PANAJI: The state government for the first time will install vessel traffic and port management system under public private partnership mode to continuously monitor ships and barges that move along the coastline of Goa.
At present, only automatic identification system and very high frequency range of the radio system are available with the Captain of Ports to communicate and keep a track on movement of ships and barges. The new facility, which is worth Rs 40-50 crore, will be installed at the Captain of Port office for round-the-clock marine traffic management across the coastline.
The system will display the status of the vessel on real-time basis. It will also help detect oil spills at an early stage in the vessel traffic area.
It will have a network of radars, AIS, close circuit television cameras and drones for surveillance and computer-assisted tracking, similar to that used in air traffic control, enabling operators to manage the vessel traffic, monitor environment of the coastline, ports and important establishments along the coast and rivers of Goa.
The Goa state oil spill disaster contingency plan, which was released recently, had spoken about bringing in the VTPMS.
Officials said the VTPMS will cover the entire coastline of Goa using sensors,
AIS, meteorological and hydrological sensors, unmanned drones, night vision cameras with at least six radar systems. The data of all the sensors will be brought to the master control station through a dedicated microwave link.
The master control station will monitor and provide all types of vessel traffic service on information, navigational assistance and traffic organizational service on the entire coastline of the state.
Moreover, the master control station will be able to communicate on very high frequency range of the radio system with all the vessels plying within vessel traffic service area.
An operating console will also be provided to Captain of Ports and Coast Guard for surveillance.
The VTPMS will also monitor and track the spilled oil within the VTS area through radar/satellite approved radar. Some years ago the Captain of Ports had issued a request for quotation and finalized a bidder, who had been asked for request for proposal for the project to design, build, finance, operate and maintain.
“Now it is under final stages of seeking government approvals,” an official from the Captain of Ports said adding that by next two months it will get approved.
He further said that to begin with the surveillance will be for marine traffic management covering 30 nautical miles which is beyond the state coastal territory limit of 12 nautical miles.
The system will also have unmanned drones flying and high-resolution CCTV cameras, which will be installed at the sites identified at the mouth of river Mandovi near Aguada fort.
Goa has a coastline of almost 105 km. It has five minor ports on the coastline. Panaji has the only developed non-major port, generating revenues for the state.
On an average around 230 large ships (bulk carriers) involved in international trade call at the Panaji port annually.
Besides, there are about 2500 motorized fishing vessels operating in the state waters.