MCTS VICTORIA

Victoria MCTS is Canada’s newest MCTS centre, and its operational positions were formerly part of Vancouver MCTS. Prior to 1997, Vancouver MCTS was an amalgam of Vancouver Coast Guard Radio and Vancouver Traffic, which were formally located at the Vancouver South Air Terminal and West Vancouver’s Kapilano-100 building respectively. Victoria MCTS separated operationally from Vancouver MCTS in 1997, and moved to its present home at Patricia Bay, near Victoria, on December 15th, 1999.

Located at the Fisheries & Oceans Science and Maintenance facility at Patricia Bay on Vancouver Island, Victoria MCTS provides Coast Guard Radio and Vessel Traffic coverage to British Columbia’s southern inside waters; specifically all waters between Juan de Fuca Strait to the south, and Ballenas Island to the north.

VHF coverage in this zone is complete. As well, radar coverage is complete on all major waterways. However, due to geographical topography, some areas of the waters of the inside Gulf Islands and the Fraser River are radar blind. All communications coverage is provided by five (5) remote sites at Bowen Island, Annacis Island, Mount Parke, Mount Newton and Mount Helmcken. The radar coverage is accomplished through 4 remote sites co-located with the communication sites at Bowen, Parke, Newton and Helmcken.

With the exception of MF/HF communications and Navtex, Victoria MCTS provides mariners with most services offered by DFO/CCG MCTS.

Being situated between British Columbia’s lower mainland shoreline and Vancouver Island, the Victoria MCTS area of responsibility has one of Canada’s highest concentrations of small pleasure craft, and hence the largest share of Search & Rescue operations in the country. From a VTS perspective, all deep draught vessels inbound and outbound from Vancouver, all of the tugs with tows and coastal freighters involved in the Washington and Alaska state trade must pass though those waters regulated by the officers at Victoria MCTS. All this combined with the local commercial trade demonstrate this centre with the highest number of vessel traffic movements in the country.

Staffing:

• 1 Officer in Charge
• 6 Supervisors
• 24 Marine Communications & Traffic Services Officers
• 1 Supervising Electronic Technician
• 2 Technicians
• 1 Administration Support

Area of Responsibility:

Communication Sites Located at:

• Annacis Island 49 11 35 N / 122 55 09 W
• Bowen Island 49 20 41 N / 123 23 13 W
• Mount Parke 48 50 23 N / 123 17 41 W
• Mount Newton 48 36 48 N / 123 26 35 W
• Mount Helmcken 48 24 07 N / 123 34 17 W

For Distress/Safety/Radio Services call Victoria CG Radio.

For Vessel Traffic Services call Victoria Traffic.

Mailing address:

Canadian Coast Guard
Victoria MCTS Centre
Officer-in-Charge
Institute of Ocean Sciences
P.O.Box 6000
9860 West Saanich Road
Sidney, BC V8L 4B2

Telephone Numbers:

• 250-363-6818 Officer in Charge
• 250-363-6836 Administration
• 250-363-6333 Shift Supervisor
• 250-363-6611 Operations
• 1-800-661-9202 Toll Free MCTS Operations
• 250-363-6880 CMB - Mount Helmcken
• 250-363-6492 CMB - Bowen Island/Mount Parke
• 250-363-6556 Facsimile

Email: mctsvictoria@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Call Sign: VAK

Maritime Mobile Service Identity Number: 00 316 0011 MCTS

Victoria/VAK - Ship/Shore Communications:

• Radio Aids to Marine Navigation (RAMN): Pacific and Western Arctic