SAIMAA VTS

The VTS centre is located in the Saimaa Water Traffic Centre next to the
Mälkiä lock in Lappeenranta.


OPERATIONAL HOURS

Saimaa VTS operates 24 hours/day, except during the winter break of the 
Saimaa canal navigation season. Information about any other unexpected 
breaks in the service is given via Turku Radio.


VTS RADIO TRAFFIC

Call: Saimaa VTS 
Traffic Channel: 9


VTS AREA

VTS area consists of the deep water routes in the Saimaa lake district. 
The Saimaa Canal is not part of the VTS area.


TRAFFIC REPORTS

Vessels of 24 metres or more in length overall are obliged to  
participate in the vessel traffic service by reporting to the VTS in 
designated VHF channel and monitoring the radio traffic when 
navigating in the area.

Advance report: 
Vessels shall make an advance report when crossing the border on Lake
Nuijamaa.

The report must include the following information:
- name and call sign of the vessel
- ETA Mälkiä lock
- port of departure and destination
- present draught
- details of any defects or deficiencies in the equipment of the vessel 
  and restrictions of manoeuvrability.

Vessel shall also give an advance report to the VTS when departing from 
the port of Mustola and proceeding to the lake Saimaa. The report is 
given before the vessel has cast off.


Traffic report:
Vessels shall report to Saimaa VTS on VTS traffic channel when entering 
the VTS area, anchoring or leaving the anchorage/port. Tugs with a timber 
raft on tow shall make a report at least 0,5 hour before entering or 
leaving the VTS area (deep water route).

Vessels shall also report 10 minutes before passing the following 
reporting points:

- Kuhaluoto (southbound vessels)
- Vekaransalonsalmi
- Hätinvirta
- Puumalansalmi
- Pahikka
- Vekaransalmi
- Härkinsalo (northbound vessels)
- Kommersalmi (southbound vessels)
- Kyrönsalmi
- Matarinsalmi
- Haponlahti canal
- Tappuvirta
- Tahkosalmi
- Sinikonniemi(southbound vessels)
- Muuraispuro (northbound vessels)
- Patasalmi (northbound vessels)
- Kolikko canal (southbound vessels)
- Kortesalmi
- Hanhivirta
- Vihtakanta


VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES PROVIDED

Saimaa VTS provides information service to the vessels navigating in 
the VTS area. 

Information is provided on
- other vessels in the VTS area
- changes in matters concerning the VTS area and traffic within it
- meteorological and hydrological information;
- operation of pilots and ice-breakers
- condition and availability of fairways and status of aids to navigation
- any danger threatening a vessel
- other matters affecting the safety of vessel traffic.


NOTIFICATION DUTY OF THE MASTER

The master must notify the VTS of the following events taking place in 
the VTS area or its vicinity:
- any incidents or accidents affecting the vessel's safety, such as 
  collisions, grounding, damage, malfunction or engine failure, leakage 
  or cargo shifting and any hull or structural defects
- any incidents or accidents endangering the safety of navigation, 
  such as any malfunction potentially affecting the manoeuvrability or 
  seaworthiness of the vessel and any defects affecting the vessel's 
  propulsion machinery, steering gear, electrical power generation 
  installations or navigation instruments or communication equipment
- any circumstances that may cause pollution of the waters or the 
  coast, such as discharge of pollutants into water or risk of such 
  discharges
- any pollutant spills and containers or packages drifting on the water.


VIOLATIONS
Any violations of the rules of the road at sea will be reported to the 
relevant authorities. VTS area traffic image and related VHF radio traffic 
are recorded. The records are kept for at least 30 days.


Finnish Maritime Administration
Traffic Department 2009