Vessel Traffic Service in California

Division 3, Chapter 1, Article 4 of California’s Harbors and Navigation Code deals with vessel traffic service. Section 445 provides for the Marine Exchange of Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, Inc. It may operate a vessel traffic service, in cooperation with, and subject to the supervision of, the United States Coast Guard, for the waters of San Pedro Bay, San Pedro Channel, and Santa Monica Bay. These waters are known in this article as the “VTS area.”

Section 445.5 defines the terms “covered vessel” and “towing vessel.” Section 446 requires, prior to entering the VTS area, every covered vessel to report to the marine exchange the vessel’s name, call sign, location, course, speed, destination, estimated time of arrival, and any impairment to the operation or navigation of the vessel.

Section 446.5 authorizes the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to impose fees upon all covered vessels within the VTS area to pay the cost of operating the vessel traffic service.

Section 447 requires three specified vessels, while transiting the VTS area, to comply with the requirements of Section 447.5.

Section 447.5 requires, while transiting the VTS area, every vessel to do four specified activities.

Section 448 requires the vessel traffic service to be advisory in nature. Each vessel within the VTS area is responsible for its safe navigation in accordance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

Section 448.5 states that it is understood and agreed that the marine exchange act as agent of each vessel subject to the requirements of this article within the VTS area in providing vessel traffic information and performing all other acts incidental to operation of the vessel traffic service. No vessel subject to the requirements of this article can assert any claim against the marine exchange.

Section 449 specifies that the marine exchange and its officers and directors are subject to Section 5047.5 of the Corporations Code to the extent that the marine exchange meets the criteria specified in that section.

Section 449.3 requires the marine exchange to cooperate fully with the administrator appointed in the development and implementation of the vessel traffic service system required by law.

Section 449.5 requires, upon request by the administrator, the marine exchange to submit a complete description and operational status report of the vessel traffic service. After a public hearing, the administrator must determine whether the elements and operation of the vessel traffic service are consistent with the harbor safety plan for the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors.

There are specified rules for when the administrator determines that the vessel traffic service is inconsistent with the harbor safety plan for the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors. If the marine exchange has not complied with an order within six months of issuance, then the administrator, after a public hearing, may take either or both of two specified actions.