1 Vessel traffic services (VTS) contribute to
safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and protection
of the marine environment, adjacent shore areas, work sites and offshore
installations from possible adverse effects of maritime traffic.
2 Contracting Governments undertake to arrange
for the establishment of VTS where, in their opinion, the volume of
traffic or the degree of risk justifies such services.
3 Contracting Governments planning and implementing
VTS shall, wherever possible, follow the guidelines developed by the
Organization footnote. The use of VTS may only
be made mandatory in sea areas within the territorial seas of a coastal
State.
4 Contracting Governments shall endeavour to secure
the participation in, and compliance with, the provisions of vessel
traffic services by ships entitled to fly their flag.
5 Nothing in this regulation or the guidelines
adopted by the Organization shall prejudice the rights and duties
of Governments under international law or the legal regimes of straits
used for international navigation and archipelagic sea lanes.