Terry Hutson
THE PORT of Richards Bay last week initiated its new R10 million Vessel Tracking System (VTS), bringing the port on line with Cape Town, Saldanha, and more recently Port Elizabeth, which have already had similar systems installed. Durban is to follow in 2001 on the completion of its new Millennium Port Control Tower now under construction.
The system was officially handed over on Friday, November 17 by Marine Data Systems (MDS), a subsidiary of Transnet and will play a pivotal role in disseminating information within ports and among ships in the vicinity.
According to an MDS spokesman, vessel tracking management systems are being installed worldwide and will support maritime safety authorities and the International Maritime Organisation in their quest for safer ships and cleaner seas.
Richards Bay port captain Neil Brink said that the port, which was large and expanding and the world's second biggest bulk cargo port handling about 82 million tons last year, was proud to have reached the stage of having an the advanced new system in place.
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