Canadian Coast Guard to add Latest Computer Technology for Vessel Traffic Services.

(Bezons, France), SOFRELOG is pleased to announce the award of a contract to design, and install an advanced radar tracking and display system. This system will be used by the Canadian Coast Guard for VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) operations at the new Victoria MCTS Centre (Marine Communications and Traffic Services) on Vancouver Island B.C. The system will enable the Centre to monitor vessel movements over more than 1500 square miles of Canadian and US waters in the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca. This includes vessel traffic enroute to the ports of Vancouver, and Seattle as well as cruise ship traffic, the important logging business and other routine traffic.

"Area weather is frequently very windy. Tides in opposition to these winds can create disturbed wave patterns and radar clutter, which is challenging for mariners and centre officers. We wanted a system, which would reliably track targets despite these high clutter conditions. The SYTAR system has demonstrated its ability to provide the level of performance we need." Said Jeff Jenken, Canadian Coast Guard, Project Officer for the new Centre. He continued, "In addition, the SOFRELOG technology will help reduce overall system life cycle costs."

The Victoria MCTS system will employ SOFRELOG's SYTAR technology (System for Tracking Administration and Routing) which uses computer software to detect, track and display vessel movements based on radar information. Four existing radar sensors, some separated by more than 60 km, will be connected to the SYTAR network via narrow band links. Where radar coverage overlaps, Control Officer's will be able to merge multiple radar information into a single presentation. The MCTS Centre located in Pat Bay will be equipped with radar remote control capabilities, radio direction finders, and a precise time synchronisation source. The system will also provide archiving capability for post incident analysis, training, as well as interfaces with the existing the database management system (VTOSS), and equipment for radio channel audio recording synchronisation. The system will be designed for future expansion as well as upgrades to meet new international transponder standards (UAIS) which are currently in development.

SYTAR has been installed in a number of prominent port and waterway systems. Among these are the Ports of London UK, Marseilles, Tunis, Calais, Abidjan in the Ivory Coast and Cotonou in the Benin Rep. In cooperation with port authorities, the Ports of Rouen and Bordeaux pilot associations are using SYTAR for pilotage assistance. In addition, SYTAR is used by The Royal Danish Navy for coastal monitoring, the Kiel Canal in Germany for lock control, as well as multiple stations on the Dover Strait.

SOFRELOG is a High Technology company with principle offices in France and the United States. The company installed its first Vessel Traffic Services system in 1993, based on experience in the field of software real-time processing for government agencies. In addition to VTS, the company offers systems for software simulation and testing, as well as components for digitising wide-band analogue data and placing it on computer networks.

Founded in 1987, SOFRELOG (www.sofrelog.com) is an employee owned high technology company, which employs more than 70 engineers, service and administrative personnel. Principle customers are port and waterway authorities, coast guards and other government agencies as well as commercial companies.

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