Kamarajar Port now can monitor cyclones, oil spill along coast through VTS

Chennai:

Kamarajar Port will now have information about the cyclones as well as
a mechanism to detect oil spill with the launch of Vessel Traffic
Service (VTS) by Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon
Radhakrishnan.

The facility installed at Kamarajar Port at a cost of Rs 14.10 crore
will provide safer shippin movements at Port as well as anchorage
areas and comes at a time when the port is planning major expansion
moves.

Addressing Port officials after inaugurating VTS, Radhakrishnan
highlighted the rapid growth of the port and hoped that Ennore would
be converted into a small Singapore while urging the port to also help
develop North Chennai region under corporate social responsibility
initiatives.

On the Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project, he said that the
project is likely to have 100 metres alteration. He also said that
talks will be on with the state government to resolve the
Maduravoyal-Chennai Port elevated corridor project.

He said that Vessel Traffic Service is an integrated service combining
many sensors, including Radar, Meteorological and other sensors to
provide an overall image of shipping movements in port and the
adjacent coastal waters.

“It will help port authority to take decision in berthing, navigation
in restricted waters and improves security environment,” he said.

The Safety of Life at Sea 1974 regulations of International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) which was later amended, stressed on the need to
establish VTS in waters. Interestingly, a port official said that once
the port related information will be linked to VTS it will be known as
VTMS.