Technical Session 4 – From VTS to VTM Part 1

Technical Session 4 – From VTS to VTM Part 1

Chair: Mr Mike Sollosi (USA)

Vice Chair Mr Neil Trainor (Australia)

A Systematic Approach to Vessel Traffic Management: Twenty Years Later…, Mr Kees Polderman, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, the Netherlands

Presented by Mr Kees Polderman.

In the late nineteen eighties The Netherlands established a systematic approach to Vessel Traffic Management (VTM) as a general concept for its national policy for safety and efficiency of maritime traffic. The concept approaches VTM as a functional, integrated structure, which should be arranged complementary to the international requirements and standards for ship borne equipment and operations, and which should be based on a methodical assessment of the (cost-) efficiency and effectiveness of the VTM structure and individual VTM instruments.

Since the XIIth IALA Conference (1990) The Netherlands has consistently advocated this systematic approach to VTM, both on a global (IMO, IALA) and a regional (EU) level. What originally started as a policy concept developed over the years in a more tangible and practically applicable approach to VTM. This development was assisted by rapid technological developments, by recognition of and fundamental developments in the role and application of VTS, and by the parallel development of new and modified international standards. In 2008 the systematic approach to VTM met broad international acceptance and found (temporary) culmination in the IMO adopted e-Navigation strategy.

The presentation highlighted international developments that have contributed to the practical application of the systematic approach and concludes with some future challenges.

The key points of the presentation were:

1 Systematic/holistic approach to Vessel Traffic Management (VTM).

70 Developments in VTM policies and technologies.

71 Developments in the global VTM scene; changing involvement of IALA.

72 Future challenges.

The Global Concept of Vessel Traffic Management (VTM) and its benefits to all Stake Holders within the Maritime Domain, Mr Pieter L Paap and Mr Raymond Seignette, IALA VTS Committee - WG4 on VTM (the Netherlands)

Presented by Mr Pieter Paap.

In recent decades, there have been substantial changes in the global shipping environment. Consequently a great number of increasing demands, needs and requirements have been imposed upon coastal and port infrastructures, as well as on the interaction between ships and shore-based authorities and other stakeholders. New technologies provide a new dimension of capabilities that are expected to contribute positively and proactively to the decision making processes both on board and ashore, the management and monitoring of maritime traffic in all navigable waters, the development of new instruments and services, the management and the re-use of maritime and nautical data for many purposes, and as well to support the logistic chain.

The traditional traffic management instruments and measures may not be sufficient anymore to satisfy the needs of the stakeholders in the public and private maritime domain and should, in order to achieve universal harmonized, uniform and coherent practice, also be incorporated into a new wider concept. Physical and technical boundaries would no longer exist for those authorities involved in the management of maritime transport. VTS for instance, being one if not the most important of the traditional traffic management instruments, has become a global interest and the traditional services and the role of VTS both might change and expand. VTS therefore should also be incorporated in this new wider concept on a higher (global) level.

Organizations and administrations on international and national level started to develop visions and plans in order to establish integrated concepts, services and systems. However, an overall international co-ordination of a new wider concept was lacking and no guidance has been provided on this global interaction with vessel traffic and the stakeholders within a functional framework. The IALA Council recognized this deficiency and also recognized the relationship with another major development (e-Navigation) for which IMO requested IALA’s support. The Council tasked the IALA VTS Committee, to develop an integrated vision and to define a substantial scope of a global concept for Vessel Traffic Management (VTM).

This presentation and the paper reflect the process and high level abstraction results of defining the scope and global concept for VTM. It should be noted that a number of substantial aspects of the concept already have been approved by the IALA Council, other aspects are still subject to further development and discussion within the IALA VTS Committee and are scheduled for the Committees Working Program 2010-2014.

The key points of the presentation were:

1 Criteria to develop.

73 The scope of the VTM concept, vision, mission and aims.

74 Definition of the global VTM concept, the functional framework, arrangements, measures and services.

75 The role and position of stakeholders within VTM and their information position.

76 The benefits of VTM.

77 The relationship between VTM and e-Navigation.

VTS within the VTM Concept, Captain Tuncay Çehreli, Directorate of Coastal Safety, Turkey

Presented by Captain Tuncay Çehreli.

The role and the position of VTS within the VTM concept are defined as its functional contribution to the aims of VTM in its capacity to interact with other stakeholders.

The position of VTS within VTM is considered its status relative to other stakeholders and their services, in its capacity to contribute to the aims of VTM.

The existing role and position of VTS within a VTM functional framework are to be considered to identify the relationship between the VTS Authority and the other stakeholders within VTM, and to what extent they interact with each other.

