Navigation safety for UK seafarers
Vessel traffic management, electronic nautical publications and safety information for owners, operators of ships, yachts, fishing vessels.
Vessel traffic management
Vessel traffic management can involve Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) or Local Port Services (LPS).
Vessel traffic services
VTS is an important tool in contributing to:
- safety of life at sea,
- safety of navigation
- protection of the marine environment
Local Port Service
A local port service is applicable to those ports where it has been identified from their Formal Safety Assessment that a VTS is excessive or inappropriate but there is still a need to disseminate information to those using the port. This is not a lower standard or poorer service - it just means that VTS is not provided.
VTS - publications and guidance
Refer to the following guidance for more information about VTS and local port services:
- IMO guidance about VTS
- IALA publications and guidance for VTS
- MCA Navigation: vessel traffic services (VTS) – training and certification of VTS personnel (MGN 434)
- MCA Navigation: vessel traffic services (VTS) and local port services (LPS) in the UK (MGN 401)
- MCA Vessel traffic services (VTS): designation of VTS stations in the UK (MSN 1796)
- Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) which is to be read in conjunction with the Guide to Good Practice
- Dover Strait - Channel VTS (formerly Channel Navigation Information Service (CNIS))
Navigational warnings
MCA is responsible for broadcasting the warnings issued by the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) to vessels at sea. Radio broadcasts are made about known and potential risks.
‘Navigational warnings: reporting and broadcasting hazards at sea’ outlines:
- how and when warnings are broadcast
- what kind of activities require a warning
- how to inform UKHO that a hazard requires a navigational warning
Navigation safety leaflets
MCA produces information leaflets for seafarers on all types of vessels. Safety leaflets relating to navigation, communication, and safety at sea can be found here.
Digital nautical publications
Ship operators and owners must meet approval and installation standards for electronic equivalents of nautical charts and publications.
Digital nautical publications – requirements and equivalency
The safety of life at sea (SOLAS) convention chapter V regulation 19.2.1.4 states that all ships whatever their size must have “nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display the ship’s route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage” and that “an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) is also accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements”.
SOLAS chapter V regulation 2.2 defines that a nautical chart or nautical publication as “a special-purpose map or book, or a specially compiled database from which such a map or book is derived, that is issued officially by or on the authority of a government, authorised hydrographic office or other relevant government institution and is designed to meet the requirements of marine navigation”.
Requirements for ECDIS mandatory carriage is further detailed within SOLAS V/19 and a key point to note is that should a vessel’s primary means of navigation be conducted electronically then a suitable backup must be provided. This may be electronic (type approved) or paper.
The use of Digital nautical publications is accepted on UK registered vessels only if the system in use has been provided an MCA issued recognition letter. A list of current MCA recognised digital nautical publications can be found here. The use of digital nautical publications on a vessel must comply with requirements as described in Annex C of MGN 610 (M+F) SOLAS chapter V: Guidance on the merchant shipping (safety of navigation) regulations 2020.
Alternative arrangements
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) makes exemptions or alternative arrangements from the requirements for certain types of vessel, for example:
- MCA code vessels under 24 metres in length - refer to marine guidance note MGN 293 (M+F)
- MCA code vessels under 24 metres in length – Electronic charting regulations via the Mini-ECDIS standard with full guidance in MGN 319 (M+F) as amended.
- Pleasure vessels below 150 GT - refer to Statutory Instrument 2020 No.673 The Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations.
- Fishing vessels of over 15 and less than 24 metres in length - refer to MSN 1872 (F) The Code of Safe Working Practice for the Construction and Use of Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall to less than 24m Registered Length
- Fishing vessels over 24 metres in length - refer to MSN 1873 (F) The Code of Practice for the Construction and Safe Operation of Fishing Vessels of 24m Registered Length and Over
SOLAS Chapter V
SOLAS Chapter V applies (in parts) to all vessels and stipulates all aspects of safe navigation both onboard the vessel and coastal state.
The MCA have issued guidance on the UK interpretation of SOLAS V which can be found here
COLREG Guidance
All vessels, including personal watercraft as defined within the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023 are required to comply the Collision Regulations (COLREG). Further information on the application of COLREG can be found in MSN 1781 (As Amended)
More detailed guidance on the application of COLREG in or near areas of restricted visibility can be found in MGN 369 (As Amended).
Guidance on the application of COLREG to Dynamically Positioned vessels undergoing diving operations can be found in MGN 696 (As Amended).
General navigation
Guidance on use of electronic navigation systems can be found in MGN 379 (as amended)
TSS guidance can be found in MGN 364 (as amended) and for the Dover Strait at the weblink here
A list of all active M-notes can be found at the following links:
Further enquiries
Technical Services Navigation
Email: [email protected]
Updates to this page
Published 1 May 2014Last updated 3 April 2024 + show all updates
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Under 'COLREG Guidance' - Guidance on the application of COLREG to Dynamically Positioned vessels undergoing diving operations can be found in MGN 696 (As Amended) has been added.
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this page has been updated to align the information with the latest guidance
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Removed links to SOLAS chapter V and replaced with links to MGN 610 (M+F) SOLAS chapter V: Guidance on the merchant shipping (safety of navigation) regulations 2020.
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Updated links and documents
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Amendment to one of the links.
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First published.