(2) Endeavors of JCG
1] Improving the Rate of Rescue
Early receipt of information on accidents, the early dispatch of rescue forces to and the early detection of those in need of rescue are absolutely essential for improving the rate of rescue, and JCG is working to strengthen its rescue system by utilizing information technology in these areas.
2] Facilitating Smoother Shipping Traffic
In waters particularly congested with maritime traffic, the Traffic Advisory Service Center gathers AIS data transmitted from vessels and displays it collectively on radar images used for the surveillance of waters, which enables it to determine in real-time the movements of vessels carrying dangerous cargo, and tankers.
3] Providing Information Necessary to Users
To date, JCG has been providing information thought to be beneficial to users through NAVTEX, telephones, radio communications and the Internet. Such information includes the movements of vessels, meteorological and oceanographic weather reports, meteorological and weather warnings, the situation of maritime disasters and construction work, and various maritime events. JCG is committed to further gathering and organizing information necessary to users and rendering it readily accessible in the future.
4] Simplifying Harbor Procedures
The Ports and Harbors Bureau of the Ministry of Transport, JCG and harbor masters have advanced reviews of the process of applying EDI to port and harbor procedures, and from October 1999, initiated the operation of the Port and Harbor EDI System in Japan's main ports and harbors.
3. Becoming Comfortably Familiar With the Sea
(1) Entrenched Popularity of Marine Leisure
A look at the number of people taking part in marine leisure (people who have taken part in marine leisure activities more than once annually) in 1999, such as bathing in the sea and fishing, reveals that 23.6 million people went bathing in the sea, 18.1 million went fishing, 1.2 million went skin diving and scuba diving combined, 1.1 million used yachts and motor boats, and 600,000 went wind surfing (Leisure White Paper 2000 (April 2000, Leisure Development Center)).