This interaction may benefit other stakeholders as well as the aims of VTM when the VTS Authority can provide vital information in addition to the provision of traditional VTS services such as Information (INS), Navigation Assistance (NAS) and Traffic Organization (TOS) The more this information is valued by the receiving stakeholders, the stronger the position of VTS related to the information exchange will be. A strong position of VTS provides the VTS Authority with the opportunity to take a central role in the management of information within the VTM framework. Holding a strong information position may result in a greater contribution to the benefits of VTM.

The key points of the presentation were:

1 Definition and distinction of the VTS and the VTM.

78 The existing and future role and position of VTS within VTM.

79 Primary services of VTS within the VTM framework.

80 Benefits of VTS services for VTM.

81 VTS support to security in the maritime domain.

VTM in the Mediterranean Region: Precursors and Future Challenges, Captain Piero Pellizzari, Italian Coast Guard

Presented by Captain Piero Pellizzari.

With the ultimate aim of enhancing the maritime safety level and transport efficiency in European waters, the EU directive 2002/59/CE for the first time adopted the concept of Vessel Traffic Management as the required scope of MS National Maritime Authorities in terms of capabilities to collect, process and eventually share vessel traffic data beyond the limits of their respective VTS areas, combining non-co-operative (radar) and co-operative (AIS) information into a unique maritime traffic image.

Since then, and in parallel with on-going efforts at IMO-IALA level for an operational definition and standardization of the VTM concept, a number of specific initiatives (precursors) have been carried out at MS and EU level to support the establishment of a VTM capability, and the Italian Coast Guard has been at the forefront of these initiatives with special focus in the Mediterranean Region, in view of its strategic role in terms of maritime transportation, safety and security.

In this respect, much work has been done within the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), to expand the SafeSeaNet backbone from its initial function of merely convey selected information from MS to become a fully real-time maritime data exchange and correlation system, the first steps being now a reality with the implementation of the STIRES module and the implementation of the EU LRIT Data Centre. In parallel, a fully operational Regional Mediterranean AIS Server has been established under the operational coordination of the Italian Coast Guard, to collect and redistribute AIS data over the full Mediterranean region.

Meanwhile, national systems in Italy, France and Spain, have progressively evolved from local VTS and AIS services to centralized net-centric systems, and similar systems are run in Portugal, Malta, Croatia, Greece and Turkey. Initiatives to co-operate with southern Mediterranean partners, in order to support the implementation of the required VTMIS capabilities on that side also, are currently ongoing in Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Egypt. The full co-operation at technical, operational and political level (e.g. the UPM initiative) with these countries, as well as the harmonization of decision support requirements and National systems interfaces (beside the AIS data) is a key factor of success in driving the migration to an effective VTM.

The key points of the presentation were:

1 The Italian Coast Guard view of the current State-of-the-Art of VTM precursors in the Mediterranean Region.

82 The operational requirements for the integration of new technologies in the VTM scenario.

83 The drivers for the co-operation with Southern Mediterranean Countries.

84 The identification of the main challenges towards the implementation of a full Mediterranean VTM capability.

From VTS to VTM - A Portuguese Experience, Captain Jacinto de Sousa, Instituto Portuario e dos Transportes Maritimos, IP - Portugal

Presented by Captain Jacinto de Sousa.

The continental coast of Portugal spans approximately 400 miles and each year about 50000 commercial vessels use these shipping lanes between north European waters and the Mediterranean or African ports.

8 long range coastal radars, 8 medium range port approach radars, 11 AIS base stations, 11 VHF radio and RDF stations are monitored at all times by a Main Control Centre or by a redundant Secondary Control Centre.

All Supervisors and Operators are ex-deck officers with previous sea experience and have been trained to the highest level of efficiency according to the applicable modules of IALA V-103 standards and recommendations

The coastal VTS (Roca Control) offers a 24 hour/365 days service that includes Information Services, Navigation Assistance Services, Traffic Organization Services and Interaction with Allied Services.

Two mandatory routeing systems, TSS off Cape Roca and TSS off Cape St Vincent, as well as an Area to be Avoided in the region of Berlengas Is. are enforced in the VTS area. The area is also affected by the Western European Tanker Reporting System WETREP and the Coast of Portugal Ship Reporting System - COPREP

The VTS main national maritime database is shared with all port administrations, MRCC/SAR authorities, law enforcement agencies and other international agencies, namely EMSA/SafeSeaNet and AIS information is available to the AIS Mediterranean Regional Server.

The key points of the presentation were:

1 The need for VTS.

85 The hardware.

86 The Personnel and training.

87 The Services.

88 Interaction with external entities and law enforcement agencies.

Discussion – Technical Session 4 – Part 1 (papers 1 - 5)

There were no questions following this part of the session.