International Journal

on Marine Navigation

and Safety of Sea Transportation

Volume 1

Number 4

December 2007

387

Traffic Separation Schemes and Mandatory

Ship Reporting System in the Baltic for the

approaches to the Polish ports in the Gulf of

Gdansk

B. Rojek

Maritime Office in Gdynia, Poland

R. Wawruch

Gdynia Maritime University, Gdynia, Poland

ABSTRACT: Paper contains a proposal to establish a traffic separation schemes in accordance with the

provisions of SOLAS regulation V/10 and mandatory ship reporting system in accordance with the provisions

of SOLAS regulation V/11 in the Polish territorial and internal waters in the Gulf of Gdańsk. Presented

proposal has been sent for consideration to other Baltic countries including Russian Federation at the end of

March 2007 and in the event of their consent will be presented for approval during nearest session of the IMO

Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation.

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

The volume of shipping operating to the Polish ports

in the Gulf of Gdańsk is steadily increasing and now

is reaching over a 7800 visits of vessels yearly

(2006), not including the local domestic traffic,

fishing boats and leisure crafts. More then 2700

ships of above comprise chemical tankers, gas

tankers and oil tankers, including VLCCs up to

maximum accommodated draught on the Baltic

(presently 15 meters) and the length overall of 340

meters. There has been also considerable growth in

passenger traffic in the Gulf of Gdańsk, including

Ro-Ro passenger ferries, to more then 1000 ships

yearly.

Sample of recorded tracks of ships equipped with

AIS and sailing inside the Gulf of Gdańsk during

summer period (2006) is presented on Figure 1.

A new deep-sea container terminal, currently

being built in Gdańsk with a designed capacity

0.5 mln TEU yearly, shall yield a further

considerable increase of container and Ro-Ro

vessels traffic.

The Gulf of Gdańsk is not only a region of great

economical importance for the national economy

with respect to a number of branches, from the

shipbuilding industry to tourism and recreation, but

also a very vulnerable ecosystem. The growth of

shipping traffic increases the risk of accidents,

especially the risk of oil pollution. A spill could have

disastrous effects on the vulnerable nature of the

area such as fish spawning areas and breeding,

nursery and resting areas for birds and marine

mammals.

Beginning from Hel Peninsula and around Gulf of

Gdańsk coastline up to the Vistula Split, the

following protected areas, including surrounding

coastal waters, exist: Coastal National Park with a

Puck Bay, Three Cities Landscape Park, Redłowo

Cliff Reserve and Vistula Split Landscape Park. All

of these protected areas have been submitted by

Poland as Baltic Sea Protected Areas (HELCOM

BSPA).

388

Fig. 1. Sample of record of tracks of ships equipped with AIS

during summer period (2006)

The region of special attention is the internal part

of the Puck Bay - a unique site on the south Baltic

coast system of relatively warm, shallow seawaters.

Little salinity and little water dynamic and

communities of rare and endangered vegetable and

animal species characterize it. Communities of

coastal halophytic meadows, rare in Poland, have

survived on Puck Bay coast along with sets of birds

connected with these vegetation systems. It is a

spawning grow-und and habitat for many

endangered species, including Harbour porpoise, a

mammal of Phocaenidae family. Together with

Vistula River Estuary, Puck Bay is also one of a

major feeding and resting place for migratory birds

as well as an important wintering place for many

birds that hatch on the north Baltic and has been

established as a bird protected area under EU

NATURE 2000 network.

1.2 History of the Traffic Separation Schemes and

Mandatory Ship Reporting System in the Gulf of

Gdańsk

With a view to enhance the safety of navigation and

the protection of the marine environment in the

waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk, two traffic separation

schemes for the approaches to the ports of Gdańsk

and Gdynia were established under national

legislation on 15 April 1980 (announced in Polish

Notices to Mariners No 15/155/1980), revised and

amended with Inshore Traffic Zone in 2003 (Polish

Notices to Mariners No 16/312/2003).

