In world trade, the vessel traffic in major routes has been congested due to the rapid increase of cargoes and shipping tonnages. The patterns of vessel traffic have also been complicated and diversified. Therefore it was necessary that the Vessel Traffic Service(VTS) should be established in order to enhance the safety of navigation, to prevent the loss of life and damage to the environment. The first advanced radar surveillance system(LevelIII-VTS) was introduced in Pohang, Korea in 1993 and in 13 other ports later. While the hardware of Korea VTS is equal to that of an advanced country, the software, specially the operation manual, the recruitment and education of VTS operator, and the VTS service area is behind that of Russia, USA, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and others. After researching and investigating. the VTS equipment and service area of many countries, and analyzing the IMO regulations relevant to VTS and the traffic pattern and accident of Pohang port, the most efficient VTS service area should be established in Pohang. According to the analysis of the preceding studies and research on VTS, the worldwide VTS areas are recognized under the following conditions: First, the service area should be extended over at least radar coverage taking into account of traffic flow, traffic density, the degree of danger to navigation and harbour condition in order to provide all possible services. Second, the established service area should be subdivided and systematized to render reliable VTS services, such as the allocation of VHF frequency and reporting procedure in each area. In conclusion, the VTS service area of Pohang must be established and operated over 10 miles from shore(radar site) covering the radar coverage, so as to include the area of traffic congestion and high density traffic flow.

최근 각종 해양사고 발생으로 인하여 해양 관련한 안전사고에 대한 문제들이 대두되고 있다. 이러한 사고 중 우리나라 연안에 위치 한 31개소 무역항의 지정된 정박지 중 특히 외해개방형 정박지 경우 기상악화로 인하여 유효한 선박 파주력을 확보하지 못함으로서 주묘가 발 생하여 사고 위험이 많아지고 있으나 정박선박의 안전성 확보나 정박지의 효율적인 운영을 위한 체계적인 정박지 안전관리 기준안은 미흡한 실정이다. 또한, 항만의 지리적인 위치 및 지형적인 특성으로 인하여 특정 조건의 외력에 취약한 외해 개방형 정박지 경우에는 태풍은 물론 강 한 돌풍 등에 의해 선박은 주묘 가능성이 높아지고 이로 인한 2차 사고 발생이 우려된다. 본 논문에서는 외해개방형 정박지의 사례로 포항항의 경우 최근 주묘로 인한 해양사고 사례를 검토하여 입출항 선박의 크기별 한계외력을 계산하고 정박지 안전성을 확보할 수 있는 한계 외력을 선박 크기별 한계외력의 기준을 정하는 연구로 기존 개별 선박의 정박안전성 평가에 관한 연구들과 달리 정박선박의 안전성 확보 및 효율적인 정박지 운영을 위해 필요한 정박지 관리에 관한 기초적인 기준으로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

2006년 영일만 신항이 개장될 경우 포항항 진입 수역은 선박 통항량이 증가하고 중대형 선박들의 입출항이 가속화될 것이다. 그러나 포항항 일부 진입 수역에는 여전히 항행 위험 요소가 존재하고 있다 즉, 호미곶 인근 해역에서의 무질서한 항행 및 교통이 폭주하고 있어 통항 안전성을 고찰하기 위하여 해상교통조사를 실시하였다. 또한 해상교통조사 결과를 선종별 및 톤수별로 통계 처리하고 통항 선박의 항적 분포 등을 토대로 통항 선박의 주요 통항로 및 통항 특성을 분석하였으며, 향후 포항항 진입 수역의 항로지정에 활용하고자 한다.

The purpose of this study is to find out the impacts of VTS on the marine safety and users' opinion on the VTS which have been being operated in the port of Pohang for the last 3 years and is to suggest a guideline to the successful operation of VTS in the future. This study is based upon the questionnaire survey and the respondents include 236 masters/mates of merchant vessels who have visited the port of Pohang and 6 pilots who have been working in the port. From the questionnaire results, this study notes the following conclusions related to the VTS operations. (1) A few of the respondents (mainly foreigners) do not understand the entering procedure of the port and the fundamental concept of VTS. Accordingly, the more active VTS services have to be provided for the mariners. (2) It was found that themost dangerous factors in tehvicinity of the port were the floating materials, fishing nets, andillegal fishing activities inthe fairway. Therefore, the proper surveillance, stricter enforcement of Acts and the instructive education for the fishermen are required to avoid the risks. (3) A majority of the respondents agreed the VTS has contributed to the safety of vessel traffic, and they pointed out ' the assiatances in reduced visibililty conditions' is the most important task of VTS. The amount of 75.6% of the respondents answered that they have experienced the assistance from VTS more than 1 time since the system was established in the port of Pohang . Also 44.2% of the respondents considered they were able to avoid marine casualties such as collision, ramming or agrounding with the VTS assistances. (4) 49.2% of the respondents preferred the passive information services , while, 38.8% of them preferred the positive control advices in the case of encountering any potential risks. VTS iperators have to consider seriously when they provide the positive control advices of ship's course and speed. (5) A majority of the respondents confirmed that the prot and its approaches is suitable for the VTS coverge . To extend the service areas of the VTS and to improve radar detecting ability, the use of radar transponders are seen as the ideal method. (6) A minority of the respondents pointed out 'the improper orders or recommendatinos caused by the poor decision making' firstly, ' the language problem(sea-speaking in English)' secondly, as the deficiency of personal qualification. It seems, therefore, theat the personal efforts of the operators and systematic training programmes for them are necessary to solve the problems.

It is general that large ships entering or leaving a port located in the East coast of Korean peninsular are often exposed athwart to swell while maneuvering in the vicinity of breakwater at harbor enterance or to prevailing wind inside the port in winter. Particulary, Many VLCCs laden with ore coal are calling at Pohang Port, on account of which it is likely that one of those VLCCs block the port if they were to run aground in fairway due to adverse circumstance of swell, prevailing winds or improper shiphandling. This accident may result in delay of delivery of raw material for Pohang Steel Mill which will bring about shortcomings of steel products for nationwide relevant industries causing national economic shock. Therefore, This study basically aims at establishment of certain criteria for safe unberthing of VLCC in this port to prevent such unexpected disaster because any VLLC is highly affected by external forces when in ballast condition. Computer simulations are unavoidable to fulfull this study successfuly and many simulations have been carried out repeatedly to find a model of safe unberthing under various unfavourable wind conditions. The "PC-based ship maneuvering simulator for training purpose" was used to perform numerous simulations at the least economic burden and to verify its availability that it can be used not only for training but also some other purposes. purposes.