Future developments of vessel traffic services in the Chinese Waters. 2nd version

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS OF V E S S E L T R A F F I C S E R V I C E S I N THE CHINESE WATERS

by L i u Kun R e p o r t n r . 792-P May 1988 S i x t h I n t e r n a t i o n a l Symposium o n V e s s e l T r a f f i c S e r v i c e s , G o t h e n b u r g , Sweden 17, 18 a n d 19 May 1988

Delft University of Technology

Ship Hydromechanics Laboratory Mekelweg 2

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS OF VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES IN THE CHINESE WATERS

by L i u Kun

Shanghai S h i p and S h i p p i n g Research I n s t i t u t e , t h e P.R. China

A b s t r a c t

China i s g o i n g t o d e v e l o p i t s V e s s e l T r a f f i c S e r v i c e s , a f u r t h e r endeavour t o p r o m o t e t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n o f v e s s e l s i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s , and t o i m p r o v e t h e m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t p r o t e c t i o n . However, China i s n o t s t a r t i n g f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e a r t many VTS systems have been i n o p e r a t i o n i n t h e w o r l d , w e l l - d e v e l o p e d VTS t e c h n o l o g i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e , and a l o t o f e x p e r i e n c e has been o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e e x i s t i n g VTS p r a c t i c e . C o u l d China d e v e l o p i t s VTS systems w i t h o u t r e - s u f f e r i n g t h e s e t b a c k s e x p e r i e n c e d by t h e f o r e r u n n e r s ? The q u e s t i o n can n o t be answered i n t h i s p a p e r . However, p r o p o s a l s p r e s e n -t e d h e r e , based on a r e v i e w o f -t h e s h i p p i n g d e v e l o p m e n -t and -t r a f f i c management a c h i e v e d o v e r t h e p a s t y e a r s , have t h e i n t e n t i o n t o h e l p r e a c h t h e a i m . The f o c a l p o i n t i s t o s t a r t w i t h u n i f i e d p l a n n i n g . O t h e r s a r e r e l a t e d w i t h VTS o r g a n i z a t i o n s , d e s i g n o f VTS systems and VTS o p e r a t o r s . 1. Background

The d e v e l o p m e n t o f modern n a v i g a t i o n s e r v i c e s can be d i v i d e d i n t o two m u t u a l l y r e l a t e d a s p e c t s [ 1 ] : one i s t h e s h i p b o r n e n a v i g a t i o n a l i n s t r u -ments, such a s , s h i p r a d a r s , e l e c t r o n i c d e p t h s o u n d e r s , and communicat i o n f a c i l i communicat i e s w h i c h v a s communicat l y expand communicat h e n a v i g a communicat o r s ' r a n g e o f p e r c e p -t i o n ; -t h e o -t h e r i s s h o r e - b a s e d n a v i g a -t i o n a l s e r v i c e s , i n c l u d i n g p i l o t a g e , r a d i o n a v i g a t i o n systems ( s u c h a s , RDF, L o r a n , Decca, Omega, and s a t e l l i t e n a v i g a t i o n systems, w h i c h , o f c o u r s e , a l s o r e q u i r e t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g s h i p - b o r n e d e v i c e s ) , n a v i g a t i o n a l w a r n i n g b r o a d c a s t i n g s y s t e m ( s u c h as NEVTEX), v i s u a l a i d s t o n a v i g a t i o n , s h o r e - b a s e d r a d a r s t a t i o n s , and now, t h e i n t e g r a t e d s h o r e - b a s e d v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e (VTS) systems. A l t h o u g h many d i f f e r e n t f o r m s o f s h o r e - b a s e d n a v i g a t i o n a l s e r v i c e s had e x i s t e d f o r a l o n g t i m e , VTS, as an i n t e g r a t e d s h o r e - b a s e d system t o p r o v i d e c o m p r e h e n s i v e v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s , was a new s t e p , w h i c h was i n s t i t u t e d i n t h e e a r l y 1970s, t o w a r d s f u r t h e r i m p r o v i n g t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n and t h e e f f i c i e n c y o f t r a f f i c , and r e d u c i n g t h e r i s k s o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l p o l l u t i o n f r o m s h i p s , i n r e s p o n s e t o t h e changed f a c t o r s i n s h i p p i n g i n d u s t r y , such a s , t h e i n c r e a s e d number and d i m e n s i o n s o f s h i p s , and t h e i n c r e a s i n g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f n o x i o u s o r hazardous c a r g o e s , w h i c h c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e n a v i g a b l e space a v a i l a b l e , and/or endanger t h e m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t .

I n November, 1985, t h e 1 4 t h S e s s i o n o f t h e IMO Assembly a d o p t e d t h e G u i d e l i n e s f o r V e s s e l T r a f f i c S e r v i c e s [ 2 ] , s e t t l i n g t h e f i r s t i n t e r n a t i o n a l recommendation on VTS and t h e f i r s t g u i d e f o r t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l -l y h a r m o n i z e d deve-lopment o f VTS. VTS has d e v e l o p e d q u i c k l y i n t h e w o r l d . Today, t h e r e a r e a b o u t 250 b o d i e s o f w a t e r ( p o r t s , h a r b o r s , w a t e r w a y s , s t r a i t s o r ocean s h i p p i n g r o u t e s ) o p e r a t i n g by some s o r t o f t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s y s t e m s [ 3 ] w h i c h p r o v i d e t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s and/or i m p l e m e n t some d e g r e e o f t r a f f i c c o n t r o l s , and more a r e t o be p r o j e c t e d . The e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f VTS i n v e s s e l t r a f f i c management has been p r o v e d by t h e s e systems.

The d e v e l o p m e n t o f s h i p p i n g i n d u s t r y i n China has been f a s t i n t h e p a s t decades. I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e improvement o f t h e n a t i o n a l economics and t r a d e and t h e r e f o r m o f r e l e v a n t a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c i e s i n r e c e n t y e a r s have c e r t a i n l y p u t s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t s on t h e s h i p p i n g . However, t h e same p r o b l e m s r e l a t e d t o v e s s e l t r a f f i c , such a s , t h e i n c r e a s i n g .lumber o f t r a f f i c i n c i d e n t s , and more s e r i o u s l y p o l l u t e d e n v i r o n m e n t by s h i p s , a r e a l s o f a c e d by t h e Chinese Government. As a r e s u l t , t h e g o v e r n m e n t a l a u t h o r i t i e s and t h e t e c h n i c a l p e r s o n s c o n c e r n e d w i t h v e s s e l t r a f f i c management have p u t more and more a t t e n t i o n on t h e new t e c h n o l o g i e s o f VTS s i n c e t h e e a r l y 1980s.

The d e v e l o p m e n t o f v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s i n China was n o t s t a r t i n g f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e a r t , b u t u n d e r such a c i r c u m s t a n c e t h a t VTS t e c h n o l o g i e s have been w e l l d e v e l o p e d ( a l t h o u g h t h e r e i s s t i l l much t o be d o n e ) , many systems a r e i n o p e r a t i o n and a l o t o f e x p e r i e n c e has been o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g systems i n t h e w o r l d . How s h o u l d China "draw i t s VTS p i c t u r e i n a p i e c e o f n e a r l y b l a n k p a p e r ( * ) ? " I n t h e f o l l o w i n g s e c t i o n s , some m a c r o s c o p i c p r o p o s a l s on t h e f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t s o f v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s a r e p r e s e n t e d , based on a r e v i e w o f t h e s h i p p i n g d e v e l o p m e n t and t r a f f i c management o f t h e p a s t . I n S e c t i o n 2, a g e n e r a l d e s c r i p t i o n i s g i v e n o f t h e s h i p p i n g d e v e l o p -ment i n China o v e r t h e p a s t decades, i n c l u d i n g b o t h t h e i n l a n d and sea-g o i n sea-g s h i p p i n sea-g . The m a j o r p r o b l e m s r e l a t e d t o t r a f f i c s a f e t y and e n v i r o n m e n t p o l l u t i o n a r e summarized, w h i c h a r e t h e f o c a l p o i n t s t h a t t h e f u t u r e v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s s h o u l d a d d r e s s . S e c t i o n 3 i n t r o d u c e s t h e p r e s e n t s t a t u s o f v e s s e l t r a f f i c management i n C h i n a , i n c l u d i n g t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e , l e g i s l a t i o n and t h e a t t e m p t s i n d e v e l o p i n g VTS systems. I n S e c t i o n 4, some p r o p o s a l s a r e p r e s e n t e d on t h e u n i f i e d p l a n n i n g , VTS o r g a n i z a t i o n , d e s i g n o f VTS systems and VTS o p e r a t o r s . F i n a l l y , a summary. 2. L o o k i n g a t t h e "Paper" B e f o r e c o n c e n t r a t i n g on t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f "how t h e VTS p i c t u r e s h o u l d be drawn", l e t ' s l o o k i n g a t t h e "paper": t h e s i t u a t i o n o f s h i p p i n g and t h e r e l e v a n t p r o b l e m s , w h i c h p r o v i d e s t h e b a s i s f o r a n s w e r i n g such

q u e s t i o n s r e l a t e d t o t h e VTS c o n s t r u c t i o n as "where" and "what". 2.1 S h i p p i n g Development

