The working channel of Helsinki VTS sector 2 is VHF 9. 

Reports should include the following information:

• Name of the vessel
• Name of reporting point
• Destination
• Intended route. If an alternative route is selected, this must be reported 

Required reports:

• upon entry into the VTS Area
• before anchoring
• before leaving an anchorage 
• after berthing
• before leaving port
• at the reporting points in the area, see the reporting points below

Reporting points:

1. 15 mins before entering Barösund 
2. vessels must report 15 mins before passing Kuiva Hevonen in the coastal fairway

Commuter ferries must report only in restricted visibility.

Meeting and overtaking is permanently prohibited in the following areas covered by Helsinki VTS Sector 2:

1. Jaakobin salmi: Buoys Inkoo 15 and Inkoo 16 – buoys Inkoo 21 and Inkoo 22 between latitudes 59º 59,4’ N and 59º 59,8’ N in Inkoo fairway.
2. Varlaxudden - Esthmansudden: Buoy Varlaxuddenin luoto - sector light Esthamnsudden between latitudes 60° 11,9’ N and 60° 13,6’ N in Sköldvik fairway. The prohibition does not apply to meeting and overtaking situations in which at least one of the vessels has a maximum length of less than 45 meters.
3. Köllhällen - Neste C: Buoy Köllhällen - buoy Neste C between latitudes 60° 05,5’ N and 60° 08,2’ N in Sköldvik fairway. The prohibition does not apply to meeting and overtaking situations in which at least one of the vessels has a maximum length of less than 45 meters.
4. Stenören-Orskär buoys: At buoys Stenören itäinen and Orskär läntinen between latitudes 60° 10,0’ N and 60° 10,8’ N in Sköldvik fairway. The prohibition does not apply to meeting and overtaking situations in which at least one of the vessels has a maximum length of less than 45 meters.

The meeting and overtaking prohibition areas do not apply to tugs when they are assisting within the meeting and overtaking prohibition area, or to vessels performing icebreaking assistance.

In Neste Porvoo Harbour (Sköldvik):

Vessels should avoid passing and overtaking in the harbour area north of latitude 60°17,8'N (quay 8). This prohibition does not apply to passing and overtaking situations in which at least one of the vessels is a tug or a vessel, the size of which is comparable to a tug. 

Vessel Traffic Service can organize traffic in order to prevent danger situations and congestion based on time or distance within its area of operation. The organization arrangement can be based on traffic conditions, such as congestion, a special transport, or other factors that limit or endanger traffic.

On Inkoo fairway, traffic is organized with 2 NM safety zones for special transports. Other vessels are not allowed to enter the safety zone without VTS permission when using the same fairway.

The safety zones are activated through a VTS radio announcement on the VTS area’s working channel.

There are following official anchorages in the Helsinki VTS Sector 2 area:

• Western sector 2 (Porkkala):

1. Inkoo fairway 4350: Anchorage swept depth 15,5 m (MW 2005). Corner point coordinates (WGS84):

59°52.36'N        024°08.75'E

59°54.25'N        024°11.13'E

59°53.78'N        024°09.23'E

59°53.44'N        024°08.44'E

59°52.36'N        024°08.75'E

• Eastern sector 2 (Emäsalo):

1. Sköldvik fairway 5150: Southern anchorage swept depth 19,0 m (MW 2014). Corner point coordinates (WGS84):

60°01.64'N        025°29.17'E

60°00.15'N        025°28.33'E

59°59.78'N        025°30.92'E

60°01.79'N        025°32.06'E

60°01.64'N        025°29.17'E

2. Sköldvik fairway 5150: Northern anchorage swept depth 16,95 m (MW 2000). Corner point coordinates (WGS84):

60°15.88'N        025°31.87'E

60°15.73'N        025°32.42'E

60°15.69'N        025°32.55'E

60°15.38'N        025°33.66'E

60°16.66'N        025°32.68'E

60°16.31'N        025°32.15'E

60°15.88'N        025°31.87'E

A vessel must always notify both the VTS and the Finnish Border Guard when anchoring in Finland’s territorial waters. The vessel must make the notification either itself or through its agent. In addition, a vessel anchoring in territorial waters is required to make an electronic customs declaration, even if the vessel is not going to call at a Finnish port.

After leaving a port in Finland, the vessel must also check with the Finnish Border Guard whether anchoring in Finnish territorial waters is possible. Also in this case, a vessel remaining at anchor must make an electronic customs declaration.

1. Remotely operated AtoNs

There are no remotely operated AtoNs in the Helsinki VTS sector 2 area.

2. Permanenta Virtual AtoNs (V-AIS)

There are following permanenta V-AIS-AtoNs in the Helsinki VTS sector 2 area:

Western sector 2 (Inkoo):

• Laituriallas 1              60°00,85'N      023°54,94'E
• Laituriallas 10            60°00,74'N      023°55,81'E
• Laituriallas 12            60°00,76'N      023°55,26'E

Eastern sector 2 (Emäsalo):

• Sköldvik            60°03,24'N      025°32,78'E

3. Fault Reporting

AtoNs not working correctly? Please inform Helsinki VTS by VHF radio on channel 9 or call Turku Radio 0800-181818. 

Tolkkinen

Vessels are required to maintain a listening watch on VHF channel 8 in the harbour area while mooring.

Port contact information:

• telephone +358 40 451 7784
• e-mail info@portoftolkkinen.fi
• VHF channel 8

• Emäsalo A

  60°0.01′N          025°32.62′E

• Emäsalo B

  60°2.60′N          025°33.80′E

• Emäsalo C

  60°8.40′N          025°34.68′E

• Inkoo LNG

  59°51.90′N        024°09.45′E

• Porkkala N

  59°55.66′N        024°14.20′E

• Porkkala S

  59°53.60′N        024°11.68′E

Use of channels that deviates from the channel design refers to a situation where a vessel uses a channel in a manner that deviates from the channel’s design and the adequacy of the channel space cannot be ensured based on the design. If the vessel’s static draught is greater than the channel’s design draught taking into account the current water level, the vessel shall ensure that her net under keel clearance remains adequate and demonstrate it to the VTS Centre that is responsible for monitoring the fairway.

Vessel’s operator, agent or master shall give the notice of channel use at least 24 hours before its arrival at the pilot boarding position, or if the vessel is expected to arrive in less than 24 hours, no later than when the vessel has left the port of departure for a Finnish port. A vessel departing a Finnish port shall give the notice of channel use as soon as possible, at latest when the departure report is given.

The notice of channel use shall include the following items:

A. Vessel’s name

B. Which channel or part of channel the vessel is intending to use in a manner that deviates from the channel design

C. What is the manner that deviates from the channel design

D. Length between perpendiculars LBP and Breadth

E. Static Draught

F. Centre of Buoyancy, KB

G. Centre of Gravity, KG

H. Metacentric Height, GM

I. Block Coefficent, Cb

When ensuring the adequate net UKC and giving the notice of channel use, it is recommended to utilize the tools provided by the Finnish Transport and Infrastructure Agency. The notice of channel use can be given in the form of a squat calculation made with the Squat Calculator with regard to items D–I. The calculation can be shared as a link, or as a pdf-printout sent by e-mail to the VTS Centre. When using the Squat Calculator, it is enough to write the information of points A–C in the e-mail.

In Hanko VTS, Helsinki VTS and Kotka VTS monitoring areas the notice of channel use should be sent to the email address supervisors.hki@fintraffic.fi. Title the email ”Notice of channel use”.