The shipping platform

Location: The Channel Navigation Information Service (CNIS)is located at: Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Dover, Langdon Battery. Note: Permanent liaison arrangements are established with the MRCC Gris-Nez, France (CROSSMA), the Belgian Sea Rescue Service and the Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC) at West Drayton UK. General overview: The Dover Strait is shallow and only 18nm wide at its narrow point and passage through the strait is further constricted by a series of narrow banks, running NE-SW. The seabed is also littered with wrecks. The Channel Navigation Information Service provides a 24 hour service for all shipping in the Dover Strait. It is operated jointly by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the French Affaires Maritime. It has been in service since 1971, shortly after the Dover Traffic Separation Scheme was implemented. The system comprises of five radar sites, three on the UK side and 2 on the French side of the strait. On the UK coast: Hastings (Fairlight Down), Dover and Margate. On the French coast: Cap Gris-Nez and Saint Frieux. It is mandatory for all vessels of 300GT and over to report. When NE bound in the strait, ships must report to "Gris Nez Traffic" on VHF Ch 13 and when SW bound to report to "Dover Coastguard" on VHF Ch 11. Information Service Broadcasts are made by both stations every 30 minutes (every 15 minutes when visibility drops below 2nm). Broadcasts: Dover Coastguard broadcasts on VHF Ch 11 at 40 minutes after the hour plus 55 minutes after the hour in reduced visibility. Gris Nez Traffic broadcasts on VHF Ch 79 at 10 minutes after the hour and 25 minutes after the hour in reduced visibility. Risk of collision: There is a high risk of collision caused by the density of vessel traffic, both on passage through the strait and crossing traffic, mainly ferries, between England and France. Traffic figures: approx 150,000 vessels per year pass through the Strait. Max size: Largest vessel handled: ULCC "Jahre Viking" 564,650DWT