Wärtsilä reports that it has successfully completed the installation of a new Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system at the ports of Lisbon and Setúbal / Sesimbra in Portugal, to support a just-in-time pilotage programme that aims to reduce waiting time for vessels calling at the ports.
The system was developed and supplied by Wärtsilä’s Transas subsidiary, with the installation completed in January.
The project included the supply of two VTS control centres, seven remote sites with sensors, and the integration of various radars, Automatic Identification System (AIS) Base Stations, cameras, Radio Direction Finders (RDF), VHF and Navtex subsystems, as well as external weather and sea sensors.
Data generated by these devices will be automatically shared between the control centres and pilots using Pilot Portable Units, the company said.
“We are extremely satisfied with the VTS solution for these ports and thank Wärtsilä for its efficient handling of this important project,” said Rui Barata, Head of Pilot Department and VTS – APL, and Carlos Marques, Port & Maritime Safety/Security Director – APSS.
“Lisbon and Setúbal are major ports on the Iberian peninsula and having this advanced technology will benefit our operations and the safety of navigation in many ways.”
