Government Adopts Modern Technology to Avoid Accidents at Ports

Government Adopts Modern Technology to Avoid Accidents at Ports To overcome the problems of congestion and collision in ports and minimize the accidents, a Management Information System called Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) has been developed. This was stated by the Union Minister of Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan in a supplementary reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. Shri Vasan further stated that the system has various sensors like Radars, Automatic Identification System (AIS), Meteorological and Hydrological Sensors, computers and communication link to provide up to-date picture of the Harbour & Waterways to effectively monitor the navigation of vessels. By ensuring movement of orderly traffic, VTMS helps reduce risk to human lives, severity of accidents and environmental pollution besides increasing shipping efficiency and facilitating enhanced commerce and traffic. Vessels Traffic Management System (VTMS) to regulate maritime traffic flow in the port channels are installed at Mumbai, JNPT, Kolkata, Cochin, New Mangalore and Mormugao Ports. There is one VTMS installed for monitoring the traffic in the Kutch region where vessels coming for Kandla are also covered. Installation of VTMS is in progress at Chennai Port. Civil work is in advanced stage and the project is likely to be operationalised in December, 2011. Traffic is being managed by GPS/Radar and AIS in the absence of VTMS at Visakhaptnam, Tuticorin, Paradip and Ennore. All these ports are also in the process of installing VTMS shortly, the Minister added