Sistemi e Telematica S.p.A.

VTS: Maritime traffic control system

This solution developed by SeT jointly with Alenia Marconi System and Finsiel provides integrated maritime traffic control and management services for emergencies at sea and support for all the port operations . The Vessel Traffic Service integrates data incoming from radar and radiogoniometric sensors, port management systems, weather centers and voice/data information interchange systems. The system covers almost 7,500 km of Italian coastline, with installations in almost all the Italian ports.

VTS, operating structure

The operating structure of the Vessel Traffic Service, which is available 24/7, has three levels: Central, Area and Local.

Central VTS: provides strategic co-ordination for the national system and establishes guidelines and procedures for maritime traffic management as a whole

Area VTS: provides an interface level between operations performed by Local VTSs and strategic supervision provided by the Central VTS. The Area VTS coordinates and rationalises the information available, providing an operating, information and technical overview for decision-makers at Local VTS level.

Local VTS: provides maritime traffic control functionality to prevent accidents at sea, manage emergencies and provide assistance to seafarers. It also provides all the maritime and transport data to the port operators. All information gathered is managed by a control center which provides a real time overview of the operating environment.

Sistemi e Telematica is also responsible for project development work on systems addressed to port management, for the digital recording of Local VTS video images and the direction of VTS related video images.