A Study on the Role of Vessel Traffic Service System
The purpose of this study is to find out what is the functional role of VTS in order to get the people concerned with marine traffic/transportation understand about VTS. VTS could be described as the essential risk management system in both cost effective on cost-benefit analysis and the sea space or time management at port, coastal environment. The important role of the VTS are those functions such as the decision making infrastructure, the passive/active safety measures at sea. VTS could not control/regulate marine traffic as strong as ATC(Air Traffic Control) owing to the marine traffic characters. However, the right and responsibility of VTS finally are belong to the master, pilot and mariners. For the benefit of the electronic technology development, VTS system also cloud be upgraded to communication system from information system. In connection with these system upgrading, the right and responsibility of VTS/staff should be supported by domestic legal system. The followings are presented for VTS to be effective. First, the cooperation and understanding of VTS between the peoples concerned with marine traffic/transportation are essential. Because they are all data supplier and also information consumers. Second, VTS staff/regulator should be selected, educated, trained accordingly as per their career, ability, quality, qualification, certification and etc. Third, the port reliability from VTS users depends on the factors such as economic interests, safety and effectiveness/efficiency of VTS.