China i s a c o u n t r y w i t h v a s t l a n d and t e r r i t o r i a l sea a r e a . Look a t t h e s e f i g u r e s : o v e r 18,000 k i l o m e t e r s o f c o n t i n e n t a l c o a s t l i n e and a b o u t 14,000 k i l o m e t e r s o f i s l a n d - a r o u n d c o a s t ; more t h a n 5,800 i n l a n d r i v e r s / c a n a l s o v e r t h e 9.6 m i l l i o n square k i l o m e t e r s o f t e r r i t o r y , each w i t h t h e d r a i n a g e a r e a o f o v e r 100 square k i l o m e t e r s , and among w h i c h

1,500 r i v e r s / c a n a l s have more t h a n 1,000 square k i l o m e t e r s o f d r a i n a g e a r e a each. A l l o f t h e s e p r o v i d e t h e c o n d i t i o n s f o r w a t e r t r a n s p o r t i n China. And i n d e e d , t h e s h i p p i n g i n d u s t r y has grown r a p i d l y o v e r t h e p a s t decades.

As t o t h e s h i p p i n g development, t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s o f s h i p p i n g s h o u l d be d e a l t w i t h s e p a r a t e l y : i n l a n d - r i v e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , c o a s t a l s h i p p i n g and o c e a n - g o i n g s h i p p i n g .

The i n l a n d s h i p p i n g i n China has d e v e l o p e d q u i c k l y o v e r t h e p a s t y e a r s i n such a s p e c t s as t h e making o f r i v e r f a i r w a y s , t h e number o f v e s s e l s and t h e t o t a l dwt o f t h e f l e e t , and t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f goods and p a s s e n g e r s . The i n l a n d f a i r w a y s have t o t a l l y amounted t o 108,000 k i l o m e t e r s ; Compared w i t h 1952, i n 1983 t h e t o t a l dwt o f i n l a n d f l e e t had i n c r e a s e d 2 3 t i m e s , passenger t r a n s p o r t a t i o n 7.9 t i m e s and goods 7.2 t i m e s . I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e s i t u a t i o n w h i c h r e q u i r e s a t t e n t i o n i s t h e c o n s i d e r a b l y i n c r e a s i n g number o f p r i v a t e l y owned v e s s e l s j o i n i n g t h e i n l a n d f l e e t , w h i c h has c r e a t e d some p r o b l e m s r e l a t e d t o t h e t r a f f i c s a f e t y , w h i c h w i l l be d i s c u s s e d l a t e r .

Among t h e huge amount o f i n l a n d r i v e r s / c a n a l s i n t h e Chinese i n l a n d w a t e r t r a n s p o r t n e t w o r k , t h e most i m p o r t a n t f i v e waterways a r e : Chang J i a n g ( Y a n g z i R i v e r ) , Zhu J i a n g , H e i l o n g J i a n g , H u a i He and t h e Grand C a n a l , w h i c h f o r m t h e b a c k s t o n e o f t h e Chinese i n l a n d s h i p p i n g and a r e a l s o t h e f o c a l p o i n t s i n f u t u r e f a i r w a y h a r n e s s i n g , h a r b o u r c o n s t r u c -t i o n , f l e e -t developmen-t and -t r a f f i c managemen-t, a c c o r d i n g -t o -t h e g o v e r n m e n t a l i n l a n d s h i p p i n g development p l a n s . And among t h e s e f i v e r i v e r s a g a i n , t h e Chang J i a n g c o n t r i b u t e s t h e most t o t h e Chinese i n l a n d w a t e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n .

Chang J i a n g , t h e b i g g e s t r i v e r i n China, has g o t a l e n g t h o f o v e r 6,3 00 k i l o m e t e r s and 3,800 b r a n c h e s w h i c h e x t e n d o v e r 18 p r o v i n c e s . The t o t a l n a v i g a b l e m i l e a g e amounts t o 70,000 k i l o m e t e r s , among w h i c h t h e Chang J i a n g t r u n k c o n t r i b u t e s 2,800 k i l o m e t e r s . A l l o f t h e s e make t h e Chang J i a n g one o f t h e key l i n e s f o r t h e China e a s t - w e s t c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . As t o t h e volume o f t h e t r a f f i c , a b o u t 173,000 v e s s e l s a r e owned by t h e s h i p p i n g companies o f v a r i o u s s i z e s and i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e C h a n g j i a n g w a t e r s , w h i c h f o r m t h e m a j o r p a r t o f t h e C h a n g j i a n g f l e e t ; and about 2,000 s e a - g o i n g v e s s e l s l e a v e / e n t e r t h e C h a n g j i a n g w a t e r s p e r y e a r . The i m p o r t a n c e o f C h a n g j i a n g s h i p p i n g a l s o l i e s i n t h a t i t p l a y s a impor-t a n impor-t p a r impor-t i n c a r g o c o l l e c impor-t i o n and d e l i v e r y f o r impor-t h e P o r impor-t o f Shanghai, t h e b i g g e s t p o r t i n China w h i c h i s s i t u a t e d a t t h e mouth o f t h e C h a n g j i a n g t o t h e open sea.

The c o a s t a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n and o c e a n - g o i n g s h i p p i n g m a i n l y t a k e p l a c e i n t h e c o a s t a l sea p o r t s , a l t h o u g h some i n l a n d v e s s e l s d i r e c t l y p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e c o a s t a l s h i p p i n g , o r some s e a - g o i n g v e s s e l s d i r e c t l y r o u t e t o o r s a i l f r o m some i n l a n d r i v e r h a r b o r s .

The development o f sea t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i n China, l i k e t h a t i n many o t h e r p l a c e s o f t h e w o r l d , has t h e f o l l o w i n g f e a t u r e s :

- The i n c r e a s e d number o f v e s s e l s . T h i s i n c l u d e s b o t h t h e n a t i o n a l f l e e t and t h o s e f o r e i g n v e s s e l s c a l l i n g t h e Chinese sea p o r t s , w h i c h has caused t h e t r a f f i c i n t h e Chinese c o a s t a l w a t e r s and p o r t areas much more i n t e n s i v e t h a n e v e r b e f o r e .

- The i n c r e a s e d s i z e o f v e s s e l s .

- The i n c r e a s e d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f n o x i o u s o r dangerous c a r g o e s , and p a s s e n g e r t r a n s p o r t , w h i c h g i v e s r i s e t o a h i g h e r r e q u i r e m e n t t o t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n .

^.2 Problems R e l a t e d t o S a f e t y o f N a v i g a t i o n

The l o g i c a l r e s u l t s o f s h i p p i n g d e v e l o p m e n t , such as t h e i n c r e a s e d t r a f f i c volume, a r e t h e i n c r e a s e d r i s k s t o t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n o f v e s s e l s . A l t h o u g h t h e u n r e m i t t i n g endeavors have been made by t h e a u t h o r i t i e s c o n c e r n e d t o promote t h e t r a f f i c s a f e t y (some o f w h i c h w i l l be d e s c r i b e d i n S e c t i o n 3 ) , p r o b l e m s r e m a i n because o f t h e man-made a n d / o r n a t u r a l r e a s o n s , some o f w h i c h , m a i n l y r e l a t e d t o t h e i n l a n d s h i p p i n g , can be r e c o g n i z e d as f o l l o w i n g s :

- The i n l a n d f a i r w a y s a r e u s u a l l y n a r r o w and t h e n a v i g a t i o n a l a i d s need t o be c o m p l e t e d and/or i m p r o v e d .

- The t r a f f i c r e g u l a t i o n s need t o be p e r f e c t e d and v e s s e l s t e n d t o v i o l a t e t h e e x i s t i n g r u l e s . The o r d e r o f t r a f f i c i s i n c o n f u s i o n because o f t h e l a c k o f m a n a g e m e n t / m o n i t o r i n g means. - The c o m p o s i t i o n o f t h e i n l a n d f l e e t i s c o m p l i c a t e d . Modern t y p e s o f v e s s e l s have d e v e l o p e d v e r y f a s t i n r e c e n t y e a r s , b u t t h e non-motored v e s s e l s , wooden o r c o n c r e t e v e s s e l s a r e s t i l l o f l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e , w h i c h have l e s s m a n o e u v r a b i l i t y . Many v e s s e l s a r e d e f e c t i v e t h e m s e l v e s .

The p r i v a t e l y owned v e s s e l s boom i n r e c e n t y e a r s . These s h i p o p e r a t -o r s a r e u s u a l l y l e s s t r a i n e d . Many -o f them even d-o n -o t kn-ow t h e b a s i c t r a f f i c r u l e s . Many i n l a n d v e s s e l s have no l i c e n s e s . - The c o m m u n i c a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s , b o t h on b o a r d t h e s h i p s and a s h o r e , a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t . Many i n l a n d v e s s e l s do n o t have VHF e q u i p m e n t . B r i d g e t o -b r i d g e c o m m u n i c a t i o n can n o t -be p e r f o r m e d when t h e s e v e s s e l s a r e i n v o l v e d . - T h e r e a r e no s h o r e - b a s e d t r a f f i c s e r v i c e systems e x i s t i n g f o r i n l a n d s h i p p i n g . Because o f t h e s e p r o b l e m s , t r a f f i c a c c i d e n t s happen f r e q u e n t l y i n t h e i n l a n d r i v e r s . For example, i n 1986, 325 t r a f f i c a c c i d e n t s t o o k p l a c e i n Chang J i a n g , among w h i c h 45 caused s e r i o u s damages, 128 v e s s e l s sunk and 201 p e o p l e l o s t t h e i r l i v e s . And a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s t a t i s t i c s , t i l l now t h i s y e a r ( J u l y , 1987) more a c c i d e n t s have happened, compared w i t h t h e same t i m e l a s t y e a r .

The Chinese i n l a n d - r i v e r s h i p p i n g i s s t i l l under development. And i t w i l l even go f a s t e r t h a n t h e p a s t because o f t h e development o f n a t i o n a l economics and t r a d e , t h e improvement o f p o l i c i e s on i n l a n d s h i p p i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s and more r e c o g n i t i o n o f i t s i m p o r t a n t p o s i t i o n i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e volume o f c a r g o e s h a n d l e d by t h e Chang J i a n g h a r b o r s was 120 m i l l i o n t o n s i n 1985, i t i s p l a n n e d t o r e a c h 190 m i l l i o n t o n s by 1990, and 300 m i l l i o n t o n s by t h e end o f t h e c e n t u r y . The number o f s h i p s w i l l c e r t a i n l y be i n c r e a s i n g c o n s i d e r a b l y , and so w i l l t h e s i z e o f t h e i n l a n d v e s s e l s . B i g i n l a n d b a r g e s and p u s h i n g u n i t s have j o i n e d t h e Chinese i n l a n d f l e e t . They w i l l be d e v e l o p i n g i n b o t h t h e number and t h e s i z e . A l l o f t h e s e f a c t o r s w i l l make t h e i n l a n d t r a f f i c i n China even more c o n g e s t e d and more d i f

-f i c u l t .

B e s i d e s , some s p e c i a l f e a t u r e s can be r e c o g n i z e d i n t h e Chinese sea t r a n s p o r t a t i o n :

- Most Chinese c o a s t a l p o r t s a r e l i n k e d w i t h i n l a n d r i v e r s . Here goods a r e t r a n s f e r r e d f r o m i n l a n d v e s s e l s t o s e a - g o i n g v e s s e l s o r v i c e v e r s a . T h e r e f o r e , t h e s m a l l i n l a n d v e s s e l s c o n t r i b u t e a g r e a t p a r t t o t h e p o r t t r a f f i c . S i n c e t h e s e s m a l l i n l a n d v e s s e l s a r e u s u a l l y n o t w e l l - e q u i p p e d o r l e s s m a n o e u v r a b l e , l i k e non-motored b o a t s , and many o p e r a t o r s o f t h e s e i n l a n d v e s s e l s a r e n o t w e l l t r a i n e d , t h e y o f t e n cause d i f f i c u l -t i e s -t o o -t h e r -t r a f f i c .

- The p o r t f a c i l i t i e s a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t . F o r example, t h e b e r t h s can n o t meet t h e r e q u i r e m e n t o f s h i p s . I m p r o v i n g t h e p o r t t r a f f i c e f f i c i e n c y and making e f f i c i e n t use o f p o r t r e s o u r c e s a r e i n u r g e n t need.

- I n some p o r t s , n a v i g a t i o n a l d i f f i c u l t i e s e x i s t due t o t h e narrow f a i r w a y s , i m p e r f e c t a i d s t o n a v i g a t i o n , p o o r w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s and t h e l a c k o f s h o r e - b a s e d n a v i g a t i o n a l a s s i s t a n c e . The p o r t o f Shanghai i s a t y p i c a l example.

3. P r e s e n t S t a t u s o f V e s s e l T r a f f i c Management

A l o n g w i t h t h e s h i p p i n g development i n C h i n a , t h e Government has been e n d e a v o u r i n g t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e management o f t r a f f i c t o enhance t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n i n t h e Chinese c o a s t a l w a t e r s and i n l a n d r i v e r s , t o p r o m o t e t h e s a f e , e x p e d i t i o u s and smooth access t o t h e h a r b o r s , and t o r e d u c e t h e r i s k s o f m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t p o l l u t i o n . T h i s m a i n l y i n c l u d e s t h r e e a s p e c t s : t h e improvement o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s , making o f r e g u l a t i o n s and development o f v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s . 3.1 O r g a n i z a t i o n a l A s p e c t s The M i n i s t r y o f Communications i s t h e g o v e r n m e n t a l a u t h o r i t y f u l l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s o f t h e s h i p p i n g a f f a i r s ( a l s o r o a d t r a n s p o r t ) i n C h i n a , i n c l u d i n g b o t h t h e i n l a n d - r i v e r and s e a - g o i n g s h i p p i n g . As t o t h e m a r i t i m e m a t t e r s , t h e main t a s k s o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f Communications a r e p o l i c y m a k i n g r e l a t e d t o s h i p p i n g , t h e a d m i n i s t r a -t i o n s o f s h i p p i n g a c -t i v i -t i e s , and s u p p o r -t i n g -t h e o p e r a -t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g t r a f f i c management and p o l l u t i o n c o n t r o l s i n t h e Chinese c o a s t a l w a t e r s , p o r t a r e a s , and t h e i n l a n d r i v e r s .

