Activity 4 - VTMIS

The Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) (SOLAS Convention Regulation V/12) is the basic tool to monitor maritime traffic. The carriage of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) (SOLAS Convention Regulation V/19), compulsory on board all passenger vessels and cargo ships over 300 Gross Tonnage on international voyages, enhances the safety of navigation and the protection of environment, the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, the investigations in marine accidents, the security, the control of illegal immigration and smuggling and the efficiency of traffic. However, to get an overall picture of the traffic, to be able to forecast the dangers and the risks, to be in a position to know the situation outside the areas of responsibility of specific VTSs and to carry out risk analysis, the benefits of establishing a Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System (VTMIS) for the Mediterranean region allowing data exchange, e.g. early warnings on ship movements, target tracking and target handover between adjacent VTS Centres, redundancy in ship reporting, pollution incidents, accidents, etc., are currently widely acknowledged. The system can be based on short range transponders (i.e. AIS), like in the Baltic Sea nations existing paradigm, but may also incorporate, at a later stage, a Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) component for the entire Mediterranean.

In order to deploy such a regional system, there must first be available adequate infrastructure, including the implementation of coastal and port VTSs supported by sufficient AIS shore-based infrastructure and manned by competent and trained personnel. Therefore, it is first necessary to finalize the implementation of shore-based GMDSS installations (A1 & A2); to establish an adequate number of alerting posts; to establish and to develop AIS shore-based infrastructure in those areas that are not already covered by AIs; to continue developng VTS and mandatory ship reporting systems in those areas where traffic volumes and risks justify it. 

Task 4.1 Assessment of the feasibility of further developing GMDSS coastal stations, AIS shore-based stations or national networks and new VTS installation and/or maritime reporting systems and preparation of the relevant terms of reference for potential calls for tenders.

Task 4.2 Assessment of the feasibility and preparedness of Safemed beneficiaries to link with SafeseaNet, and/or AIS Regional Network and preparation of the relevant terms of reference for potential calls for tenders.

Task 4.3 Reviewing of existing or reporting of newly established traffic measures to IMO

Task 4.4 Equipment procurement for traffic monitoring/port control stations, alerting posts and AIS shore-based stations and search and rescue coordination centres.

Task 4.5 Training programme for VTS supervisors, VTS operators and VTS on-job training instructors.