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The Channel VTS service helps vessels navigate safely and aids preventing collisions in the Dover Strait.

About the Dover Strait

Over 400 commercial vessels use the Dover Strait every day. It is under full radar surveillance and operates an IMO adopted Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS).

罢丑别听service聽provides a 24 hour radio and radar safety service for all shipping in the Dover Strait. Channel VTS聽is jointly operated by the UK and France from the Dover Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) and聽CROSS聽Gris Nez in France.

The Dover Strait is a mandatory reporting area. This means that vessels over 300 gross tonnes must report to either Dover聽MRCC聽(South West Lane) or聽CROSS聽Gris Nez (North East Lane) before proceeding through the service area.

The functions of聽Channel VTS聽are to:

• keep the Dover Strait聽TSS聽under observation
• monitor the flow of traffic
• detect and report vessels which contravene the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972, as amended (COLREGS)

Channel VTS聽supports聽MCA听补苍诲听HM聽Coastguard in:

• promoting safety of life at sea
• improving counter-pollution measures
• providing improved support for enforcement activity

Crossing the Dover Strait

Vessels must meet the legal requirements (COLREGS) of any TSS passage or crossing to make sure they, or other vessels, are not put at risk. The Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023 has introduced new legislation which widens the applications of the COLREGs for vessels, and specifically Rule 10 for TSS.听 Merchant shipping notice聽MSN聽1781 (M+F) as amended gives full jurisdiction and guidance on COLREG application for UK vessels and all vessels in UK waters.

The Strait has strong tides, sandbanks and shoals and weather conditions can change quickly. Visibility is often poor, and it can be difficult to navigate.

Large vessels passing through the Strait can be difficult to manoeuvre often taking several miles to stop or turn. Some container vessels are frequently over 300 metres long, with drafts in excess of 12 metres. The service speed for many vessels may be in excess of 20 knots (23 mph). They have to commit to a course of action long before a swimmer or small craft may be detected on radar or visually. Much of the cross-channel traffic includes high-speed ferries carrying high numbers of passengers and vehicles. Many ships carry dangerous cargoes which, if released accidentally could have disastrous effects on the environment, marine life and the coastlines of England, France, and the North Sea states.

Some vessels experience minor engine problems which can be sorted out quickly without聽Channel VTS聽getting involved, other situations are more serious and can take longer to resolve. These situations can develop without notice and might mean that a vessel has to anchor or drift in a traffic lane of the聽TSS聽or near to the coast.

Traffic lanes and inshore traffic zones

Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS)

Two traffic lanes run through the Strait for inward and outward-bound traffic. The rules for navigating in or near a聽TSS聽are internationally agreed. Mariners should be aware of the traffic lanes, separation zones, and inshore traffic zones.

罢丑颈蝉听chart聽聽shows the traffic separation scheme in operation in the Dover Strait. This chart is not a navigational chart and full safety information is not provided.听 Mariners operating in the area should conduct planning and navigation using the appropriate publications and charts for the area.

Further guidance on TSS鈥檚 and navigation in or near them can be found in NP100 The Mariner鈥檚 Handbook and in Rule 10 of the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREG).

Inshore traffic zones (ITZ)

ITZs聽are designated areas along both the UK and French coasts. The UK聽ITZ聽is limited by a line drawn from Shoreham to the CS1 light buoy (marking the end of the聽SW聽lane) and a line drawn south from South Foreland to the聽SW听濒补苍别.

罢丑颈蝉听ITZ聽area has restrictions as stipulated in COLREG rule 10(d). In summary, a vessel shall not 聽use an聽ITZ聽when it can safely use the appropriate traffic lane within the聽TSS. Vessels can only use the zone if they are:

• less than 20 metres in length
• sailing vessels
• vessels engaged in fishing

A vessel may also use an聽ITZ聽to avoid immediate danger if it鈥檚 going to or from:

• a port
• an offshore installation or structure
• a pilot station
• any other place situated within the聽ITZ

Any vessel can use the聽ITZ聽if the master considers it鈥檚 necessary for the safety of the vessel and crew or to avoid immediate danger, but they must advise the聽Channel VTS聽of their intended route and reasons for the passage.

How Channel VTS works

Channel VTS is a coastal vessel traffic service which deals with traffic passing through the Dover Strait. It provides information so that mariners can make on-board navigational decisions. The service broadcasts necessary information at fixed times and intervals or when a vessel requests it.

