the port or harbor, as well as strives to maintain the safety and order of ship traffic within the port or harbor through measures such as regulating the handling of explosives, radioactive matter, and other dangerous cargo.
Of the designated ports and harbors, in 1996, the Kanmon and Keihin Ports expanded their port areas to accompany the progress in port construction and improvement.
2. Establishment and Operation of Maritime Traffic Information Systems, etc.
In order to ensure the safe and efficient operation of shipping in areas heavily congested with ship traffic, such as Tokyo Bay and the Seto Inland Sea, JMSA has established and is operating maritime traffic information systems (VTS), etc., as systems that provide information related to maritime traffic and control passage centrally.
(1) Tokyo Bay Maritime Traffic Information System
JMSA has established the Tokyo Wan Traffic Advisory Service Center (VTS Center) to get and analyze ship traffic conditions at all times, provide detailed information and centrally regulate passage in accordance with the Maritime Traffic Safety Law, within Tokyo Bay, excluding its ports and harbors. Along with having computers handle various types of information related to ship traffic, such as radar images and construction and work conditions, the Center also provides information pertaining to the scheduled passage of large ships and carries out other such operations based on these processed data.
In addition, JMSA has established port traffic control offices and installed vessel traffic signal stations in Keihin Port and Chiba Port. They use radar and industrial television cameras to monitor ship traffic conditions at all time within these ports. These traffic control offices provide information related to maritime traffic and control passage within the ports based on the Port Regulations Law.
(2) Seto Inland Sea Maritime Traffic Information System
a. JMSA has established the Bisan Seto Inland Sea Traffic Advisory Service Center for the Bisan sea area. This center targets the sea areas of Mizushima, Marugame and Uko. In addition to providing information and regulating passage, it takes into consideration the special nature of the sea areas concerned and provides information using light signal boards.
b. JMSA has established the Kanmon Kaikyo Traffic Advisory Service Center for the Kanmon sea area. This center targets the sea areas of Mutsure, Oseto and Hesaki-Hinoyama. In addition to providing information, it controls passage within ports and harbors in accordance with the Port Regulations Law.
