VTS-Operators Offshore
Description
For many years the deep sea pilots of Dirkzwager's Coastal & Deep Sea Pilotage BV have been present on board platforms, lay-barges and survey-vessels, acting as VTS- operators. Because our pilots navigate the English Channel and North Sea on a near- daily basis on all types of vessels, few people will have more experience in all nautical aspects of shipping in this congested sea-area.
In order to formalise their position as representatives of the Director Coast Guard, the D.G.G., we received a request from the Director-General of the Ministry of Transport to have our pilots licensed for that specific task. In 1993 a joint working group was formed with representatives of our organisation and the Directorate-General of Shipping and Maritime Affairs, to establish criteria for theoretical and practical simulator training and the certification of our pilots. We are proud to say that, as a direct result of our relationship with the Dutch maritime Authorities, we alone can offer this unique service to the benefit of shipping, offshore industry and the maritime environment.
Scope of work
It is evident that the VTS-Operators closely co-operate with the project management, the Master and/or the Party Chief of the operations involved. Our pilots continuously monitor and plot the traffic in the vicinity of the object involved and, if necessary, divert that traffic onto a safe course. In many cases the operation is assisted by chase- boats or guard vessels, in order to have an extra tool to warn the approaching traffic.
Regular safety messages are broadcast, apart from the navigational warnings issued by the authorities on Navtex or other means of communication. Daily progress reports are sent to the Coast Guard Centre involved. When working within established VTS-areas, regular communication with the shore-based VTS-operators and district pilots' organisations is maintained. The VTS-centre on board is therefore required to be equipped with an ARPA installation and VHF radio equipment for proper watch keeping.
Under normal circumstances two pilots, working in a duty-roster, are assigned to each project. The VTS-operators will be relieved after a period of approximately 14 days, by any safe means, in consultation with the Principal.
Our pilots have rendered this service on board platforms, pipe-laying and trenching barges, survey-vessels and ships of the Dutch Coast Guard, both on the Netherlands Continental Shelf, as well as in the English Channel.
Summary
- VTS-operators offshore, licensed by the Dutch government;
- On-site representative of the Dutch coast-guard;
- Experience of numerous off shore mining projects in the past decades;
- Enhancing the project's safety during offshore operations;
- VTS-assistance in the vicinity of salvage operations.
