New vessel traffic services (VTS) system for Sydney ports

- Sydney Ports Corporation has signed a contract for the delivery of a vessel surveillance system for both Port Botany and Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour).

CEO of Sydney Ports, Grant Gilfillan, said that global technology company SOFRELOG will supply the new Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) System, which will be based at Port Botany and is scheduled to become operational by May 2011.

“This is an investment of over $12m in the latest technology to improve surveillance and tracking of all vessels including over 4,500 International ship movements a year," said Gilfillan.

“This new, internationally-compliant system is a key project for Sydney Ports and a critical undertaking for Sydney Harbour and Port Botany.

“We will move from the current partly visual system to one in which we use world-best technology to enhance our surveillance, tracking and management of vessels to help improve the safety and efficiency of commercial vessel traffic movements and to better protect the marine environment by reducing risks of accidents.

“It will be designed to have a far greater ability to more accurately track all vessels using the latest technology and will combine information derived from multiple sensors including radar, CCTV, VHF and AIS technology, displayed and recorded in a flexible and integrated traffic image,” Gilfillan added.

Until the new VTS becomes fully operational, Sydney Ports will continue to operate the current system from the Harbour Control Tower in Sydney Harbour.

Source: Container Management