o f Communications w h i c h c a r e d f o r t h e p o r t c o n s t r u c t i o n , management and p o r t b u s i n e s s d i r e c t l y t h r o u g h t h e p o r t a u t h o r i t i e s u n d e r i t . W i t h t h e r e f o r m o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e systems, t h e sea p o r t s a r e s u c c e s s i v e l y t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e l o c a l m u n i c i p a l i t i e s i n r e c e n t y e a r s , w h i c h began w i t h t h e t r a n s f e r e n c e o f T i a n j i n P o r t i n 1984. I n 1986, t h e P o r t o f Shanghai was t a k e n o v e r by t h e Shanghai M u n i c i p a l Government. A f t e r p o r t s ' t r a n s f e r r i n g t o t h e l o c a l m u n i c i p a l i t i e s , t h e p o r t a u t h o r i t i e s a r e now t h e d e p a r t m e n t s d i r e c t l y u n d e r t h e M u n i c i p a l Governments, e x e c u t i n g t h e f u n c t i o n s o f t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t s ' managing t h e p o r t s . The r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f Communications a r e now r e s t r i c -t e d -t o m a c r o s c o p i c a d m i n i s -t r a -t i o n s , m a i n l y -t h e p o l i c y - m a k i n g r e l a -t e d -t o p o r t c o n s t r u c t i o n , p o r t management, and p o r t o p e r a t i o n s a f e t y , and s u p p o r t i n g t h e o p e r a t i o n s r e g a r d i n g t h e t r a f f i c management and p o l l u -t i o n p r e v e n -t i o n -t h r o u g h -t h e Depar-tmen-t o f P o r -t S u p e r i n -t e n d e n c y Ad-m i n i s t r a t i o n . These changes i n t h e p o r t Ad-manageAd-ment systeAd-m Ad-may p u t soAd-me e f f e c t s on t h e development o f VTS s y s t e m s , f o r example, t h e o r g a n i z a -t i o n a l s -t r u c -t u r e , c o n s -t r u c -t i o n i n v e s -t m e n -t , VTS p o l i c i e s and o p e r a -t i o n , 3tC.

Under t h e M i n i s t r y o f Communications, t h e P o r t S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y Ad-m i n i s t r a t i o n (PSA) has been a u t h o r i z e d t o t a k e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f o r g a n i z i n g t h e n a t i o n a l VTS c o n s t r u c t i o n . The PSA has been t h e s o l e g o v e r n m e n t a l a u t h o r i t y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n o f v e s s e l s and t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f m a r i t i m e e n v i r o n m e n t i n b o t h t h e Chinese c o a s t a l w a t e r s ( r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e a r e a s w i t h d e f i n e d r a n g e s beyond p o r t b o u n d a r i e s ) and p o r t a r e a s . I t i s t h e s o l e competent a u t h o r i t y t o implement t r a f f i c c o n t r o l s i n t h e r e s t r i c t e d w a t e r s and t o i s s u e n a v i g a t i o n a l w a r n i n g s and n o t i c e s t o m a r i n e r s . W i t h i n t h e p o r t a r e a s , t h e a u t h o r i t y i s a l s o r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p r o v i d i n g p i l o t s e r v i c e s t o sea-g o i n sea-g v e s s e l s . The a u t h o r i t y has i t s D i v i s i o n s i n a l l t h e c o a s t a l p o r t s ( w h i c h a r e r e f e r r e d t o as t h e l o c a l P o r t S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y A d m i n i s t r a -t i o n s h e r e a f -t e r ) . W o r k i n g i n c l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e PSA i s t h e M a r i t i m e S a f e t y Ad-n Ad-n i Ad-n i s t r a t i o Ad-n w h i c h i s i Ad-n c h a r g e o f t h e f a i r w a y s aAd-nd a l l k i Ad-n d s o f a i d s CO n a v i g a t i o n s e r v i c e s i n t h e Chinese c o a s t a l w a t e r s t h r o u g h i t s A i d s t o N a v i g a t i o n S e c t i o n . Three D i v i s i o n s were s e t up a t t h e t h r e e m a j o r p o r t s : T i a n j i n , S h a n g h a i , and Guangzhou, w h i c h a r e d i r e c t l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l k i n d s o f n a v i g a t i o n a l a i d s s e r v i c e s i n t h e China n o r t h e r n c o a s t a l w a t e r s , t h e E a s t China Sea and t h e S o u t h China Sea, r e s p e c t i v e -l y . Each D i v i s i o n has s e t up n a v i g a t i o n a -l a i d s m a i n t e n a n c e workshops, buoy y a r d s and r a d i o a i d s s e r v i c e c e n t e r s as r e q u i r e d . The work o f each D i v i s i o n t h e r e f o r e i n c l u d e s [ 4 ] : (a) The i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a l l k i n d s o f a i d s t o n a v i g a t i o n . (b) The m a i n t e n a n c e and i n s p e c t i o n o f a i d s t o n a v i g a t i o n . (c) N a v i g a t i o n a l a i d s p r o d u c t i o n , (c) H y d r o g r a p h i c s u r v e y . B e s i d e s , t h e i n l a n d s h i p p i n g a f f a i r s , e s p e c i a l l y , t h e t r a f f i c s a f e t y , a r e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e I n l a n d S h i p p i n g A d m i n i s t r a t i o n and i t i s a l s o i n c h a r g e o f t h e VTS c o n s t r u c t i o n s f o r t h e i n l a n d r i v e r / c a n a l s .

3.2 L e g i s l a t i o n

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n v e n t i o n s , t h e Chinese Government has made n a t i o n a l laws r e g a r d i n g t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n and t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t , w h i c h i n c o r p o r a t e t h e a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n s i n China and t h e a c c e p t e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l conven-t i o n s . These l a w s w i l l be conven-t h e b a s i s o f o p e r a conven-t i o n o f conven-t h e f u conven-t u r e VTS systems i n China.

S a f e t y o f M a r i t i m e T r a f f i c A c t . a d o p t e d by t h e N a t i o n a l People's Congress on September 2, 1983, and came i n t o f o r c e f r o m J a n u a r y 1 , 1984, i s t h e f i r s t a c t o f i t s k i n d t o be e n a c t e d by t h e Government on t h e c o n t r o l o f s a f e t y o f v e s s e l t r a f f i c i n p o r t a r e a s and seaways. I t has, based on t h e a c t u a l c o n d i t i o n s i n China and t a k i n g i n t o account t h e a c c e p t e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n v e n t i o n s , embodied t r i e d and t e s t e d r e g u l a t i o n s t h a t have been a p p l i e d o v e r t h e p a s t y e a r s i n t o l a w s . The A c t has a l s o made p r o v i s i o n s on such m a t t e r s as j u r i s d i c t i o n , t h e

s e t t l e m e n t o f m a r i t i m e a c c i d e n t s , a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p e n a l t i e s and o t h e r o p e r a t i o n s a t sea. The A c t a p p l i e s t o a l l t h e c o a s t a l p o r t s , i n l a n d w a t e r w a y s , t e r r i t o r i a l w a t e r s and o t h e r w a t e r s u n d e r t h e Chinese j u r i s d i c t i o n . A l l v e s s e l s and i n s t a l l a t i o n s w i t h p e o p l e t h e r e o n , b e r t h i n g o r c a r r y i n g o p e r a t i o n s i n t h e c o a s t a l w a t e r s o f China must a b i d e by t h e A c t . Under t h e A c t , t h e P o r t S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n and i t s l o c a l D i v i s i o n s a r e t h e s o l e competent a u t h o r i t i e s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e s u p e r -v i s i o n o f t h e s a f e t y o f t r a f f i c i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s .

