italy venice vts common procedures · venice from flooding due to high tide) are still in progress....

ITALY VENICE VTS COMMON PROCEDURES EDITION No. 00

(FIRST ISSUED) LAST UPDATED 19/09/17 PAGE No. 001

CONTACTS SERVICES AND PARTICIPATION RULES

ADDRESS – TELEPHONE - E-MAIL

Venice VTS is operational H24 365/7. Following are contact details:

• Address : Santa Marta, Fabbricato 15, 30123 Venice – Italy;

• Telephone: +39 041 2405745 / 706;

• Fax: +39 041 2405730 / Website: www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/venezia ;

• Certified e-mail: [email protected];

• E-mail: [email protected];

• MMSI: 247000019.

Contact details of Venice Coast Guard Office (Venice VTS Authority) as follows:

• Address: Zattere, 1408, 30123 Venice – Italy;

• Telephone: +39 041 2405711;

• Fax: +39 041 2405730 / Website: www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/venezia;

• Certified e-mail: [email protected] / E-mail: [email protected].

Contact details of Chioggia Coast Guard Office as follows:

• Address: Piazzetta Marinai d'Italia, 1290, 30015 Chioggia – Italy;

• Telephone: +39 041 5508211;

• Fax: +39 041 5508204 / Website: www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/chioggia;


Contact details of Jesolo Coast Guard Office as follows:

• Address: Via del Faro, 24, 30013 Cavallino Treporti – Italy;

• Telephone: + 39 041 968962;

• Fax: +39 041 968962 / Website: www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/jesolo;


SERVICES PROVIDED

The following services are provided 24/7 in Venice VTS area:

a) Information Service (INS)

Information service is provided to all vessels either entering the VTS Area, heading

to, or departing from, the harbors of Venice, Chioggia and Jesolo, or transiting or

proceeding to the designated anchoring positions.

Vessels will be provided with the following information:

• “traffic information”: inbound, outbound and transiting traffic situation (ships’

positions, names and routes), including information about fishing vessels and

anchored vessels;

• “meteorological information”: local meteorological and hydrological

conditions, significant weather tendencies, warnings, severe weather forecasts and

storm predictions.

Either on the user’s demand or whenever deemed necessary, Venice VTS will report

vessels about any of the following occurring in the VTS area:

• VTS area information, such as sector boundaries, procedures, radio frequencies,

etc.;

• buoy or light failures occurring either within the VTS area or inside the entry

channel to the port;

• sport- and/or religious events;

• possible presence of ships restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, convoys, tows

or any shipyard’s vessel;

• S.A.R. or pollution operations;

• floating objects that might threat safety of navigation;

• miscellaneous (for instance, presence of firefighting aircraft replenishing their

own water tanks at sea);



b) Traffic Organization Service (TOS)

TOS is provided in the VTS area, whenever deemed necessary by the VTS.

This service may be provided either in high traffic situations or in presence of

vessels either restricted in their ability to manoeuvre or carrying dangerous goods,

being susceptible of affecting a safe passage by other vessels. Names and locations

of anchoring areas, vessels’ movements within the anchoring areas, traffic flows

to/from the ports (Lido, Malamocco and Chioggia) are broadcast to ships.

Also, access to – or departure from – the ports lying in the Venice Lagoon, in case

the MOSE dams are closed when in high tide, may be restricted, and regulated

through TOS by the VTS Centre.

c) Navigational Assistance Service (NAS)

NAS is provided to a single vessel, either upon request by the latter or whenever

deemed necessary by the VTS, on the assigned VHF/FM channels. It is rendered in

accordance with the provisions of the IALA VTS Manual and guidelines.

Advice and any other useful information are provided to a ship’s master by the VTS

Centre for a safe navigation, in case of heavy weather or of an engine/system

failure on board. The ship’s master is not in any case relieved of its own

responsibility for a safe conduction of navigation and adoption of the most

appropriate manoeuvres.

This service may only be provided if both the vessel has been identified clearly and

radio communications are guaranteed all through the operation.

PARTICIPATION RULES

a) Mandatory

Participation in Venice VTS is mandatory for:

• all vessels of 300 GT and upwards;

• fishing vessels with a length of more than 45 meters;

• traditional ships with a length of more than 45 meters;

• recreational craft with a length of more than 45 meters.

b) Voluntary

All other vessels, not included in the above list, may participate on a voluntary

basis.