The schemes have been designed based on the

general principles and the requirements of ships’

route-in adopted by IMO to follow as closely as

possible the existing traffic flows while creating the

prerequisite-sites for safe and orderly flows, clear of

fishing grounds and recreational traffic. The

establishment of the proposed schemes has therefore

reduced the risk for pollution caused by collisions

significantly in the area and this had a positive

impact on the entire Baltic Sea area.

Furthermore the ship reporting system REPLINE

HEL was established on 1 May 1986 (announced in

Polish Notices to Mariners No. 17/202/1986) for

ships proceeding to or from Polish ports situated in

the Gulf of Gdańsk. Since 1 May 2003 the ship

reporting system REPLINE HEL has become a part

of VTS “Gulf of Gdańsk” reporting procedures,

enhancing safety and efficiency of maritime traffic

(as amended by Polish Notices to Mariners No.

16/311/2003). The VTS area of responsibility is that

of the ship reporting area.

Ship reporting system was established in the

Polish territorial waters in the Gulf of Gdańsk, south

of parallel 54°45’N, based on the General Principles

for Ship Reporting Systems and Ship Reporting

Requirements, including Guidelines for Reporting

Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods, Harmful

Substances and/or Marine Pollutants as adopted by

resolution A.851 (20).

The purpose of the reporting system is to secure

ships safe navigation within the Polish waters of the

Gulf of Gdańsk and to initiate immediate search and

rescue and pollution prevention measures around a

relevant position. It is also important to provide

adequate information for the competent authority in

order to respond effectively in the event of ship in

need of assistance.

The routing measures and ship reporting system

mentioned above have not yet been submitted to the

IMO for adoption.

2 PROPOSAL

2.1 Routing measures

Proposed routing measures are designed to control

the movement of ships entering and leaving ports of

Gdańsk and Gdynia by means of two traffic

separation schemes and two recommended routes

located entirely within Polish territorial and internal

waters:

1 Traffic separation schemes:

1 “EAST” consisting off:

− Two traffic lanes 1.0 mile wide;

− One intermediate traffic separation zone 0.5

mile wide in two parts: northeast and

southwest; and

− One traffic separation line connecting two

parts of the intermediate traffic separation

zone.

2 “WEST” consisting off:

389

− Two traffic lanes 0.75 to 0.5 mile wide

(northeast part of the TSS) separated by traffic

separation line;

− Two traffic lanes 0.5 mile wide in two parts

(southwest and west) separated by traffic

separation line;

− One precautionary area around buoy GN; and

− One associated inshore traffic zones.

2 Recommended tracks between buoys:

− GD and NP; and

− GN and PP.

Proposed routing measures are shown on

Figure 2.

Fig. 2. Proposed routing measures on the approaches to the

Polish ports in the Gulf of Gdańsk

2.2 Navigational instruction

Subject to any factors that may adversely affect safe

navigation, ships proceeding from the Baltic Sea to

the ports of Gdańsk and Gdynia and vice versa are

strongly recommended to use the suitable traffic

separation schemes. Ships approaching and navigat-

ing within the precautionary area shall navigate with

caution and shall follow the recommended direction

of traffic flow.

Ships engaged on international voyages proce-

eding between Gdańsk New Port (Nowy Port) (port,

road) and Gdynia (port, road) shall proceed along the

163° - 343° recommended track established between

GD and NP buoys or transit along the proper one-way

traffic lanes between GD, GN and NP buoys.

Ships engaged on international voyages

proceeding from Gdańsk Northern Port (Port

Północny) to Gdynia (port, road) or to Gdańsk New

Port (Nowy Port) (port, road) shall, after leaving

pilot near the buoy PP,

proceed into north

direction.

After passing anchorage No 5 for tankers they

shall alter course to 314° and steer into direction of

the buoy GN established in the Precautionary Area,

alter course at this buoy and proceed further along

the proper one-way traffic lane.

