Within VTS, conventionally radar is used to produce a continuously
updated traffic situation display. On the basis of this, appropriate operational measures
can be taken
- to prevent collisions;
- to prevent groundings;
- to plan and coordinate safe and efficient traffic flow.
Shipborne "Transponders" will enable the transfer of ships'
data, a reduction of verbal communication and comprehensive monitoring and organization of
maritime traffic.
Between ships, collision avoidance is largely based on radar/ARPA.
Ship-to-ship use of "Transponders" will provide the exchange of identity,
category and type as well as the motion of all ships (by DGPS tracking in addition to ARPA
tracking). "Transponders" will become part of an improved collision avoidance
system on-board.
2.2 Operational Functions
In order to achieve the purposes mentioned above, a tool like a
"Transponder" is needed which is able to fulfill the following "Operational
functions":
- Identification of ships;
- Transmission of ships' data;
- Reception and display of ships' data;
- Continuous position reporting;
- Safe and accurate tracking;
- Detection of potential collisions;
- Detection of potential groundings;
- Reduction of verbal communication;
- Documentation and other functions.
These operational functions play a fundamental role as well in
ship-to-shore (VTS; ship reporting; SAR) as in ship-to-ship (collision avoidance; SAR)
data exchange. Depending on the application, the necessary capacity of the system is quite
different.
2.3 Prerequisites for "Transponder" Use
Before safe and efficient use of "Transponders" can be made,
quite a number of important issues have to be solved such as follows:
