Ship monitoring system being set up

The Malta Maritime Authority is in the process of setting up a €1.4m system to monitor traffic in Malta's waters.

The National Port and Coastal Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) will be jointly operated with the Armed Forces of Malta from control centres in Marsa and Luqa.

It will be used primarily to monitor vessels arriving and departing Maltese ports and bunkering areas as well as vessels operating within coastal waters, the authority said yesterday. It will also be used for border control and for search and rescue operations.

The first pieces of equipment for coastal monitoring, which will be placed around the Maltese coast and at the AFM's operations centre in Luqa, were delivered last month and are being prepared for installation by Transas UK, the selected contractor. Assembly will be carried out jointly by the contractor and AFM in the coming weeks.

The project involves the setting up of a network of radars, automatic identification system stations, VHF communications, VHF direction finders and weather stations around the Maltese islands.

Trials will commence in the fourth quarter of this year with the ports and coastal vessel traffic services to start up at the beginning of next year. The project also involves the training of 32 officers.

The system will help to curtail illegal activities at sea, enhance safety and security and increase efficiency of maritime traffic within the ports, approaches and territorial waters of Malta, the authority said. The system is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the MMA.