Traffic Organisation (TOS)
Traffic organisation contributes to safe and efficient traffic diversion, and aims to prevent excessive traffic density or dangerous situations in maritime traffic centre areas.
Traffic organisation and planning is particularly important when traffic density is high. Vessels of a certain size must ask the VTS for clearance before sailing or anchorage in VTS areas, and must also report to the relevant VTS centre before entering a VTS area or before departure from port or anchorage.
As an example, the Maritime Traffic Regulations regulate meeting and passing bans, and granting a vessel clearance to sail into a VTS area. Clearance can be granted without conditions, but special conditions can also be stipulated through:
- Use of special fairways
- Sailing in a specific order in relation to other traffic
- Clearance can be withheld when there is a valid reason for doing so