In case they decide to participate, they are bound to comply with VTS procedures

and rules, as described in this manual.

IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURE

Every participating vessel shall get in touch with Venice VTS Centre on the

appropriate VTS radio channel saying “Venice VTS” (or “VTS Venezia” if in Italian

language).



WORKING RADIO VHF/FM CHANNELS

The working radio VHF/FM channels in use within Venice VTS Area, and other useful

channels, are listed below:

AUTHORITY CHANNEL TYPE CHANNEL FREQUENCY

VENICE VTS

Primary channel

CH 9

156.450 MHz

VENICE VTS Secondary

channel CH 11 156.550 MHz

VENICE COAST

GUARD OFFICE

(Maritime Rescue

Sub-Center)

Primary channel Ch. 11 156.550 MHz

VENICE MRSC

(“ADRIREP”

Authority – IMO

Res. MSC.139 (76) /

05.12.2002)


VENICE ALLIED

SERVICES (pilots,

tugs etc.)


CHIOGGIA COAST

GUARD OFFICE Primary channel Ch. 14 156.700 MHz

CHIOGGIA ALLIED

SERVICES (pilots,

tugs etc.)


JESOLO COAST

GUARD OFFICE Primary channel Ch. 11 156.550 MHz

EMERGENCY

CHANNEL Primary channel Ch. 16 156.800 MHz

Figure 1: S.A.R. area within the jurisdiction of Venice 9th M.R.S.C., traffic separation

schemes inside the S.A.R. area and Venice VTS area on Nautical Chart No. 924 by the



Italian Navy Hydrographic Institute– not to be used for navigation.

VTS AREA

VENICE VTS AREA

Venice VTS Area (Annex 1), located out of the inlets of Porto di Lido, Malamocco

and Chioggia, is delimited by a line joining the following points (geographical

coordinates - WGS84):

A. 45°09.5’ N – 012°19.9’ E

B. 45°08.4’ N – 012°25.7’ E

C. 45°16.0’ N – 012°35.0’ E

D. 45°24.9’ N – 012°35.0’ E

E. 45°27.4’ N – 012°30.7’ E

Venice VTS area is included in the Gulf of Venice (for more information see

nautical charts No. 22 and 38 edited by the Italian Hydrographic Institute and the

“Portolano” P.8).

In order to enter the port areas lying in the Venice Lagoon, vessels shall transit

through three “inlets” protected by dams. Two of these “inlets”, Malamocco and

Porto di Lido, may be accessed by big tonnage ships.

FIRST CALL

All participating vessels shall contact (see page 7) Venice VTS when at 5 NM

outside the VTS Area outer limit, either whether they are bound for one of the ports

of Venice, Marghera and Chioggia (including the anchorage areas) or whether they

are just to transit through the VTS Area.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH VENICE VTS

Communications between vessels and Venice VTS shall be established on the

appropriate VTS radio working channels, as listed above.

The information requested by the ships are used to fill out an information report.

Details on reporting procedures are found later in this document (page 6).

“MOSE” SYSTEM

The building works of the MOSE dam (a project intended to protect the city of

Venice from flooding due to high tide) are still in progress.

Three controlled barriers have been built and placed at the inlets of Lido,

Malamocco and Chioggia, and have been designed to be raised in case of tides

more than 110 cm high.

In addition to these barriers, long breakwaters (called “lunate”) have been realized

outside the inlets to protect Venice against extraordinary tides caused by Southern

winds.



ROADSTEAD ANCHORING AREAS

1. “LIDO” ROADSTEAD

Vessels waiting to enter Venice port through Lido inlet may drop the anchor inside

the following roadstead areas:

I. Cargo ships of less than 5,000 GT are allowed to drop anchor inside the area

called L.S.C. (Lido Small Cargo), delimited by the following points:

a. 45°25.15’ N - 012°27.20’ E

b. 45°25.80’ N - 012°28.92’ E

c. 45°25.55’ N - 012°29.55’ E

d. 45°24.97’ N - 012°29.10’ E

e. 45°24.28’ N - 012°30.80’ E

f. 45°23.85’ N - 012°30.40’ E

II. Cargo ships of more than 5,000 GT are allowed to drop anchor inside the area

called L.B.C. (Lido Big Cargo), delimited by the following points:

f. 45°23.85’ N - 012°30.40’ E

g. 45°23.40’ N - 012°31.55’ E

h. 45°25.30’ N - 012°33.14’ E

i. 45°25.78’ N - 012°32.00’ E

These anchoring areas (Annex 2 – Fig. 3) are under the Jesolo Coast Guard Office

jurisdiction.

