Portuguese Ports Get Wärtsilä Vessel Traffic Service Systems

Portuguese ports of Lisbon and Setúbal/Sesimbra have started operations with a new vessel traffic service (VTS) solution delivered by marine technology group Wärtsilä.

On March 6, the company said it completed the installation and operational staff training for the systems, which will increase the efficiency of these ports by reducing waiting time for vessels and allowing just-in-time pilotage.

The project was developed and supplied by Transas, a Wärtsilä company, in January 2019.

The project comprised two VTS control centers, seven remote sites with sensors, and the integration of various radars, Automatic Identification System (AIS) Base Stations, day/night cameras, Radio Direction Finders (RDF), VHF and Navtex subsystems, and weather and sea sensors. Furthermore, data is being shared between the control centers and pilots via pilot portable units – pilot PRO application.

“Lisbon and Setúbal are major ports on the Iberian peninsula and having this advanced technology will benefit our operations and the safety of navigation in many ways,” said Rui Barata, Port of Lisbon head of pilot department and VTS, and Carlos Marques, Port of Setúbal port & maritime safety/security director.