| Bahía Blanca Vessel Traffic Control System (VTS) |
As from March 1999, the port authority operates the Bahía Blanca Vessel Traffic Control System (VTS).
It is the first system of this kind operating in Latin America.
This system was fully procured by the Port Authority to the company Lockheed Martin Overseas Corporation, Syracuse, USA.
Scope agreement
The Argentine Coast Guard, through the scope agreement signed with the port authority, can work and comply with their duties at their own workstation supplied by the port authority.
Description
The system is basically formed by two remote radar sites located in Pehuen-Co and Puerto Rosales for the coverage of the access channel, inner anchoring sites, monobuoys and harbor areas located within the Bahía Blanca Channel.
The radar signal is digitally processed and sent to the control room (VTC) at the Port Authority building. The information is assessed and sent to the workstations.
From the VTS Operation Center, a qualified operator, with maritime professional formation and experience in the channel navigation, has access to every feature of the system.
Purpose
- To increase maritime traffic safety and efficiency and to protect the environment.
- To act as a generator, receptor and transmitter center for harbor and maritime information, linking the harbor to all the operators.
- To optimize the beacon control.
- To monitor the dredging works.
Functions
- Extensive radar surveillance up to the Lighthouse Buoy, entering site to the Bahía Blanca harbor system covered by the Port Authority scope (Provincial Law 11.414).
- Radar remote control to obtain the position of vessels in real time.
- High precision degree in the detection and follow up of vessels.
- Management of the data base which contains the vessels features and its cargo.
- Alarm support controlling the compliance of regulations. Updated forms of inbound ships contributes to the identification of new radar echos.
- Sensors for the hydro-meteorological monitoring.
- Audio and video recording and reproduction of maritime traffic, printing of events.
- Electronic geographic presentation of the coverage area with charts and beacons, updated with data supplied by the Naval Hydrographic Service.
- System sync through time signal supplied by satellite information (GPS).
- Monitoring in real time, of the inbound and outgoing ships in the docks, anchoring places and monobuoys.
Services to ships and harbor operators
Information is supplied on the following issues:
- Vessel position within the VTS system.
- Tides in the Bahía Blanca Channel and Harbor.
- Channel and dock depths.
- Beacon condition.
- Harbor facilities data.
- Meteorology.
Projection
The VTS system installed in Bahía Blanca, as an open system, allows future developments as a function of new demands. In this sense, it is feasible to incorporate:
- Laser mooring technology, videocameras on docks and harbor facilities.
- Harbor managing system.
- Administrative accounting system.
- Monitoring portable stations to be operated on board.
- Water sensing system.
Communications
VHF channel 73 “VTS BAHIA BLANCA” (Bahía Blanca Port Authority).
VHF channel 12 L2N. (Bahía Blanca Coast Guard).
Permanent shift, 24/7.
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Sample screen of the program used for image view. Images are processed in our Control Room (VTC) at the Port Authority building. The information is assessed and distributed to the workstations.
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