Global maritime surveillance and oceanic vessel traffic services: towards the e-navigation

Abstract

Vessel traffic services (VTS) operators can control the movements of ships in localcoastal areas, and also have the technological ability to track vessels internationally,since all merchant vessels are currently equipped with global tracking systems. Digitalinformation processing and satellite communications are powerful tools that the mar-itime sector is eager to take advantage of in relation to safety, environmental protectionand efficiency. This paper reviews current regulations and infrastructures within theVTS and the main European Union (EU) projects that have utilized the potential of thedigital era and satellite technology. Through assessment of future trends, it alsoproposes, for the first time, that there will be the need for a new approach to globalmaritime traffic services, in view of anticipated issues in future developments withinthis sector. This approach will consider the creation of an oceanic vessel traffic services,where all personnel would exchange information, without state borders, between shipsand onshore centres worldwide. This also raises the issues of how a new technologicalparadigm will fare against ancient barriers of legislative scope.