2. “MALAMOCCO” ROADSTEAD

Vessels waiting to enter the port of Marghera through the Malamocco inlet may

drop the anchor in the following roadstead areas:

I. Cargo ships of less than 5,000 GT are allowed to drop the anchor in the area

called M.S.C. (Malamocco Small Cargo), delimited by the following points:

a. 45°21.10’ N - 012°21.58’ E

b. 45°20.36’ N - 012°22.93’ E

c. 45°19.80’ N - 012°22.64’ E

d. 45°20.20’ N - 012°21.00’ E

II. Cargo ships of more than 5,000 GT are allowed to drop anchor in the area

called M.B.C. (Malamocco Big Cargo), delimited by the following points:

e. 45°23.00’ N - 012°24.50’ E

f. 45°22.64’ N - 012°26.40’ E

g. 45°21.41’ N - 012°25.66’ E

h. 45°21.82’ N - 012°23.00’ E

i. 45°22.30’ N - 012°23.20’ E

III. Gas tankers and tankers carrying dangerous liquids of less than 20,000 GT are

allowed to drop anchor inside the area called M.S.T. (Malamocco Small

Tanker), delimited by the following points:

j. 45°20.60’ N - 012°23.82’ E

k. 45°20.08’ N - 012°26.05’ E

l. 45°19.15’ N - 012°25.60’ E

m. 45°19.70’ N - 012°23.36’ E



IV. Gas tankers and tankers carrying dangerous liquids of more than 20,000 GT

are allowed to drop anchor inside the area called M.B.T. (Malamocco Big

Tanker), delimited by the following points:

a. 45°20.28’ N - 012°28.10’ E

b. 45°20.00’ N - 012°29.38’ E

c. 45°18.32’ N - 012°29.25’ E

d. 45°19.00’ N - 012°26.20’ E

e. 45°19.80’ N - 012°26.60’ E

f. 45°19.62’ N - 012°27.80’ E

V. Ships requiring bunkering at sea are allowed to drop anchor inside the area

called M.L.A. (Malamocco Lightening Area). This area, if not being used by

vessels involved in RAS operations, may be used by cargo ships and is

delimited by the following points:

a. 45°22.35’ N - 012°27.80’ E

b. 45°21.98’ N - 012°29.48’ E

c. 45°20.52’ N - 012°29.43’ E

d. 45°21.03’ N - 012°27.05’ E

These anchoring areas (Annex 2 – Fig. 3) are under the Venice Coast Guard Office

jurisdiction.

Vessels dropping the anchor in these areas shall maintain as wide a safety distance

from one another as deemed necessary by the shipmasters. Vessels at anchor shall

keep continuous listening watch on VHF channels 16 and 13 and keep AIS on.

3. CHIOGGIA ROADSTEAD

Vessels waiting to enter the port of Chioggia through the Chioggia inlet may drop

the anchor in the following anchoring areas:

I. Vessels are allowed to drop anchor in the area called C.S.C. (Chioggia Small

Cargo) on the northern side of the dams, delimited by a line joining the

following points:

a. 45°14.80’ N - 012°21.83’ E

b. 45°14.12’ N - 012°21.83’ E

c. 45°14.00’ N - 012°23.55’ E

d. 45°15.00’ N - 012°23.55’ E

e. 45°15.00’ N - 012°22.28’ E

II. Bunkering ships are allowed to drop anchor in the above anchoring area and, if

weather permits to do so, in the following position:

45°14.40’ N - 012°20.40’ E

III. Terminal Adriatic LNG tankers are allowed to drop anchor in the area called

C.S.T. (Chioggia Small Tanker), delimited by a line joining the following

points:

f. 45°10.20’ N - 012°25.00’ E

g. 45°10.20’ N - 012°26.18’ E

h. 45°09.28’ N - 012°25.00’ E

i. 45°09.28’ N - 012°26.18’ E

IV. Ships involved in bunkering or in cargo handling operations are allowed to

drop anchor in the following position:

45°04.00’ N - 012°24.50’ E

The above areas (Annex 2 – Fig. 4) are under the jurisdiction of Chioggia Coast

Guard Office.



VTS REPORTING PROCEDURES

Participating vessels shall report to Venice VTS (on the appropriate radio channel)

the following details, except for the information already forwarded through other

systems (such as AIS, PMIS, ADRIREP etc.). The information already provided shall

be confirmed, anyway. Reports shall comply with the IMO Resolution A.851(20).

