Londonderry Port celebrated its 150 year anniversary during 2004. It has an annual throughput of 1.3 million tons consisting mainly of bulk materials. The port offers towage, pilotage and stevedoring while also carrying out dredging, seabed levelling and hydrographic survey within the conservancy area. It also welcomes cruise ships on a regular basis and a ferry service operates across the entrance of the Lough, linking Northern Ireland to Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

With steady growth continuing and tonnage expected to double over the next five years, the additional traffic as well as the requirements of the ISPS Code made it essential for the Port to provide VTS and AIS for the harbour and its approaches.

Also in Europe, Transas has successfully completed the development of a new VHF communication system incorporating a radio station remote control capability. The system is capable of providing shore based VTS with VHF communications and consists of a control centre and one or more base stations. It can be used to modernise existing communications systems based on the Sailor 4000 Series VHF transceivers, thus minimising costs.

MJ Information No: 20125