The service聽broadcasts on聽VHF聽radio channel 11 every 60 minutes - or every 30 minutes if visibility drops below two miles - to give warnings of:

• navigational difficulties (鈥渘avigation warnings鈥�; 鈥渋nformation pertaining to safe navigation鈥� etc)
• weather conditions
• traffic information in the traffic separation scheme (TSS)

This includes information about:

• misplaced or defective navigational aids
• hampered vessels
• deep draught bulk carriers and tankers
• vessels under tow
• surveying vessels
• unorthodox crossings such as cross-channel swims

A broadcast is also transmitted for any vessel that appears to contravene the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGS). This warns other vessels that a potentially hazardous situation exists in a particular part of the聽TSS.

Ships using the聽TSS聽are automatically tracked by radar and evidence is collected. This can be used in prosecutions of contraventions of the聽COLREGS.

It鈥檚 possible to make a video recording of the passage of a 鈥榬ogue vessel鈥�. The system also collects data from vessels fitted with automatic identification system (AIS) transponders, this data may be used in prosecutions of contraventions of the聽COLREGS.

Enforcement

If a suspected offending vessel is heading for a UK port then action may be taken. Otherwise, the evidence is sent to the vessel鈥檚 flag state for them to take action under international regulations. If it鈥檚 a UK-registered vessel then all information is forwarded to聽MCA聽Regulatory Compliance Investigation Team (RCIT) for investigation.

The MCA聽RCIT investigates the actions of the vessel and its master and takes further action if there鈥檚 a significant breach of collision regulations.听MCA聽can prosecute the master or owner of the vessel if there is enough evidence, and the seriousness of the case means that it鈥檚 in the public interest to prosecute.

Mandatory reporting - CALDOVREP

The mandatory requirement from ships entering the area covered by the system is the Pas de Calais/Dover Strait report or聽CALDOVREP.

All vessels over 300 gross tonnes must take part in the scheme. The service area covers a 65 mile stretch of the Dover Strait/Pas-de-Calais. It鈥檚 bounded by:

• a line to the east drawn from North Foreland to the border between France and Belgium
• a line to the west drawn from the Royal Sovereign light tower through the Bassurelle light buoy (at its assigned position) to the coast of France

罢丑别听CALDOVREP聽report must contain the following information:

• name of the ship, call sign,聽IMO聽identification number and聽MMSI听苍耻尘产别谤
• position in latitude and longitude
• course and speed of the ship
• vessel鈥檚 draught
• route information
• hazardous cargo,聽IMO聽class and quantity (if applicable)
• breakdown, damage and/or deficiencies affecting the structure, cargo or equipment of the ship
• any other circumstances affecting normal navigation according to the provisions of the聽SOLAS听补苍诲听MARPOL听颁辞苍惫别苍迟颈辞苍蝉

Vessels on passage NE must report to聽CROSS聽Gris Nez traffic, on the French coast, 2 nautical miles before crossing the boundary line in the NE traffic lane.

Vessels on passage聽SW聽must report to the Dover Coastguard聽MRCC聽on the English coast when they鈥檙e in聽VHF聽radio range of North Foreland and before crossing the boundary line in the聽SW聽traffic lane.

Most reports are received via聽VHF聽radio although the Dover Coastguard can receive聽AIS聽transponder reports.听HM聽Coastguard records radio and telephone traffic to and from their co-ordination centres. This is in the interest of public safety, preventing and detecting crime, maintaining operational standards, and monitoring maritime security.

Full details and requirements on communications are contained in the Admiralty List of Radio Signals, volume 6 (and official digital equivalent).

The Mandatory Reporting Scheme is in accordance with the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention 1974, chapter V, regulation 11-1.

Exemptions from the CALDOVREP scheme

Cross-channel ferries

Ferries don鈥檛 have to take part fully in the scheme. This is because freight cargo can cover too many different categories to expect a full manifest via聽VHF聽radio. If ferries are on a regular, scheduled, short sea crossing they only need to advise the Dover coastguard or聽CROSS聽Gris Nez that they鈥檝e departed. Ferry companies hold the manifest which is available at immediate notice if there鈥檚 been an incident with a ferry.

Each day there are more than 100 cross-channel freight and passenger ferry movements. The main Dover to Calais route is the busiest with four main operators. However other routes are in service to northern France and Belgium.

Naval vessels

Whatever their nationality, naval vessels are also exempt from reporting, although most comply with the scheme mainly to advise the聽Channel VTS聽that they are on passage. No other details are requested.