FIRST CONTACT REPORT

Vessels intending to enter Venice VTS Area shall transmit the following report, not

later than 5 NM off the outer VTS area limit:

A – Vessel’s name, call sign or MMSI, flag;

B – Date and time of communication (6-digit group);

C - Position (geographical coordinates - Lat. and Long.);

E – True course;

F – Speed (knots and tenths of knot);

G – Port of departure (UN/LOCODE);

H – ETA to Venice VTS Area and entry position;

I – Port of destination (UN/LOCODE) and ETA;

L – Intended track (if deemed necessary);

O - Draught;

P – Cargo on-board (IMDG code and UN number);

Q – Defect/damage/deficiencies/limitations that may affect a safe

navigation;

T – Shipowner or agent’s contact details for provision of information

about the vessel;

U - G.T. (Gross Tonnage) and type of ship;

W – Number of persons on board (passengers and crew);

X - Miscellaneous:

� Type and quantity of bunker for ships of more than 1,000 G.T.;

� Navigational status;

� e-mail address – on board telephone number.

ENTRY REPORT

Vessels entering the VTS Area shall transmit the following report.

From now on VTS services will be provided:

A - Vessel’s name, call sign or MMSI, flag;

H - ATA to Venice VTS Area and entry position;

X – Miscellaneous (if necessary) any other information that has changed

since the previous report.

ANCHORAGE REPORT

Ships destined to the Anchorage Areas will communicate the actual timetable of

the anchor operation and heave up anchor and the exact position:

A – Vessel’s name, call sign or MMSI, flag;

B – Date and time of communication (6-digit group);

C – Anchorage Point (geographical coordinates - Lat. and Long.);

X – Miscellaneous (if necessary).

PILOT REPORT

Participating vessel subject to mandatory pilotage shall transmit the following

report when the pilot has boarded and/or disembarked:


B - Date and time of communication (6-digit group);


J - Pilot on board/disembarked.



BERTHING/UNBERTHING REPORT

Vessels, on entering/departing from one of the ports in Venice Lagoon (Lido,

Malamocco, Chioggia) shall transmit one of the following reports (as appropriate):

Berthing report:


B - Date and Time of communication (6-digit group);

X – Miscellaneous (bearth’s name / number).

Unberthing report:


B - Date and Time of communication (departure);

F – Average speed intended (tenths of knot);

G - Port of departure (UN/LOCODE);

H – ETA to Venice VTS Area and entry position;

I – Port of destination (UN/LOCODE) and ETA;

L – Intended track (if deemed necessary);

P – Cargo on-board (IMDG code and UN number);

W - Number of persons on board (passengers and crew);


EXIT REPORT

Participating vessels shall transmit the following report on leaving the VTS Area:


K – Date, time (6-digit group) and position (geographical coordinates -

Lat. and Long.) of exit from the system;


ACCIDENT REPORT

In case of:

− an accident that may affect ship safety;

− an accident that may affect the safety of navigation;

− a situation that may cause potential pollution;

− an accidental discharge of pollutants, containers or floating goods.

vessels shall immediately report the VTS Centre with the following information:


B - Date and time of communication (6-digit group);


R – Accident details (Description of pollution or dangerous goods lost

overboard).



TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME SECURITY

A Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) has been established in Venice VTS area.

All vessels arriving at - or departing from – Venice VTS area shall follow the

inbound/outbound traffic lanes, as specified in the Nautical Charts No. 222 and No.

924 (Fig. 5) edited by the Italian Navy Hydrographical Institute, complying with the

procedures defined by the Rule No. 10 of “COLREG 72” - I.I.3019.

Even if not inside Venice VTS Area, vessels are bound to report the North Adriatic

Traffic Separation Scheme in geographical coordinates, as dictated by IMO with

COLREG. 2 / Circ. 58 (11 Dec. 2006).

All traffic separation schemes are illustrated in annex 3 and annex 4.

All vessels intending to enter one of the ports in the Venice Lagoon shall make a

prior report at least 24H before their expected arrival, filling in an ISPS format with

the information required by the above-mentioned rule.

Maritime Security Level 1, under normal condition, is established in Venice and

Chioggia ports.

The access to port facilities for vessels subject to the ISPS Code is regulated by

detailed rules and only granted to those who have previously been cleared.