M a r i n e E n v i r o n m e n t P r o t e c t i o n Law (MEP) E n t e r i n g 1980's, t h e Chinese Government has p u t more and more a t t e n t i o n t o t h e m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t p r o t e c t i o n because o f t h e f a c t s t h a t some sea a r e a s a r e a l r e a d y s e r i o u s l y p o l l u t e d and t h e p o l l u t i o n r i s k s a r e s t i l l i n c r e a s i n g w i t h t h e r a p i d development o f s h i p p i n g . A f t e r j o i n i n g t h e 1969 I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n on C i v i l L i a b i l i t y f o r O i l P o l l u t i o n Damages, China e n f o r c e d i t s M a r i t i m e E n v i r o n m e n t P r o t e c t i o n Law f r o m March, 1983. T h i s was t h e f i r s t t i m e o f e m p l o y i n g a n a t i o n a l l a w t o p r o t e c t t h e m a r i n e e n v i r o n -ment. I n J u l y , 1983, China acceded t o MARPOL 73/78, t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n f o r t h e P r e v e n t i o n o f M a r i t i m e P o l l u t i o n f r o m S h i p s 1973 as m o d i f i e d by t h e p r o t o c o l o f 1978 r e l a t i n g t h e r e t o . I n J a n u a r y , 1985, t h e Chinese Government p r o m u l g a t e d t h e R e g u l a t i o n s on P r e v e n t i o n o f M a r i n e E n v i r o n m e n t P o l l u t i o n f r o m S h i p s . The MEP i s t h e l a w f o r c o n t r o l l i n g t h e p o l l u t i o n by s h i p s , o f f - s h o r e i n s t a l l a t i o n s , a i r c r a f t , u n d e r w a t e r v e s s e l s , e n t e r p r i s e s and i n -d i v i -d u a l s engage-d i n n a v i g a t i o n , e x p l o r a t i o n , r e s o u r c e -development, p r o d u c t i o n , s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h , and o t h e r o p e r a t i o n s i n t h e m a r i t i m e w a t e r s u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f China. The p r e v e n t i o n o f p o l l u t i o n f r o m s h i p s f o r m s t h e p r i n c i p a l p a r t o f t h e Law. The p u r p o s e o f t h e R e g u l a t i o n s on t h e P r e v e n t i o n o f M a r i t i m e E n v i r o n m e n t P o l l u t i o n f r o m S h i p s i s t o h e l p t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h e MEP.

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e MEP, t h e a u t h o r i t y t a k i n g t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f p o l l u t i o n f r o m s h i p s i s t h e H a r b o u r S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n s a p p o i n t e d by t h e Government a t t h e p o r t s . For t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h e s e l a w s , c o n v e n t i o n s and r e g u l a t i o n s , t h e H a r b o u r S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n s as t h e c o m p e t e n t a u t h o r i t i e s s t a r t e d m o n i t o r i n g v e s s e l s f o r t h e c o m p l i a n c y w i t h t h e r u l e s and h a n d l i n g t h e a c c i d e n t s w h i c h r e s u l t i n p o l l u t i o n i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s . The China N a t i o n a l Ocean A d m i n i s t r a t i o n a l s o d i s p a t c h e s v e s s e l s t o e x e c u t e s u r v e i l l a n c e i n t h e sea a r e a s o f t h e China n o r t h e r n c o a s t a l w a t e r s , t h e E a s t China Sea, and t h e South China Sea.

3.3 P r e s e n t S i t u a t i o n o f VTS

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e a t t e m p t s t o w a r d s making and e n f o r c i n g v a r i o u s r e g u l a t i o n s r e g a r d i n g t h e s h i p p i n g s a f e t y , t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e com-p r e h e n s i v e l y i n t e g r a t e d s h o r e - b a s e d v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s i s more and more r e c o g n i z e d i n China s i n c e e n t e r i n g 1980's and w i t h t h e r a p i d l e v e l o p m e n t o f VTS t e c h n o l o g i e s i n t h e w o r l d . Of c o u r s e , t h e i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r o f e m e r g i n g such a s i t u a t i o n i s t h a t t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n and m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t a r e s e r i o u s l y t h r e a t e n e d by t h e i n c r e a s i n g v e s s e l t r a f f i c d e n s i t y and t h e i n c r e a s i n g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f n o x i o u s o r h a z a r d o u s c a r g o e s i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s .

The w o r k was i n i t i a t e d m a i n l y by t h e n a u t i c a l c o l l e g e s and r e s e a r c h u n i t s . However, much o f t h e i n i t i a l work was c o n c e n t r a t e d on t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e c o n c e p t o f VTS and on t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l academic exchanges o f VTS t e c h n o l o g i e s w i t h some o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w h i c h had e s t a b l i s h e d advanced VTS systems and had g o t much e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e i r VTS p r a c t i c e . T r a f f i c S e p a r a t i o n Scheme i s an i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t i n v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s , w h i c h r e d u c e s t h e r i s k s o f n a v i g a t i o n , m a i n l y c o l l i s i o n s , by s e p a r a t i n g a t r a f f i c f l o w i n t o two s t r e a m s i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n s , i n t h e v e s s e l c o n c e n t r a t i o n a r e a s , t r a f f i c dense a r e a s and/or n a v i g a -t i o n a l l y c o n f i n e d w a -t e r s . I n 1978, -t h e M i n i s -t r y o f Communica-tions p r o m u l g a t e d t h e recommendations on T r a f f i c S e p a r a t i o n Schemes i n t h e

Jhina n o r t h e r n c o a s t a l w a t e r s . To make t h e schemes e f f e c t i v e , measures were t a k e n t o encourage s h i p s t o use t h e schemes, f o r example, by c h e c k i n g t h e s h i p s ' n a v i g a t i o n l o g s , e s t a b l i s h i n g m o n i t o r i n g s t a t i o n s a s h o r e e q u i p p e d w i t h RDFs, e t c . The p r a c t i c e has shown t h e e f f e c t i v e -ness o f t h e schemes. A f t e r t h a t , more T r a f f i c S e p a r a t i o n Schemes were recommended i n o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e c o a s t a l w a t e r s o r h a r b o u r a p p r o a c h -i n g a r e a s l -i k e t h e C h a n g j -i a n g Kou, t h e e n t r a n c e t o t h e P o r t o f Shan-g h a i .

Some o t h e r a t t e m p t s were a l s o made i n t h e p o r t a r e a s , m a i n l y t o s o l v e t h e p r o b l e m s o f i n - f o g n a v i g a t i o n o f c o m i n g / l e a v i n g v e s s e l s , by u s i n g s h o r e - b a s e d r a d a r s . I n 1982, t h r e e s h o r e - b a s e d r a d a r s were i n s t a l l e d i n t h e Ningbe P o r t t o m o n i t o r t h e s h i p s e n t e r i n g o r l e a v i n g t h e p o r t .

S e v e r a l y e a r s ago, t h e Shanghai S h i p and S h i p p i n g R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e i n s t a l l e d i t s two s h o r e r a d a r s i n Qingdao P o r t t o p r o v i d e n a v i g a t i o n a l

a s s i s t a n c e f o r s h i p s e n t e r i n g / l e a v i n g t h e p o r t i n bad w e a t h e r c o n d i -t i o n s . I n 1986, -t h e N o r c o n -t r o l p r o v i d e d i -t s v e s s e l -t r a f f i c s u r v e i l l a n c e s y s t e m t o Qingdao P o r t , w h i c h , l i n k e d w i t h t h e e x i s t i n g shore-based r a d a r s , formed a s h o r e - b a s e d t r a f f i c c o n t r o l c e n t e r i n t h e p o r t . T h i s system, t h e r e f o r e , i n c l u d e s : - Two X-band r a d a r s

- Two N o r c o n t r o l VOC 80 d i s p l a y and d a t a p r o c e s s i n g systems, t o g e t h e r w i t h a u t o m a t i c s h i p movement s t o r a g e and t r a c k i n g systems.

- Microwave l i n k s w i t h two r a d a r s t a t i o n s f r o m t h e t r a f f i c c o n t r o l c e n t e r .

I n o t h e r p o r t s o f C h i n a , such as, Shanghai, D a l i a n , T a n j i n , Qinhuangdao and L i a n y u n g a n g , s h o r e - b a s e d r a d a r s o f v a r i o u s k i n d s have a l s o been i n t r o d u c e d . However, t h e y a r e f a r f r o m m e e t i n g t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r e i t h e r t h e q u a l i t y o f r a d a r equipment i t s e l f , such a s , t h e r e s o l u t i o n s , o r t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s due t o t h e p r o b l e m s i n o p e r a t i o n , c o o r d i n a t i o n and/or o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a s p e c t s , and t h e l a c k o f o t h e r s u p p o r t i n g means such as, c o m m u n i c a t i o n systems, o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n a c q u i s i t i o n systems, and d a t a p r o c e s s i n g systems, e t c . The improvement on t h e equipment and t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f i n t e g r a t e d VTS systems a r e n e c e s s a r y .

D u r i n g t h e N a t i o n a l Seventh F i v e - y e a r Economic Development P l a n (1986¬ 1 9 9 0 ) , China w i l l b u i l d VTS systems i n Z h e n j i a n g P o r t (a r i v e r p o r t i n t h e C h a n g j i a n g ) , Guangzhou P o r t , Shanghai P o r t , and w i l l p r o j e c t c o m p r e h e n s i v e v e s s e l t r a f f i c management f o r t h e Chang J i a n g , and t h e Grand C a n a l . These p r o j e c t s mark t h a t VTS development i n China i s e n t e r i n g a new s t a g e .

4. P r o p o s a l s on t h e F u t u r e Developments o f VTS i n China

The development o f s h i p p i n g and t h e s e r i o u s c o n c e r n a b o u t t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n and p o l l u t i o n p r e v e n t i o n o f t h e m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t have shown t h e need f o r i n t e g r a t e d VTS systems i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s . I n f a c t , a t r e n d o f r a p i d l y d e v e l o p i n g VTS systems i n China has been shown by t h e w o r k done. However, China i s n o t s t a r t i n g f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e a r t many VTS systems have e x i s t e d i n t h e w o r l d , and w e l l -d e v e l o p e -d t e c h n o l o g i e s an-d e x p e r i e n c e f o r VTS a r e a v a i l a b l e . How i t s h o u l d be done i n t h i s case s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d by t h e a u t h o r i t i e s who a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h i s huge p r o j e c t . I n t h i s s e c t i o n , some p r o p o s a l s a r e p r e s e n t e d , based on t h e d i s c u s s i o n s i n t h e p r e v i o u s s e c t i o n s . These p r o p o s a l s may a s s i s t t h e d e c i s i o n makers i n p l a n n i n g t h e n a t i o n a l VTS d e v e l o p m e n t framework and t h e y a r e based on t h e i d e a t h a t such a f r a m e w o r k i s n e c e s s a r y t o be worked o u t a t t h e b e g i n n i n g as a s t a r t i n g p o i n t . 4.1 U n i f i e d P l a n n i n g Even i f some r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l h a r b o r s a r e n o t t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t , t h e r e a r e s t i l l a few t e n s o f sea p o r t s h i t c h i n g t o t h e 18,000 k i l o m e t e r s o f c o n t i n e n t a l c o a s t l i n e and t h e 14,000 k i l o m e t e r s o f i s l a n d - a r o u n d c o a s t . Moreover, VTS systems a l s o need t o be s e t up i n some i n l a n d r i v e r h a r b o r s and n a v i g a t i o n a l l y d i f f i c u l t w a t e r w a y s . C o m p r e h e n s i v e l y i m p l e m e n t i n g v e s s e l t r a f f i c management ( i n t h e f u t u r e ) i n such a l a r g e s c a l e i s r e a l l y a huge i n v e s t m e n t , w h i c h s h o u l d a c h i e v e i t s e f f e c t i v e

-ness and b e n e f i t i n t e r m s o f t h e r e d u c t i o n o f r i s k s o f v e s s e l t r a f f i c a c c i d e n t s and m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t p o l l u t i o n . To a c h i e v e t h e aims, a u n i f i e d p l a n n i n g o f VTS i m p l e m e n t a t i o n s i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s :

- A VTS s y s t e m c o n s i s t s o f f o u r main e l e m e n t s : o r g a n i z a t i o n and p e r s o n n e l , r e g u l a t i o n s , equipment and p r o c e d u r e s . The o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h i c h r e p r e s e n t t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e s t a t e and t h e l o c a l m u n i c i p a l i t i -es, s h o u l d be u n i f i e d f o r a l l t h e VTS systems o v e r t h e c o u n t r y , i n b e n e f i t o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s , t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f r e g u l a t i o n s and p o l i c i e s , and t h e o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e systems. Such a u n i f i c a t i o n can be i m p l e m e n t e d by t h e P o r t S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n u n d e r t h e M i n i s t r y o f Communications, and i t s D i v i s i o n s i n t h e l o c a l p o r t s .

- The VTS systems may be d e s i g n e d and i m p l e m e n t e d by d i f f e r e n t u n i t s . I d e n t i c a l p o l i c i e s and r e q u i r e m e n t s t o be f o l l o w e d by t h e s e system d e s i g n e r s a r e n e c e s s a r y i n such a s p e c t s as s y s t e m s t r u c t u r e , o r g a n i z a -t i o n , equipmen-t s -t a n d a r d s , o p e r a -t i o n a l p r o c e d u r e s and r e q u i r e m e n -t s f o r

che system u s e r s , e t c .

- The h a r m o n i z a t i o n o f VTS systems i s i n f a v o u r o f VTS o p e r a t i o n , main-t e n a n c e , improvemenmain-ts, e v a l u a main-t i o n o f main-t h e sysmain-tems and main-t h e main-t r a i n i n g o f VTS o p e r a t o r s . And t h i s h a r m o n i z a t i o n i s a l s o n e c e s s a r y f r o m t h e u s e r s ' p o i n t s o f v i e w when t h e y n a v i g a t e f r o m one VTS a r e a t o a n o t h e r .

I n f a c t , t h e main p u r p o s e o f t h e IMO G u i d e l i n e s f o r VTS i s t o p r o v i d e t h e b a s i s f o r t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y h a r m o n i z e d VTS d e v e l o p m e n t [ 5 ] . A l s o , t h e h a r m o n i z a t i o n o f VTS systems i n t h e European w a t e r s i s one o f t h e i m p o r t a n t s u b j e c t s i n t h e COST 301 s t u d y [ 6 ] . I n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h e Coast Guard p l a n s t h a t t h e f u t u r e work on VTS w i l l be c o n c e n t r a t e d on t h e h a r m o n i z a t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g systems [ 3 ] . I n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e t h e h a r m o n i z a t i o n o f a l l t h e f u t u r e VTS systems i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s , i n a d d i t i o n t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y o f Communications s h o u l d t r y t o u n i f y p l a n n i n g , development and c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e s y s t e m s , a r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t i s p r o p o s e d t o be o r g a n i z e d , w h i c h , t h r o u g h t h e i n v e n t o r y o f t h e e x i s t i n g t r a f f i c s i t u a t i o n s i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s ^nd i t s d e v e l o p m e n t , and t h e s t u d y o f e x i s t i n g v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s , p r o v i d e s a p r a c t i c a l and i m p l e m e n t a b l e VTS d e v e l o p m e n t framework f o r t h e Chinese w a t e r s t o a s s i s t t h e a u t h o r i t i e s c o n c e r n e d and t h e system d e s i g n e r s i n t h e i r d e c i s i o n makings. T h e r e f o r e , t h e scope o f t h e p r o j e c t may i n c l u d e : - I n v e n t o r y o f p r e s e n t s h i p p i n g s i t u a t i o n s and i t s f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t , and t r a f f i c a c c i d e n t s i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s , i n o r d e r t o f i n d o u t t h e p r o b l e m s r e l a t e d t o t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n and t h e m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n -t a l p o l l u -t i o n , and -t h e r e q u i r e m e n -t s f o r -t h e s h o r e - b a s e d v e s s e l -t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s . The VTS systems s h o u l d be based on t h e e x i s t i n g and f u t u r e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e v e s s e l t r a f f i c . T h e r e f o r e , t h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s s t u d y i s t o p r o v i d e a b a s i s f o r t h e making o f t h e n a t i o n a l VTS d e v e l o p -ment p o l i c i e s . The f o l l o w i n g a s p e c t s may be i n c l u d e d i n t h i s t o p i c :

(1) S h i p p i n g e n v i r o n m e n t i n c l u d i n g t h e c o a s t a l w a t e r s , p o r t s and h a r b o r s and t h e i n l a n d r i v e r s / c a n a l s where v e s s e l t r a f f i c t a k e s

p l a c e .

(2) V e s s e l t r a f f i c s i t u a t i o n s , such a s , t r a f f i c volume and i t s

d e v e l o p m e n t , t r a f f i c p a t t e r n and i t s f u t u r e changes, c a s u a l t i e s , and t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f n o x i o u s o r dangerous c a r g o e s . (3) Problem a r e a s and p r o b l e m i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s . (4) E x i s t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s and f a c i l i t i e s f o r t r a f f i c s a f e t y and management. (5) F u t u r e development o f s h i p p i n g i n C h i n a .

- The framework o f VTS development i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s : Based on t h e w o r k done u n d e r t h e p r e v i o u s t o p i c , VTS development framework and r e l e v a n t p o l i c i e s s h o u l d be made i n o r d e r t o h a r m o n i z e t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n and o p e r a t i o n o f VTS systems t o be d e v e l o p e d i n t h e f u t u r e .

As d e f i n e d by t h e IMO G u i d e l i n e s [ 2 ] , "a VTS i s any s e r v i c e implemented by a competent a u t h o r i t y , d e s i g n e d t o i m p r o v e t h e s a f e t y and e f f i c i e n c y o f t r a f f i c and t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t . I t may r a n g e f r o m t h e p r o v i s i o n o f s i m p l e i n f o r m a t i o n message t o t h e e x t e n s i v e management o f t r a f f i c w i t h i n a p o r t o r waterway". I n p r a c t i c e , a VTS may be any c o m b i n a t i o n o f such e l e m e n t s as t r a f f i c s e p a r a t i o n schemes, s h i p movement r e p o r t i n g systems v i a s h o r e / s h i p c o m m u n i c a t i o n , r a d a r s u r v e i l

-l a n c e , and i n f o r m a t i o n s e r v i c e s , e t c . ( w h i c h g r a d e VTS i n t o s e v e r a -l l e v e l s ) . And even f o r t h e systems h a v i n g t h e same e l e m e n t s , t h e y can be d i f f e r e n t i n t h e c o m p l e x i t y , w i t h t h e o n l y c o n s i d e r a t i o n b e i n g t o meet t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e p r a c t i c a l s i t u a t i o n s . T h i s t o p i c f o r t h e r e s e a r c h w i l l t h e r e f o r e i n v e s t i g a t e t h e most s u i t a b l e framework o f VTS development f o r t h e Chinese w a t e r s , based on t h e work done u n d e r t h e p r e v i o u s t o p i c and w i t h two p u r p o s e s b o r e i n mind: one i s t o e s t a b l i s h t h e VTS d e v e l o p m e n t p o l i c i e s w h i c h a r e s u i t a b l e f o r t h e p r a c t i c a l s i t u a t i o n s i n China and , a t t h e same t i m e , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l recommendations; and t h e o t h e r i s t o h a r m o n i z e t h e con-s t r u c t i o n and o p e r a t i o n o f VTS con-sycon-stemcon-s t o be d e v e l o p e d . The f o l l o w i n g a s p e c t s may be i n c l u d e d i n t h i s t o p i c : (1) The i n v e n t o r y o f e x i s t i n g v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s , i n c l u d i n g t h e t r a f f i c s e p a r a t i o n schemes, s h o r e - b a s e d r a d a r s t a t i o n s , p i l o t s e r v i c e s , s h o r e / s h i p c o m m u n i c a t i o n s and a i d s t o n a v i g a t i o n , e t c . (2) L e g i s l a t i o n on v e s s e l t r a f f i c management. (3) P o l i c i e s on VTS development i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s r e g a r d i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e s , f u n c t i o n s and t h e equipment o f VTS systems. (4) The q u a l i f i c a t i o n and t r a i n i n g o f VTS o p e r a t o r s . 4.2 O r g a n i z a t i o n a l C o n s i d e r a t i o n s f o r VTS Systems The P o r t S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f Communicat i o n s i s Communicat h e s o l e g o v e r n m e n Communicat a l a u Communicat h o r i Communicat y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r Communicat h e s u p e r -v i s i o n s o f s a f e t y o f -v e s s e l t r a f f i c and p o l l u t i o n p r e -v e n t i o n o f m a r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t i n t h e Chinese w a t e r s . I t has D i v i s i o n s r e s i d i n g i n a l l t h e Chinese c o a s t a l p o r t s , each h a v i n g a d u t y a r e a e x t e n d i n g t o t h e open sea. W i t h i n t h e o p e r a t i o n a l a r e a s , t h e y have t h e e x c l u s i v e power t o d e s i g n a t e t r a f f i c c o n t r o l a r e a s and a n c h o r a g e s , t o announce f o r b i d d e n

zones and s a f e t y o p e r a t i o n a l zones, t o i s s u e n a v i g a t i o n a l w a r n i n g s and n o t i c e s t o m a r i n e r s , and t o p r o v i d e t h e p i l o t a g e s e r v i c e s . The VTS systems s h o u l d be s u p p o r t e d and o p e r a t e d by t h e P o r t S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n s . T h i s i n c l u d e s t h e p o l i c y m a k i n g , m a c r o s c o p i c s u p e r -v i s i o n o f t h e n a t i o n a l VTS c o n s t r u c t i o n and o p e r a t i o n by t h e M i n i s t r y o f Communications, and t h a t f o r i n d i v i d u a l VTS systems by t h e l o c a l H a r b o u r S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n s i n each p o r t .

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n and o p e r a t i o n o f VTS s h o u l d be sup-p o r t e d by t h e Government f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s :

- The Government i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e s a f e t y o f n a v i g a t i o n and p r e v e n t i o n o f p o l l u t i o n . And i t f u n c t i o n s a t t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e v e l s i n c e t h e s h i p p i n g i t s e l f i s an i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y .

- There m i g h t be more t h a n one p a r t y i n t e r e s t e d i n i n s t a l l i n g and/or o p e r a t i n g t h e VTS systems. They s h o u l d a l l be u n i f i e d under t h e Government.

- The o p e r a t i o n o f a VTS needs a l o t o f c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r p a r t i e s / h i c h may have " c o n f l i c t " i n t e r e s t s w i t h VTS o r g a n i z a t i o n . I n t h i s case, i t s h o u l d be c o - o r d i n a t e d a t t h e government l e v e l t o e n s u r e t h e c l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n .

- A VTS i s one o f t h e main t o o l s t o make and e x e c u t e t h e s a f e t y p o l i c i e s f o r w h i c h t h e Government i s r e s p o n s i b l e . W i t h i n a t y p i c a l VTS system, a f i v e - m o d u l e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e may be r e a l i z e d : - System A d m i n i s t r a t i o n - C e n t r a l T r a f f i c C o n t r o l - R e g i o n a l T r a f f i c C e n t e r s - L o c a l T r a f f i c C e n t e r s - M o b i l e T r a f f i c C e n t e r s W i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t r a f f i c management o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e i n C h i n a , t h i s f i v e - m o d u l e VTS s t r u c t u r e i s d e s c r i b e d as f o l l o w s :

System A d m i n i s t r a t i o n may be a c o m m i t t e e u n d e r t h e l o c a l Harbour S u p e r i n t e n d e n c y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e management o f t h e w h o l e VTS s y s t e m . I t s m a j o r t a s k s a r e p o l i c y - m a k i n g f o r t h e VTS system,

a d m i n i s t r a t i n g t h e system and e s t a b l i s h i n g c l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , such as, p o r t a u t h o r i t y , f a i r w a y and n a v i g a t i o n a l a i d s s e r v i c e s , emergency s e r v i c e s , e t c . , w h i c h a r e r e l a t e d w i t h t h e VTS o p e r a t i o n . C e n t r a l T r a f f i c C o n t r o l i s t h e c e n t r a l o p e r a t i o n a l p o i n t o f t h e system, p r i m a r i l y c o n c e r n i n g t h e o v e r a l l t r a f f i c c o n t r o l s w i t h i n t h e o p e r a t i o n a l a r e a o f t h e VTS system. T h e r e f o r e , i t s main t a s k s a r e : i n f o r m a t i o n c o l l e c t i o n o f a l l v e s s e l s w i t h i n and e n t e r i n g t h e VTS a r e a , c o n t r o l o f a d m i t t a n c e o f v e s s e l s , p o r t r e s o u r c e p l a n n i n g , o v e r a l l t r a f f i c e v a l u a t i o n , c o - o r d i n a t i o n o f o p e r a t i o n s o f r e g i o n a l t r a f f i c c e n t e r s , b r o a d c a s t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n and i s s u i n g n a v i g a t i o n a l w a r n i n g t o a l l t h e v e s s e l s , i n t e r f a c i n g w i t h o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s c o n c e r n e d .

