A Study on the Efficient Operation of VTS in Inchon

인천항 VTS의 효율적인 운영방안에 관한 연구

Many Countries have made efforts to assist ships navigate accurately , safely and expeditiously for the safety control against increasing marine traffic , in their coastal waters. However, they are exposed in spite of these efforts,to risks of casulaties and marine polluation caused by traffic congestion when ships are navigating through waterways approaches to ports or harbors and in narrow fairways. Therefore, efficient control of VTS in Port is necessary nowadays to provide ships with necessary service , which interacts with shipping and organize the flow of traffic so as to maximize the efficiency of the port or harbor while minimizing the risk of accident and environmental pollution. Even though the navigation condition of ships is very inferior compared to other ports in Korea, such as the big difference between the ebb and flood tide, the frequent fog, the narrow fairway , the density of navigation traffic in Inchon Port is high and transportation quantity of dangerous cargoe increases gradually. In cosideration of the characteristics of natural circumstance and traffic circumstance the VTS established newly in Inchon port have to operate efficiently. The purpose of this study is to help efficient operation of VTS in Inchon port by accomplishing both the literature research and questionnaire survey. Questionnaire survey was read to the VTS personnel in Inchon Port and customer familiar to Inchon Port such as ship navigators, pilots, shipping companies and so on. Most of ship navigators who occupy half of the respondents are Korean Officer who had responded while they were calling at Inchon port. The conclusions and recommendations includes ; First, the service area should be extended over Designated area to provide the vessel with navigational assistance service regarding the information of traffic congestion area, fishing boat and small ship's activities. Second, the types of information service to be offered are ship's movement and weather condition inthe vicinity of the port and state of fairway in the approaching channel to thte fairway. Third, VTS personnel should be upgraded by the on-the-job training and continuous simulation training as well as supplement of the qualified personnel for VTS operation. Fourth , the Harbor Master System to be introduced for safe navigation and efficient port operation.