Master's Guide

New! The Fintraffic Master's Guide service is available at mastersguide.fintraffic.fi. 

The PDF documents containing information about Vessel Traffic Services in Finland will be replaced with a new web-based service mastersguide.fintraffic.fi. Since the 1st of January 2024, the PDF documents will no longer be updated, and they will be removed during the spring. The updated information is available on the website mastersguide.fintraffic.fi.

Participation in vessel traffic services

Vessels of 24 metres in length overall or more are obliged to participate in the vessel traffic services. When navigating in the VTS area, vessels are required to maintain a continuous listening watch on the working channel used in the area. Furthermore, vessels are obliged to obey the rules relevant to the traffic in the VTS area. Vessels navigating in the VTS area, which are not obliged to participate in the vessel traffic services, are recommended to maintain a listening watch on the working channel in the VTS area or sector in question.

More detailed instructions are described in the regional Master’s Guides below.

Archipelago VTS EN (1.9.2023)

Bothnia VTS EN (1.9.2023)

Hanko VTS EN (1.9.2023)

Helsinki VTS Sector 1 EN (1.9.2023)

Helsinki VTS Sector 2 EN (1.9.2023)

Kotka VTS EN (24.10.2023)

Saimaa VTS EN (1.9.2023)

West Coast VTS EN (1.9.2023)

Participation in the Gulf of Finland mandatory ship reporting system

Vessels of 300 gross tonnage and over are required to participate in the Gulf of Finland mandatory ship reporting system GOFREP. Also, vessels under 300 gross tonnage are encouraged to listen to the relevant VHF-traffic channel.

Vessels under 300 gross tonnage are required to report in circumstances where they:

• are not under command
• are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre
• are at anchor in the TSS
• have defective navigational aids

More detailed instructions are described in the Master’s Guide below.

GOFREP (20.1.2023)

South Åland Sea TSS

The South Åland Sea TSS has no ship reporting system, but the vessel traffic is monitored. More detailed instructions are described in the Master’s Guide below.

Åland Sea TSS (5.6.2023)

NOTE! Bring all ship-generated waste to port and take advantage of the No-Special-Fee incentive system that covers the entire Baltic Sea region.