Saab to Upgrade Hong Kong Marine Traffic System

Swedish defence and security company Saab has been awarded the contract worth around USD 50 million to completely renew the existing Hong Kong Vessel Traffic Services System by the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Vessel Traffic Services System enables operators of the Hong Kong Marine Department to monitor the complex shipping in real-time and to provide vessel traffic services within the Hong Kong waters.

The busy Hong Kong waters present a challenging environment with a complicated shipping mix. Super large container vessels interact with other types of vessels, whilst navigating through limited water space, within the major fairways.

These vessels have to interact with dense local traffic such as high speed ferries and fishing vessels. To enhance the navigational safety, the traffic must be tracked and monitored in real-time within Hong Kong territorial waters, with hundreds of islands scattered throughout the area adding to the challenge of providing a clear operational overview.

The contract will be delivered during 2015 and 2016, substituting the existing system of Hong Kong Marine Department that Saab’s subsidiary HITT Traffic supplied in 2002.