A Vessel Traffic Information System for the Future

A Vessel Traffic Information System for the Future

Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lui Tuck Yew, officially commissioned the new Port Operations Control Centre - Changi (POCC-Changi) this morning. Equipped with a state-of-the-art Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS), POCC-Changi plays a crucial role in ensuring navigational safety and protection of the marine environment in Singapore's port waters and the Singapore Strait.

Singapore sits strategically on the crossroads of trade and plays an important role as a major transhipment hub. In 2010, vessel arrival tonnage reached 1.92 billion gross tons, making Singapore one of the busiest ports in the world.

Three years in the making, the new POCC-Changi is Singapore's third POCC and will eventually replace the existing POCC at Tanjong Pagar Complex (POCC-TPC). The new VTIS at POCC-Changi has the ability to handle up to 10,000 vessel tracks at any one time, twice the capacity of the existing VTIS.

The new VTIS is also able to pull together information from various sources like radars, Automatic Identification System (AIS), Harbour Craft Transponder System (HARTS), Closed Circuit Television System (CCTV) and ship databases to present a comprehensive sea situation picture to MPA's Vessel Traffic Management (VTM) operators on high-resolution displays. Enhanced monitoring functions also assist the VTM operators in detecting potential collisions and grounding situations, so as to facilitate timely warnings to ships.

The enhanced capabilities will help in ensuring safety of navigation and environmental protection in the Port of Singapore and the Singapore Strait even with increases in traffic volumes.

With the completion and commissioning of POCC-Changi, the existing POCC at PSA Vista (POCC-Vista) will be undergoing upgrading to incorporate the same new technology used at POCC-Changi. During the upgrading, which is expected to be completed within a year, navigational safety will not be affected as POCC-TPC will continue to function alongside POCC-Changi.

Even though each of the POCCs can independently cover the whole of the Port of Singapore and the Singapore Strait, MPA maintains two fully functioning POCCs at any one time for safety and business continuity purposes. After the completion of upgrading works at POCC-Vista, vessel traffic management operations will be conducted out of POCC-Vista and POCC-Changi, and POCC-TPC will be decommissioned.

Costing a total of S$25.4 million, POCC-Changi and the upgrading of POCC-Vista are part of MPA's investments in supporting infrastructure to ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of the Port of Singapore.

Speaking at the commissioning of POCC-Changi, Minister Lui said, "Singapore is a premier hub port along important trade routes. We place strong emphasis on the safety of navigation and the security of vessels. This new Port Operations Control Centre in Changi will enable Singapore to handle the significant growth in maritime traffic."

End of Release.

Left to Right: Mr Lam Yi Young, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister of State, Ministry of Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr Lucien Wong, Chairman, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore at the commissioning ceremony for the new Port Operations Control Centre - Changi.

Above: Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs during a demonstration of the capabilities of the new generation of Vessel Traffic Information System at Port Operations Control Centre - Changi.

About the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore's strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore's port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative. MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.