When you are bound for a particular port, and expected, you may
receive instructions on how/when to contact the Port/Pilot station. In
many places you will be expected to have found this information yourself.
Some VTS systems have compulsory reporting requirements;
others require that you maintain a 'listening watch' on a particular radio
channel.
ALRS Vol. 6 provides details of Pilot Stations, VTS and Port
Authorities around the world - to let you prepare for arrival long
before you get there.Versions of ALRS Vol. 6 (and 7), prior to the 200012001 edition,
listed harbours geographically (Le., adjacent ports on the coast were listed
beside each other in Vol. 617) for each country covered. In the new
version of Volume 6 (Vol. 7 has been dropped from 2000), port areas are
listed alphabetically within each country section, and countries are also
listed alphabetically - not geographically.
You will know which country you are bound for, and the name of
the port. Use ALRS Vol. 6 'Index of Geographical Sections' to find the
country, and then look-up the harbour required.
ALRS Vol. 6 (new version) is in five separate geographical books,
labelled 6(1) through 6(5). If you cannot find the country you require in
the 'Index of Geographical Sections' - you are probably in the wrong
book. The type of Pilot/VTS/Port information listed in Vol. 6 includes:
The radio 'call' which the station will answer to.- The 'frequencies' (VHF Channels/MF Frequencies) the station
operates. - The radio-reporting 'procedures' to be followed by vessels bound
for/leaving the port.
The 'hours of operation' for the Port/Pilot Service (in the form H24
for 24 hours/day; Hx for 'irregular hours').
All 'times' listed in ALRSs, are 'UTC' unless 'LT' (Local Time), or
some other time zone, is specifically stated.
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