Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 23, 2024
Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters last revised: Nov 21, 2024
§ 161.15 - Purpose and intent.
(a) A Vessel Movement Reporting System (VMRS) is a system used to monitor and track vessel movements within a VTS or VMRS area. This is accomplished by requiring that vessels provide information under established procedures as set forth in this part, or as directed by the Center.
(b) To avoid imposing an undue reporting burden or unduly congesting radiotelephone frequencies, reports shall be limited to information which is essential to achieve the objectives of the VMRS. These reports are consolidated into three reports (sailing plan, position, and final).
[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by USCG-2003-14757, 68 FR 39366, July 1, 2003; USCG-2011-0257, 76 FR 31838, June 2, 2011]
§ 161.16 - Applicability.
Unless otherwise stated, the provisions of this subpart apply to the following vessels and VMRS Users:
(a) Every power-driven vessel of 40 meters (approximately 131 feet) or more in length, while navigating;
(b) Every towing vessel of 8 meters (approximately 26 feet) or more in length, while navigating; or
(c) Every vessel certificated to carry 50 or more passengers for hire, when engaged in trade.
[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by USCG-2003-14757, 68 FR 39366, July 1, 2003]
§ 161.17 - [Reserved]
§ 161.18 - Reporting requirements.
(a) A Center may: (1) Direct a vessel to provide any of the information set forth in Table 161.18(a) (IMO Standard Ship Reporting System);
Table 161.18(a)—The IMO Standard Ship Reporting System
| A | ALPHA | Ship | Name, call sign or ship station identity, and flag.
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| B | BRAVO | Dates and time of event | A 6 digit group giving day of month (first two digits), hours and minutes (last four digits). If other than UTC state time zone used.
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| C | CHARLIE | Position | A 4 digit group giving latitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with N (north) or S (south) and a 5 digit group giving longitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with E (east) or W (west); or
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| D | DELTA | Position | True bearing (first 3 digits) and distance (state distance) in nautical miles from a clearly identified landmark (state landmark).
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| E | ECHO | True course | A 3 digit group.
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| F | FOXTROT | Speed in knots and tenths of knots | A 3 digit group.
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| G | GOLF | Port of Departure | Name of last port of call.
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| H | HOTEL | Date, time and point of entry system | Entry time expressed as in (B) and into the entry position expressed as in (C) or (D).
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| I | INDIA | Destination and expected time of arrival | Name of port and date time group expressed as in (B).
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| J | JULIET | Pilot | State whether a deep sea or local pilot is on board.
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| K | KILO | Date, time and point of exit from system | Exit time expressed as in (B) and exit position expressed as in (C) or (D).
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| L | LIMA | Route information | Intended track.
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| M | MIKE | Radio | State in full names of communications stations/frequencies guarded.
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| N | NOVEMBER | Time of next report | Date time group expressed as in (B).
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| O | OSCAR | Maximum present static draught in meters | 4 digit group giving meters and centimeters.
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| P | PAPA | Cargo on board | Cargo and brief details of any dangerous cargoes as well as harmful substances and gases that could endanger persons or the environment.
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| Q | QUEBEC | Defects, damage, deficiencies or limitations | Brief detail of defects, damage, deficiencies or other limitations.
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| R | ROMEO | Description of pollution or dangerous goods lost | Brief details of type of pollution (oil, chemicals, etc.) or dangerous goods lost overboard; position expressed as in (C) or (D).
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| S | SIERRA | Weather conditions | Brief details of weather and sea conditions prevailing.
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| T | TANGO | Ship's representative and/or owner | Details of name and particulars of ship's representative and/or owner for provision of information.
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| U | UNIFORM | Ship size and type | Details of length, breadth, tonnage, and type, etc., as required.
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| V | VICTOR | Medical personnel | Doctor, physician's assistant, nurse, no medic.
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| W | WHISKEY | Total number of persons on board | State number.
