New traffic services will integrate information
A major refurbishment of the vessel traffic systems running along the German shore will be making a major contribution towards the safety of shipping in the country’s coastal waters.
The aim is to implement a modular, networked and highly advanced system for traffic monitoring that will meet the very highest requirements applying for the safety of shipping in the 21st century.
The contract, won by ATLAS Maritime Security, includes the delivery of ‘Traffic Services’ within the scope of the ‘Maritime Traffic Management System’, a sweeping modernisation of the 46 existing radar stations and partial replacement of the equipment with new radar systems.
To achieve this ambitious goal, ATLAS will deliver a top grade Vessel Traffic Services system offering failsafes with proven equipment and data processing software.
The corresponding data processing facilities will be grouped together in three computer centres. The user interface for monitoring vessel movements will be harmonised for the entire coast in all traffic control centres.
This extremely complex system is characterized by a high degree of modularity and interoperability, making it possible to integrate external data sources from national and multinational information networks or from commercial operators of surveillance facilities (such as wind farms) smoothly into the system.
The nautical experts at the traffic control centres in Wilhelmshaven, Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Brunsbüttel and Travemünde, and later also in Emden and Bremen, will be given a comprehensive overview of all ship movements along the German coastline.
Since the prime task of the Maritime Traffic Management System ordered by the Waterways and Shipping Office is the complete and continuous surveillance of all of the 2,300 km of coastline right around the clock on 365 days of the year, the changeover period itself is having to be given special consideration.
Therefore, uninterrupted surveillance of all traffic zones is being given top priority during the refurbishment. This will be guaranteed by concurrent operation of the old and the new system. Therefore initially, it will be possible for the control centres of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) to operate the current system in parallel, in order to achieve a smooth transition to the new technology.
Arnd Helmetag, managing director of ATLAS said “We are proud to be involved in establishing one of most modern vessel traffic systems in the world. Through the development of trailblazing technologies, we will also be able to expand our leading position in the global maritime security market. With this contract, vital technologies and industrial capacities are being kept and fostered in Germany.”
