An updated online shipping traffic tracker that allows users to request shipping data from the ports of Augusta and Catania in Sicily, Lampedusa and the entire Maltese territorial waters, has recently been delivered as part of the Biodivalue project funded under the Operational Programme I Italia-Malta 2007-2013.
Users of the online tracker can submit tailor-made requests by choosing the period for which they need the shipping traffic data, the type of vessel and, for the Maltese and Lampedusa marine area only, also opt for data on anchored vessels or vessels in transit only.
The shipping traffic tracker for the Maltese islands gives near real-time information and additional information such as vessel distance from the Maltese shore.
The collection of real-time vessel traffic data for Maltese waters was made possible through the installation of an Automated Identification System (AIS) signal receiving antenna.
The International Maritime Organisation’s International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea requires AIS to be fitted aboard all ships exceeding 300 gross tonnage engaged on international voyages, and aboard cargo ships exceeding 500 gross tonnage and not engaged on international voyages.
The online interface was developed by resident and engaged staff members at the IOI-Malta Operational Centre at the University of Malta, including Cedric Camilleri, Adam Gauci and Joel Azzopardi and Alan Deidun as project manager.
Designs for the development of a towfish were also finalised as part of the project. The towfish is a towed underwater platform equipped with sensors to measure a number of different water quality parameters, as well as to collect good-quality video images as it glides through the water.
It was designed under the supervision of Prof. Martin Muscat, head of the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, which is also a partner on the project, with the contribution of two engaged experts and collaboration with the University of Catania, another project partner.
There are a total of eight partners in the project, of which the two are Maltese – the University of Malta and the GAL Xlokk, a union of different local councils.
The project runs until January 2015 and has a total budget of about €2.4 million. Its main aim is to quantify, in economic terms, the impacts of maritime traffic in the Malta-Sicily Channel, such as in terms of water quality and alien species.
This is done by monitoring the traffic, developing an online database to handle all traffic data, identifying the different typologies of vessels and obtaining the assistance of environmental economists to translate the information into monetary terms for policymakers and decision-takers.
The shipping traffic trackers may be downloaded from the project website.
www.biodivalue.eu