Boating Puget Sound? Avoid This Common Shipping Lane Mistake.

[Submariner]

Be sure to cross the VTS at 90 degree angles and avoid being ticketed.

 

[American Flyer]

Be sure to cross the VTS at 90 degree angles and avoid being ticketed.

Thanks for the heads up!

I've always been aware of the VTS but have crossed at a 76 1/2 degree angle a time or two. I wonder how picky they will actually be.

Also, we are governed by 72 COLREGS, International, Rule 10.

Rule 10(e)(ii) does allow fishing within a separation zone so you can run out to that area. Of course it DOES NOT allow a fishing boat to impede the passage of any vessel following the traffic lane.

I do not blame them for cracking down, we have all seen some of the idiots out there doing really stupid things.

 

[Submariner]

Is this warning based on a recent encounter?

At the boat show in February, I overheard the USCG Auxiliary talking to someone about "increased enforcement, writing tickets this year..." I thought what he had to say was important enough, I recorded it and published it. Hoping to save someone from getting ticketed.

 

[American Flyer]

Be sure to cross the VTS at 90 degree angles and avoid being ticketed.

Along the same lines;

We were slow cruising along the shoreline of one of the islands the other day. A passenger ferry had just crossed our intended route and went into it's dock. It had just started to discharge passengers and would not leave for at least another 20 to 30 minutes leaving us plenty of time to cross it's return path without impeding them in any way. I still chose to steer away from the shore further to give them plenty of space. I estimate we were 200 to 300 yards away from the ferry at our closest point. As we passed around them I could hear some kind of odd noise (I had the windows open). I started to make out some words, "alter course" "move west" once, is about all I could understand. I then could barely make out a small round figure in a white shirt on the top deck of the ferry with what might have been a bull horn. By that time we were well past the ferry dock and returning back to our original course and the person was leaving the deck. By the way, the ferry was west of our position. I did not know what to think. Was this some overly egotistical new captain thinking I was to close to his new command? Or was I doing something wrong? (I hate that feeling!) Of course as soon as I was in my easy chair at home the COLREGS came out. I could find nothing I did wrong.

BUT, an internet search later, I found THIS!

33 CFR § 165.1317 - Security and Safety Zone; Large Passenger Vessel Protection, Puget Sound and adjacent waters, Washington.​

Another "gotcha" we should all be aware of, but probably are not!

 

[Submariner]

33 CFR § 165.1317 - Security and Safety Zone; Large Passenger Vessel Protection, Puget Sound and adjacent waters, Washington.​

My auto-guidance always runs me really close to the Mukelteo and Edmonds ferry docks. I always modify the course such that I'm at least 1/2 a mile from the shoreline to leave the ferry plenty of room. They usually won't leave early, often will leave late (especially the Edmonds ferry as the train delays their boarding).

I use the WADOT app on my phone, as it's got a "ferry watch" section, shows me where the ferry is (docked) and what time it's scheduled departure. That helps a lot in predicting when it'll leave. However...

I was heading towards Mukelteo once, some fog, with limited visibility. But I have AIS and RADAR and so does the ferry. I was hailed by the ferry enroute from Whidbey Island to Mukelteo. They were in an emergency. An ambulance was onboard. When this happens, the ferry leaves right away. The ferry hailed me by boat name, requesting that I give them a wide berth. Per COLREGS, even without the emergency, they were the stand on vessel and I was the give-way. (I was heading towards their port side). I acknowledged them and gave them plenty of space. The VHF hail was them being courteous. Overly courteous actually, since they were the stand-on vessel anyway. They were just clearing the way for the ambulance enroute.

VTS Violation
Right after we got Channel Surfing, and before I had installed AIS... it was a Tuesday, we were headed up Admiralty inlet over to Port Ludlow. I let auto guidance do its thing, and it ran me right in the VTS. I had RADAR and the fog was thick, visibility was poor. With RADAR, there wasn't a commercial craft in the VTS within range of my RADAR. The coast was clear. Because it was fogging and visibility so poor, I was doing 7 knots.

Then the VHF radio, which had been quiet all day... "This is United Stated Coast Guard hailing vessel, approximately 30ft, near..." Uhm... I looked around on RADAR, and quickly realized it was me they were talking about. They were hailing me to change course and exit the VTS. I quickly changed my heading to be 90 degrees, and crossed the VTS. It doesn't matter if there's commercial traffic in the VTS or not. As recreational power boater, I am faster and more maneuverable than most other boats out there. Best to steer clear entirely of the VTS and commercial vessels.

Another thing to consider is hailing the commercial craft on VHF to tell them of your intentions. The advice is to make your boats heading/course clear and stay silent on the VHF. Those commercial guys are being paid to be out on the water. They have better things to do than spend time talking to a recreational boater who can easily stay out of their way.