Vessel Traffic Management

The Rotterdam port and industrial area has at her disposal one of the most advanced systems to increase safety and efficiency of vessel traffic in the port, it is called the Vessel Traffic Service. There are 33 radar sites located throughout the port to track each ship in an area from 30 miles offshore to 25 miles inland and vice versa. 

Services
The VTS-operator of the Rotterdam Port Authority can provide the following services:

Traffic information
  
The VTS operator reports all available and relevant information to the ships in his sector in the following circumstances:

• When other ships are in the immediate vicinity, but out of sight; 
• When ships carry out a manoeuvre which deviates from the usual traffic flow; 
• If the VTS operator considers the information essential enough to report.  

Navigational assistance

The VTS operator can provide more intensive information, if needed with position information, on request or if he considers it necessary. This happens in the following circumstances: 

• Pressed by circumstances of poor visibility (2,000 meters or less and on the river 1,000 meters or less); 
• In particular under circumstances when the navigation equipment is not proper functioning.
  

Navigational assistance is rendered only when navigating:

• the Beerkanaal; 
• the Calandkanaal up to the eastern head of the 7th Petroleumhaven; 
• the Nieuwe Waterweg and the Nieuwe Maas up to the limits of the VTS area (Kmr  993.0); 
• the Oude Maas up to the limits of the VTS area (Kmr 999.5); 
• the central basin of harbors.  

Visibility information messages

As soon as the visibility falls below 4,000 meters (due to weather or atmospheric conditions) visibility-messaging service will be provided.