2. Improved Port Safety - more port visits and more favorable insurance:

• Ship's masters can receive valuable information from the VTS Center to make more informed decisions.
• Knowledge of anticipated crossings in difficult passages or with hazardous cargo vessels,
• Pilots can more closely monitor approaching vessels and carryout shore based piloting when extremes weather make boarding unsafe.
• VTS Centers can provide valuable data to Search and Rescue operations,
  • powerful VTS radars can be specifically tuned by operators to detect small contacts such as over turned vessels,
  • based on known current data, drift predictions can be made and continually updated for search authorities,
  • temporary protection zones can be established and traffic can be re-routed.
• Navigation aids can be monitored and off-station buoys immediately reported to shipping,
• Dredging costs can be reduced by providing better guidance into difficult areas.
• The confidence of shipping owners and insurance companies is increased.

See also SYTAR, Features of Vessel Traffic Services.

A list of benefits does not do justice to Sofrelog VTS. If you are planning a project or an upgrade, contact us for a demonstration in your office.