Seeing to Safe Journeys
in Hong Kong Waters
Lighthouses and foghorns were essential to marine navigation in the past, but busy ports of the 21st century need much more sophisticated tools to enhance safety and efficiency of vessel traffic.
In 1989 the Hong Kong Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system was set up to regulate and monitor marine traffic, to ensure navigation safety and facilitate the arrival and departure of vessels. Marine Department's existing VTS system mainly consists of 12 shore-based radars and various sub-systems to perform a range of functions essential to marine traffic control. Though the system was upgraded in 2002, its equipment will reach the end of its serviceable life in around 2016.
Anticipating the need for a replacement, EMSTF was entrusted by the Marine Department to conduct a study that lead to the procurement and implementation of a new VTS system with improved tracking capacity of up to 10,000 vessels – significant enhancement compared to the existing handling capacity of 5,000 vessels. The new system will be compliant with international standards and will also support sharing of VTS data with neighbouring ports in the Pearl River Delta region.
The Very High Frequency Directional Finder provides digital readout and bearing line of a calling vessel.