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| X | XRAY | Miscellaneous | Any other information as appropriate. [i.e., a detailed description of a planned operation, which may include: its duration; effective area; any restrictions to navigation; notification procedures for approaching vessels; in addition, for a towing operation: configuration, length of the tow, available horsepower, etc.; for a dredge or floating plant: configuration of pipeline, mooring configuration, number of assist vessels, etc.]. |
(2) Establish other means of reporting for those vessels unable to report on the designated frequency; or
(3) Require reports from a vessel in sufficient time to allow advance vessel traffic planning.
(b) All reports required by this part shall be made as soon as is practicable on the frequency designated in Table 161.12(c) (VTS and VMRS Centers, Call Signs/MMSI, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas).
(c) When not exchanging communications, a VMRS User must maintain a listening watch as described in § 26.04(e) of this chapter on the frequency designated in Table 161.12(c) (VTS and VMRS Centers, Call Signs/MMSI, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas). In addition, the VMRS User must respond promptly when hailed and communicate in the English language.
Note:
As stated in 47 CFR 80.148(b), a VHF watch on Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) is not required on vessels subject to the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act and participating in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system when the watch is maintained on both the vessel bridge-to-bridge frequency and a designated VTS frequency.
(d) A vessel must report:
(1) Any significant deviation from its Sailing Plan, as defined in § 161.19, or from previously reported information; or
(2) Any intention to deviate from a VTS issued measure or vessel traffic routing system.
(e) When reports required by this part include time information, such information shall be given using the local time zone in effect and the 24-hour military clock system.
[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by USCG-2003-14757, 68 FR 39366, July 1, 2003; USCG-2015-0433, 80 FR 44282, July 27, 2015]
§ 161.19 - Sailing Plan (SP).
Unless otherwise stated, at least 15 minutes before navigating a VTS area, a vessel must report the:
(a) Vessel name and type;
(b) Position;
(c) Destination and ETA;
(d) Intended route;
(e) Time and point of entry; and
(f) Dangerous cargo on board or in its tow, as defined in § 160.202 of this chapter.
[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by USCG-2011-1024, 78 FR 51671, Aug. 21, 2013; USCG-2005-21869, 80 FR 5334, Jan. 30, 2015]
§ 161.20 - Position Report (PR).
A vessel must report its name and position:
(a) Upon point of entry into a VMRS area;
(b) At designated reporting points as set forth in subpart C; or
(c) When directed by the Center.
[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by USCG-2003-14757, 68 FR 39366, July 1, 2003]
§ 161.21 - Automated reporting.
(a) Unless otherwise directed, vessels equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) are required to make continuous, all stations, AIS broadcasts, in lieu of voice Position Reports, to those Centers denoted in Table 161.12(c) of this part.
(b) Should an AIS become non-operational, while or prior to navigating a VMRS area, it should be restored to operating condition as soon as possible, and, until restored a vessel must:
(1) Notify the Center;
(2) Make voice radio Position Reports at designated reporting points as required by § 161.20(b) of this part; and
(3) Make any other reports as directed by the Center.
[USCG-2003-14757, 68 FR 39366, July 1, 2003]
§ 161.22 - Final Report (FR).
A vessel must report its name and position:
(a) On arrival at its destination; or
(b) When leaving a VTS area.
§ 161.23 - Reporting exemptions.
(a) Unless otherwise directed, the following vessels are exempted from providing Position and Final Reports due to the nature of their operation:
(1) Vessels on a published schedule and route;
(2) Vessels operating within an area of a radius of three nautical miles or less; or
(3) Vessels escorting another vessel or assisting another vessel in maneuvering procedures.
(b) A vessel described in paragraph (a) of this section must:
(1) Provide a Sailing Plan at least 5 minutes but not more than 15 minutes before navigating within the VMRS area; and
(2) If it departs from its promulgated schedule by more than 15 minutes or changes its limited operating area, make the established VMRS reports, or report as directed.
[CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by CGD 97-023, 62 FR 33364, June 19, 1997; USCG-2003-14757, 68 FR 39367, July 1, 2003]
source: CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 33 CFR 161.20