Future of vessel traffic services (VTS) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Future of vessel traffic services (VTS) - Essay Example Non-surveilled systems consist of one or more reporting points at which ships are required to report their identity, course, speed, and other data to the monitoring authority. They encompass a wide range of techniques and capabilities aimed at preventing vessel collisions, ramming, and groundings in the harbor, harbor approach and inland waterway phase of navigation. They are also designed to expedite ship movements, increase transportation system efficiency, and improve all-weather operating capability. The Automatic Identification and Data Management System AIMS 7100 - the product of a joint venture between Daimler-Benz Aerospace and Marine Data Systems - is the latest development of a highly sophisticated vessel traffic information system (VTS). Litton Marine Systems has introduced a new IMO-compliant vessel traffic system (VTS) for locks, bridges, ports and coastal waters. VTS-Master-W is a new system utilizing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and proprietary software running under Windows-98/NT. The Vessel Traffic Management will be able to get real-time remote display of raw video data from shore-based surveillance radars superimposed on geographical maps of the area. The Coast Guard Vessel Traffic System (VTS) is active in four major U. S. ports: New York, Puget Sound (Seattle), San Francisco and Houston/Galveston. They upgrade their software installed for VTS twice a year. Recent developments included a new Vessel Maintenance Form and improvements to radar tracking. A multiyear radar recapitalization project is in progress, replacing old, unsupportable radars with the new AN/SPS-73. Norcontrol IT has announced the introduction of C-Scope, a groundbreaking 3D VTS and AIS operator display, designed to increase flexibility of vessel and consignment tracking on sea and land areas. The sophisticated display is able to visualise data from any tracking system and provides unique flexibility in that a VTMIS operator may view the service area from literally anywhere, including onboard a vessel. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is the first organisation to use the display and has already taken delivery as part of the UK AIS network program. same radar used for replacement on the cutters. Future Plans VTS already has most of the technology available for its implementation. some advances may change the way future systems are designed and operated. Technologies like range from advances in electronic charting to precise positioning techniques and automatic ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore identification are expected. A number of advances, in combination, may make the automatic plotting of vessel locations, identification, and movements' possible using a laptop device on board and being equipped with proper transponders. These automated systems could replace the costly radar surveillance of large port regions. The global positioning system (GPS) and differential GPS (DGPS) is already available in ports and waterways today. The DGPS system combined with an electronic chart is the