Coast Guard - Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)
The U.S. Coast Guard maintains vessel safety throughout the Salish Sea. As the lighthouse plays an important role in Aids To Navigation, the Vessel Traffic Service is the electronic watch dog in keeping vessel traffic safe as they transit the Salish Sea.
The Vessel Traffic Center is located at Pier 36 in Seattle and monitors the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Rosario Strait, Admiralty Inlet, and Puget Sound south as far as Olympia. Since 1979, the U.S. Coast Guard has worked cooperatively with the Canadian Coast Guard in managing vessel traffic in adjacent waters.
Throughout the Salish Sea you will find large radar towers. These are maintained by the Coast Guard for the VTS. Vessels are monitored by radar and communicated to the VTS Center in Seattle, WA.