Ships engaged on international voyages procee-

ding from Gdańsk New Port (Nowy Port) (port,

road) or from Gdynia (port, road) to Gdańsk

Northern Port (Port Północny) (port, road) shall

proceed along the proper one-way traffic lane to the

Precautionary Area established around the buoy GN,

thence they shall alter course to 134° and proceed

along recommended track into direction of the buoy

ZS. After passing anchorage No 5 for tankers they

shall alter course to south and proceed into direction

of the pilot embarkation position marked by the

buoy PP.

During severe ice conditions the traffic separation

schemes may be declared not valid. Mariners will be

informed of the cancellation through Notices to

Mariners and by VHF broadcasts from the VTS

Centre. Ships reporting to the Centre will receive

information on the recommended route through the

ice and/or are requested to contact the regional ice-

braking co-ordinator for further instructions.

Ships having defects affecting operational safety

should take appropriate measures to overcome these

defects before entering the Gulf of Gdańsk.

2.3 Ship reporting system

The Government of Poland proposes to approve a

mandatory ship reporting system covering the

territorial and internal waters of Poland in the Gulf

of Gdańsk, south of parallel 54°45’N. The infor-

mation requested from ships will be limited to

information essential to achieve the objectives of the

ship reporting system, the sole purpose of which is

to enhance the safety of the participating ships.

Area covered by the proposed ship reporting

system is presented on Figure 3.

390

Fig. 3. Area covered by the proposed mandatory ship reporting

system in the Polish waters in the Gulf of Gdańsk

Ships of the following categories are required to

participate in the system proceeding to or from

Polish ports or passing through the reporting area

between Polish ports in the Gulf of Gdańsk, or ships

visiting the area:

− All passenger ships as defined in Chapter 1 of

1974 SOLAS, as amended;

− Ships of 150 gross tonnage and above; and

All vessels engaged in towing.

Reports should be made using VHF voice

transmissions. A ship may elect, for reasons of

commercial confidentiality, to communicate, in

compliance with the relevant national regulations,

that section of the report, which provides infor-

mation on cargo by non-verbal means prior to

entering the ship reporting area.

Designators to be used in the GDANREP area are

derived from the format-type given in paragraph 2 of

the appendix to Resolution A.851 (20). System

identifier is: GDANREP (SP)(PR)(FR).

Additionally when a incident or accident which

can affect the safety of the ship, safety of navigation

or any incident giving rise to pollution, or threat of

pollution, to the marine environment occurs within

the ship reporting system area, the vessel(s) shall

immediately report to the shore-based authority the

type, time, and location of the incident, extent of

damage or pollution, and whether assistance is

needed. The vessel(s) shall provide without delay

any additional information related to the incident or

accident as requested by the shore-based authority,

given, when appropriate, in the format-type of

detailed report as given in paragraph 3 of the

appendix to Resolution A.851 (20).

The shore-based authority is Director of Maritime

Office in Gdynia, Poland. The ships participating in

the system shall transmit reports by radio to VTS

Centre “Gulf of Gdańsk”. The authority monitors

shipping within the mandatory ship reporting area of

the Gulf of Gdańsk by radars and AIS. This does not

relieve shipmasters of their responsibility for the

navigation of their ship.

The voice call sign of the VTS Centre “Gulf of

Gdańsk” is “VTS Zatoka”. The VHF working

channels of the VTS Centre “Gulf of Gdańsk” are:

− Primary channel - 71 - call and short report infor-

mation;

− Reserve channel - 66 - as designated by VTS;

and

− Other channel - 16 - call and distress

Confidential information may be transmitted by

other means, including electronically, in compliance

with relevant national regulations.

On receipt of a position message, the system

operators will establish the relationship between the

ship's position and the information supplied by the

position-fixing equipment available to them.

Information on course and speed will help operators

to identify one ship among a group of ships. All

VHF-, telephone-, radar-, AIS- and other relevant

information are recorded and the records are stored

for 30 days.

