VTMS will monitor and protect marine environment

On 19 November, a new maritime traffic and navigation support centre, developed by Leonardo-Finmeccanica, was officially opened in Izmit, Turkey. The Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) will manage local maritime traffic and security, helping to protect the marine environment.

This latest installation continues to prove the efficacy of VTMS which, in its largest-scale application, is used to monitor over 7,000km of coastline around the Mediterranean basin. VTMS consists of two major subsystems: the Regional Vessel Traffic Services System (RVTSS), which monitors the extremely busy shipping and transport corridors of the Gulfs of Izmit, Izmir, Iskenderun and Mersin; and the Vessel Traffic Management Centre (VTMC), installed in Ankara, which will provide an integrated and comprehensive picture of sea traffic.

VTMS is the most technologically advanced solution available today, according to the company. Available in fixed and mobile versions, it secures coastal areas and maritime boundaries over wide geographical areas and can also provide maritime environmental monitoring as well as supporting search and rescue operations at sea.