GOFREP in the Gulf of Finland is a Mandatory Ship Reporting System under SOLAS Regulation V/11. The traffic centres TALLINN TRAFFIC, HELSINKI TRAFFIC and ST. PETERSBURG TRAFFIC monitor shipping movements and provide advice and information about navigational hazards and weather conditions in the Gulf of Finland.

The aims of GOFREP are:

• to improve maritime safety in the area;
• to increase the protection of the marine environment;
• to monitor compliance with the International regulations for preventing collisions at sea (COLREGS) in the area.

Vessel traffic in the area is monitored by means of radar and the AIS-system.

The GOFREP area covers the international waters in the Gulf of Finland east of the Western Reporting Line. In addition, Estonia and Finland have implemented mandatory ship reporting systems in their territorial waters outside their VTS areas.

Reporting

Ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards are required to participate in the mandatory ship reporting system. Ships of less than 300 gross tonnage should report in case they:

• are not under command or at anchor in the TSS;
• are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre; 
• have defective navigational aids.

Vessels shall submit a Full Report on departure from a port in the Gulf of Finland or at the latest upon entry into the reporting area.  

Vessels shall submit a Short Report to the centre whose area the vessel is entering, on entering the area as well as on crossing the Central Reporting Line.

Vessels shall report to the traffic centre, whenever there is a change in the vessel’s navigational status.

Vessels are urged to update their AIS information before entering the Gulf of Finland, since most of the information given in the Full Report can be gathered directly from the AIS information. Additional information may be reported by other means (e-mail, phone, VHF, fax).

More detailed information about the services provided in the area as well as the information required in the reports can be found in the GOFREP Master’s Guide.

Further information on the GOFREP system is given in the IMO circulars SN/Circ.225 and SN.1/Circ.258