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Virtual aids to navigation
Published in Alexander Arnfinn Olsen, Core Principles of Maritime Navigation, 2023
The Vessel Tracking System (VTS), as the name suggests, is an electronic system that allows authorities to identify, track and monitor a ship’s position and course. There is a wide range of VTS available, though the most commonly used platform is GPS. GPS is a vessel tracking system works by transmitting signals from the target ship to high-orbit satellites. This means the system is highly effective and provides pinpoint accuracy. Although GPS is by far the most popular VTS, there are other VTS systems available including AIS, which we briefly discussed earlier. A vessel tracking system like AIS uses GPS technology to aid and serve as a transmission and receiving point using VHF radio channels. The AIS acts as a transceiver between the ship and the coastguard. There is also a vessel tracking system known as Ship Loc, which can be installed on board vessels and provides authentic readings pertaining to the location and position of the ship as well as ancillary information such as air pressure, wave pressure, wind direction and speed and a range of other useful data which are important for ship’s navigation.
Risky maritime encounter prediction via ensemble machine learning
Published in C. Guedes Soares, T.A. Santos, Trends in Maritime Technology and Engineering Volume 2, 2022
Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) and AIS are helpful resources for improving captains’ decisions. VTS presents information about vessels in the area and assists navigational decisions through images and relevant maritime information. With the help of improved situational awareness, potential maritime risks are overseen. AIS is also helpful in navigational awareness, while the difference is that captains can track other ships at greater distances. Ships can plan courses before approaching ports and waterways by overcoming possible conflicts through this.
Navigation and Communication Practice
Published in D. J. House, The Command Companion of Seamanship Techniques, 2007
A vessel traffic service (VTS) is a system which is used to monitor the progress of ship’s movements within the confines of harbours, ports and their approaches. They are extensively employed around the world’s main shipping areas in busy shipping channels, rivers and canals with the view to providing navigational information to ship’s Masters, reducing the risk of collision and generally expediting the turnaround time of commercial operations.
The contribution of Vessel Traffic Services to safe coexistence between automated and conventional vessels
Published in Maritime Policy & Management, 2022
Tore Relling, Margareta Lützhöft, Runar Ostnes, Hans Petter Hildre
Using the VTS as our system of interest calls for a clarification of what the VTS is. First, ‘VTS’ is used for describing a system that provides a service to aid the mariner in the safe and efficient use of the waterways by traffic regulation (passive means such as restrictions of passage or predefined routes) or traffic organisation (active interaction with vessels) (IALA 2016). Second, ‘VTS centre’ refers to the actual location where the service is executed from, and these centres are manned with VTS operators. Third, ‘VTS organisation’ is the ‘Competent Authority’ who is the organisation responsible for the VTS. In Norway, the Competent Authority is the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) and they are responsible for five VTS centres, each manned with two VTS operators 24/7.
How vessel traffic service operators cope with complexity – only human performance absorbs human performance
Published in Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 2020
Tore Relling, Margareta Lützhöft, Hans Petter Hildre, Runar Ostnes
The VTS is an open system, and even if the responsibility of navigation rests with the individual vessel, the VTS is a control system, and its purpose is to increase safety in the entire Maritime Traffic System. The complexity for the VTS is closely related to the shifting demands of the environment; and the attributes of the VTS needs to change based on these changes. Ashby (1956) coined the concept of requisite variety, and explains that only variety in regulations can force down the variety due to disturbance – hence variety can destroy variety. This concept could be used to explain the dynamics between the VTS and the environment. The VTS as a control system (or regulator) needs to have a variety of response that is equal or larger than the variation in the environment. Hollnagel and Woods (2005) suggest that requisite variety should be interpreted to mean isomorphic performance based on functional adequacy rather than on structural similarity. For our study, this means that the VTS as a system needs the requisite variety through functional adequacy created and demanded by the vessels in their area. In addition, Hollnagel (2012) argues that systems have become so complex that tools, procedures and performance need to be adapted to the situation. He further states that performance variability of the operator is normal and necessary.