APR. 20,2010 PORT OF TAIPEI
The Port of Taipei has
begun using a new Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system, providing better and more
efficient services for ships entering and leaving the harbor while reducing
turnaround time.
The Keelung Harbor Bureau, which operates the Port of Taipei, notes that the VTS
system replaces the manual control methods previously used by the signal station
and provides precise information on the movement of ships within a
20-nautical-mile radius of the harbor. It can thus maintain better navigation
order both inside and outside the harbor, and can overcome problems posed by
rough seas by guiding ships into and out of the harbor area rapidly and
accurately.
The VTS system can also help prevent maritime accidents by providing ships at
sea with navigation instructions and early-warning services. If an accident
should happen, the control station can speed rescue efforts by rapidly
pinpointing the location and receiving the distress signals of the ship
involved. By locating the precise position of passing ships, the VTS system can
also help prevent pollution by deterring ships from discharging waste oil into
the water.
The ports at Keelung, Kaohsiung, and Taichung have already adopted the VTS
system, bringing substantial benefits to Taiwan’s harbor operations.