If a ship participating in the mandatory ship

reporting system fails to appear on the radar screen

or fails to communicate with the authority or an

emergency is reported, MRCC in the area is

responsible for initiating a search for the ship in

accordance with the rules laid down for the search

and rescue service, including the involvement of

other participating ships known to be in that

particular area.

2.4 Information to be provided to vessels

participating in ship reporting system

Authority provides information to shipping about

specific and urgent situations, which could cause

conflicting traffic movements, and other information

concerning safety of navigation, for instance:

− Information on weather conditions, ice, water

level;

− Information on navigational conditions including

navigational warnings (status of aids to navigation,

presence of other ships and, if necessary, their

position, etc.); and

− Recommended route to be followed and status of

areas temporarily closed for navigation.

Information is broadcasted by VTS Centre “Gulf

of Gdańsk” station on the working channel or on the

reserve channel, following the announcement on the

working channel in the form of routine bulletins or

when necessary or on request. Scheduled times of

the routine weather bulletins and navigational

warnings broadcasts are available in the relevant

391

nautical publications. Participating ships shall

maintain listening watch on the designated VTS

working channel.

Information broadcasts will be preceded by an

announcement on VHF channel 16 on which channel

it will be made. All ships navigating in the area

should listen to the announced broadcast. If

necessary, individual information can be provided to

a ship on the working channel, particularly in

relation to positioning and navigational assistance or

local conditions. If a ship needs to anchor due to

breakdown or emergency the operator can recommend

suitable anchorage in the area.

2.5 Conducted changes in the existing routing and

ship reporting systems

There were introduced following main changes into

existing routing and ship reporting systems:

1 Were removed three recommended tracks:

− 205

-025

for ships proceeding to or from

traffic separation scheme (TSS) “WEST”;

− 163

-343

for ships proceeding to or from TSS

“EAST”; and

− Between HEL and ZN buoys.

2 Was removed inshore traffic zone between Polish

coast and recommended track between GN and

NP buoys.

3 Was cancelled reporting point in the crossing

position of recommended tracks for ships

proceeding to and from TSS “EAST” and TSS

“WEST”.

4 Was introduced precautionary area with recom-

mended direction of traffic flow around buoy GN.

5 Was introduced traffic separation line connecting

two parts of the traffic separation zone in the TSS

“EAST”.

6 Was changed inshore traffic zone between Polish

coast and TSS “WEST”.

7 Was changed part of positions defining

boundaries of the TSS “EAST” and TSS

“WEST” and reporting points.

8 Was changed recommended track between buoy

GN and Gdańsk Northern Port (Port Północny).

9 Were prepared new navigational instruction and

information about reporting system and available

services.

3 CONLUSIONS

At 52

session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Sa-

fety of Navigation, the Government of Poland

submitted an information paper about planned new

routeing measures in the southern part of the Baltic

Sea (NAV 52//INF.5). Recalling this announcement

the Government of Poland wants to submit, for

consideration and approval by the Sub-Committee,

the first set of measures concerning existing routeing

system and ship reporting system in the Polish

waters in the Gulf of Gdańsk. Proposals presented in

this paper have been sent for consideration to all

Baltic countries including Russian Federation at the

end of March 2007. After receiving their consent to

the described routing measures and mandatory ship

reporting system they will be sent to IMO for

approval during nearest session of the above-

mentioned Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation.

REFERENCES

IMO NAV 52/INF/5, 2006. Information about planned new

routeing measures in the southern part of the Baltic Sea.

Submitted by Poland, International Maritime Organization,

London, 12 May.

IMO NAV 51/3/6, 2005. Routeing of ships, ship reporting and

related matters, New traffic separation schemes in

Bornholmsgat and North of Rügen, recommended deep-

water route in the eastern Baltic sea, amendments to the

traffic separation schemes Off Gotland Island and South of

Gedser and new areas to be avoided at Hoburgs Bank and

Norra Midsjöbanken. Submitted by Denmark, Estonia,

Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden,

International Maritime Organization, London, 3 March.