AUXILIARY SERVICES

PILOTAGE

VENICE/PORTO MARGHERA

Pilot service is carried out by the Port of Venice Pilot Association.

Pilotage is mandatory, in Venice and Marghera port areas and within a radius of 2

NM from the outer edges of Lido and Malamocco dams, for vessels of more than

500 G.T. intending to:

1. enter or exit via the Lido and Malamocco inlets;

2. move across the port (except for ship movements along the same dock which

do not require the use of engines or tugs).

Pilot service is not mandatory for the following:

1. warships;

2. vessels of up to 500 G.T.;

3. fishing vessels not fit for oceanic fishing.

Vessels of up to 1,500 G.T., which do not require tugs, may require VHF pilot

assistance, provided that the shipmaster has shown a good knowledge of the

Italian language.

CHIOGGIA

Pilot service is carried out by the port of Chioggia Pilot Association.

Pilotage is mandatory, in Chioggia port area including the entry channel, beginning

and ending 1.5 NM from the newly-positioned dam (called “Lunata”) which is

marked by a red signal (45°13’49.8’’ N - 012°19’24.9’’ E) and a green signal

(45°13’36.3’’ N - 012°19’11.8’’ E), for vessels of more than 500 G.T. intending to:

1. enter or exit the port inlet;

2. move inside the port (except for ship movements along the same dock

which do not require the use of engines or tugs).

Pilotage is not mandatory for the following:

1. warships;

2. ships of up to 500 G.T.;

3. fishing vessels not fit for oceanic fishing;

4. tugs engaged in port services;

5. any vessels engaged in local traffic or port services.

Outbound vessels, when out of the port, may stop pilotage prior to reaching the

limit of 1.5 NM from the dam, provided that the pilot has made sure that there are

no hindrances to the manoeuvre. Vessels of up to 2,000 G.T., not requiring tugs,

may require VHF pilot assistance, provided that the shipmaster has shown a good


(FIRST ISSUED) LAST UPDATED 19/09/17

PAGE No.

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A second pilot is mandatory for large vessels transiting through the lagoon.

TOWING SERVICE

VENICE/PORTO MARGHERA

Towing service in the port and in the roadstead of Venice is carried out by the tug

company “Rimorchiatori Riuniti Panfido & C.” s.r.l..

Towing is mandatory:

a. from the sea sector lying in the anchoring area of Venice roadstead and

within a radius of 2 NM from the inlets of Lido and Malamocco;

b. from the channels and lagoon basins used for maritime navigation.

CHIOGGIA

Towing is not mandatory in the port of Chioggia.

MOORING SERVICE

VENICE

Mooring service in the ports of Venice and Marghera is carried out by the mooring

party “Gruppo ormeggiatori del Porto di Venezia”.

It is mandatory for all merchant vessels of more than 500 G.T..

CHIOGGIA

Mooring service in the port of Chioggia is carried out by the mooring party “Gruppo

ormeggiatori del Porto di Chioggia”.

It is mandatory for all merchant vessels of more than 500 G.T..

Mariners may be made aware of the rules and by-laws in force at the following

websites:

Venice: (http://www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/venezia/Pages/ordinanze.aspx);

Chioggia (http://www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/chioggia/Pages/ordinanze.aspx);

Jesolo (http://www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/jesolo/ordinanze),

knowledge of the Italian language.



PAGE No.

0011

as well as in the Notices to Mariners.

ANNEX 1 – VENICE V.T.S. AREA



PAGE No.

0012

Figure 2: Venice V.T.S. Area (nautical chart No. 222 by Italian Navy Hydrographic Institute– not to be used for navigation). ANNEX 2 – ROADSTEAD ANCHORING AREAS WITHIN VENICE V.T.S. AREA



PAGE No.

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Figure 3: “Lido” and “Malamocco” roadsted anchoring areas (nautical chart No. 222 by the Italian Navy Hydrographic Institute – not to be used for navigation).



PAGE No.

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Figure 4: Chioggia roadstead anchoring areas (nautical chart No. 222 by the Italian Navy Hydrographic Institute – not to be used for

navigation).



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ANNEX 3 – TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME WITHIN VENICE V.T.S. AREA

Figure 5: Traffic Separation Scheme within Venice VTS Area (nautical chart No. 38 by the Italian Navy Hydrographic Institute– not to be

used for navigation).



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ANNEX 4 – TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEMES OUTSIDE VENICE V.T.S. AREA



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