospective VTS Users are
encouraged to monitor the designated
frequency.
4. VMRS participants shall make their initial
report (Sail Plan) to New York Traffic on
Channel 11 (156.550 MHz). All other reports,
including the Final Report, shall be made on
Channel 14 (156.700 MHz.). VMRS and other
VTS Users shall monitor Channel 14 (156.700
MHz) while transiting the VTS area. New York
Traffic may direct a vessel to monitor and
report on either primary frequency depending
on traffic density, weather conditions, or other
safety factors. This does not require a vessel
to monitor both primary frequencies.
5. A Cooperative Vessel Traffic Service was
established by the United States and Canada
within adjoining waters. The appropriate
vessel traffic center administers the rules
issued by both nations; however, it will enforce
only its own set of rules within its jurisdiction.
6. Seattle Traffic may direct a vessel to
monitor the other primary VTS frequency
156.250 MHz or 156.700 MHz (Channel 5A or
14) depending on traffic density, weather
conditions, or other safety factors, rather than
strictly adhering to the designated frequency
required for each monitoring area as defined
above. This does not require a vessel to
monitor both primary frequencies.
7. A portion of Tofino Sector’s monitoring
area extends beyond the defined CVTS area.
Designated frequency monitoring is voluntary
in these portions outside of VTS jurisdiction,
however, prospective VTS Users are
encouraged to monitor the designated
frequency.
8. The bridge-to-bridge navigational
frequency, 156.650 MHz (Channel 13), is used
in these VTSs because the level of radio-
telephone transmissions does not warrant a
designated VTS frequency. The listening
watch required by 26.05 of this chapter is not
limited to the monitoring area.
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