VIDEO: Smart Port Concept Becoming Reality in Hamburg

June 20, 2014

The new Nautical Vessel Traffic Centre (VST), which took two years to build, has been opened in Hamburg Harbour, Germany and paves way for making the smart port concept a reality.

The harbour master Jörg Pollmann explained the significance of the modern traffic control centre: “Today we are opening one of the most modern control traffic centres in the world. We have not just expanded the space, we have completely revamped the whole technology. We plan shipping movements in the Port of Hamburg from here in a way it would be hard to find anywhere else in the world.”

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) is in charge of managing the port for the city-state of Hamburg. It is responsible for development and maintenance of the port infrastructure. With around 1,900 employees, it ensures that the Port of Hamburg develops integrated concepts for the future.

Jens Meier Chairman of the Management Board of the HPA believes that this centre is at the cutting edge. He said: “ I have just come back from Shanghai and there are many things that you can’t see right here, take the integration of the systems and our special electronic port maps for the port of Hamburg.”

The vessel independent maps will help the pilots to communicate with the centre even in unfavorable weather conditions and this set up will ensure the ease of passage and safety of all ships.

Hamburg’s senator for Economic Affairs, Frank Horch, said that they achieved what they wanted, both in terms of communication and nautical requirements, and smart port development.

[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, June 20, 2014