Recfional T r a f f i c C e n t e r s and L o c a l T r a f f i c C e n t e r s The w h o l e o p e r a -t i o n a l a r e a o f a VTS may be d i v i d e d i n -t o s e v e r a l r e g i o n s , each h a v i n g

one R e g i o n a l T r a f f i c C e n t e r r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e t r a f f i c c o n t r o l w i t h i n t h e r e g i o n . And u n d e r a R e g i o n a l T r a f f i c C e n t e r , t h e r e may be L o c a l T r a f f i c C e n t e r s w h i c h f u r t h e r d i v i d e t h e r e g i o n i n t o s e c t o r s and a r e d i r e c t l y i n v o l v e d i n t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l v e s s e l s w h i l e t h e R e g i o n a l T r a f f i c C e n t e r p r i m a r i l y c o n c e r n s t h e o v e r a l l s h i p movements a t t h e r e g i o n l e v e l . M o b i l e T r a f f i c C e n t e r s P a t r o l v e s s e l s a c t i n g as t h e "water p o l i c e " a r e r e f e r r e d t o as M o b i l e T r a f f i c C e n t e r s i n a VTS system, w h i c h f u n c t i o n i n c l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e s h o r e VTS c e n t e r s t o m o n i t o r v e s s e l s f o r t h e c o m p l i a n c y w i t h t h e r e g u l a t i o n s r e l a t e d t o t r a f f i c s a f e t y and p o l l u t i o n p r e v e n t i o n , t o h e l p m a i n t e n a n c e t h e t r a f f i c o r d e r and t o d e a l w i t h o n - w a t e r h a p p e n i n g s . The p a t r o l v e s s e l s w i l l u s u a l l y be f i r s t p r e s e n t a t t h e s p o t i n t h e case t h a t an a c c i d e n t t a k e s p l a c e . I t s h o u l d be n o t i c e d t h a t t h e p i l o t a g e i s an i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t o f t h e v e s s e l t r a f f i c s e r v i c e s p r o v i d e d by a s h o r e . But h e r e i t i s t r e a t e d as a s p e c i a l k i n d o f VTS u s e r s . I n f a c t , p i l o t s s h o u l d make f u l l use o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d by VTS i n s c h e d u l i n g p i l o t s , d u r i n g p i l o t s ' a p p r o a c h i n g t h e v e s s e l s t o be p i l o t e d and a f t e r t h e p i l o t s a r e on board t h e v e s s e l s . T h e r e f o r e , p i l o t a g e was n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h e VTS o r g a n i z a -t i o n d i s c u s s e d above, w h i c h can be c o n s i d e r e d as a VTS sys-tem i n -t h e " n a r r o w sense".

A VTS o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e i s summarized i n T a b l e 1. 4.3 D e s i g n o f VTS Systems

The e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a VTS system, l i k e any o t h e r e n g i n e e r i n g p r o j e c t s , can u s u a l l y be d i v i d e d i n t o t h e f o l l o w i n g t h r e e s u c c e s s i v e s t a g e s : - O v e r a l l p l a n n i n g o f t h e system. T h i s i n c l u d e s s u r v e y and s t u d y o f v a r i o u s f a c t o r s , p r o b l e m i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s , e t c . The f i n a l o u t p u t s h o u l d be a p r e l i m i n a r y p l a n f o r t h e system w i t h c l e a r l y d e f i n e d system s t r u c t u r e , f u n c t i o n s and r e q u i r e m e n t s . So t h i s s t a g e i s a l s o c a l l e d t h e p r e l i m i n a r y p l a n n i n g o f systems. - T e c h n i c a l d e f i n i t i o n s o f t h e system and e q u i p m e n t i n t e r m s o f s p e c i f i c a t i o n s t o meet t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e system. - I m p l e m e n t a t i o n s .

The development o f modern t e c h n o l o g i e s makes a l m o s t any i m p l e m e n t a t i o n p o s s i b l e and f e a s i b l e o f b o t h h a r d w a r e and s o f t w a r e employed i n a VTS system. And t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e system and equipment s h o u l d be based on t h e o u t p u t i n t h e f i r s t s t a g e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e f i r s t s t a g e i s t h e key i n t h e d e s i g n o f a VTS system, w h i c h d e f i n e s t h e system t o be b u i l t and on w h i c h t h e f o l l o w i n g d i s c u s s i o n s a r e c o n c e n t r a t e d .

The f i r s t q u e s t i o n a r i s i n g when p r o j e c t i n g a VTS system f o r a p o r t o r waterway i s what r e q u i r e m e n t s s h o u l d be p u t on t h e s y s t e m t o meet t h e e x i s t i n g and f u t u r e needs and how t h e s e r e q u i r e m e n t s can be met. I t i s n o t d i f f i c u l t t o i n t r o d u c e t h e advanced t e c h n o l o g i e s and e q u i p m e n t , b u t t h e y w i l l c e r t a i n l y i n c r e a s e t h e c o s t o f b o t h system c o n s t r u c t i o n and o p e r a t i o n w h i l e w h e t h e r t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s i s g u a r a n t e e d i s d o u b t f u l . I n one w o r d , c o s t - e f f e c t i v e n e s s s h o u l d be a c h i e v e d . Perhaps t h e o n l y way

t o do i t i s t o t h o r o u g h l y a n a l y z e t h e p r a c t i c a l s i t u a t i o n s , problems and t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f v e s s e l t r a f f i c i n t h e a r e a and t h e n t o make d e c i s i o n s on t h e s o l u t i o n s , t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t t h e f u t u r e development o f v e s s e l t r a f f i c and o t h e r f a c t o r s w h i c h may a f f e c t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e system. T h i s p r o c e s s may i n c l u d e t h e f o l l o w i n g t a s k s : - S u r v e y o f t h e t r a f f i c s i t u a t i o n s , such a s : T r a f f i c volume, t r a f f i c c o m p o s i t i o n . T r a f f i c d e n s i t y and i t s d i s t r i b u t i o n ( o v e r t h e a r e a and t i m e ) . V e s s e l s ' m e e t i n g , c r o s s i n g and o v e r t a k i n g . T r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f n o x i o u s o r dangerous c a r g o e s . The p u r p o s e o f such a s u r v e y i s t o f i n d o u t t h e t r a f f i c p a t t e r n o f t h e a r e a and n a v i g a t i o n a l l y d i f f i c u l t a r e a s , i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e t h e b a s i c d a t a f o r t h e VTS p l a n n i n g . - E n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s o f t h e a r e a , such a s : T i d e and t i d a l c u r r e n t . Wind and w e a t h e r , i n p a r t i c u l a r , f o g s . F a i r w a y c o n d i t i o n s and a i d s t o n a v i g a t i o n . The p u r p o s e o f t h i s s t u d y i s t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e e f f e c t o f v a r i o u s e n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s on t h e t r a f f i c o f t h e a r e a . - T r a f f i c a c c i d e n t a n a l y s i s . M a r i t i m e a c c i d e n t s can be o f v a r i o u s k i n d s , such a s , c o l l i s i o n , s t r a n d i n g , e x p l o s i o n , f i r e , c a p s i z i n g , soakage, e t c . B u t t h e VTS has m a i n l y c o n c e n t r a t e d i t s f u n c t i o n s on t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f c o l l i s i o n s and s t r a n d i n g s o f v e s s e l s . The a c c i d e n t a n a l y s i s has t w o t a s k s : one i s t o i d e n t i f y t h e p r o b l e m a r e a s where t r a f f i c i n c i d e n t s a r e most l i k e l y t o happen, and t h e o t h e r i s t o s t u d y t h e causes o f c o l l i s i o n s o r s t r a n d i n g s .

The p u r p o s e o f t h e m a r i t i m e a c c i d e n t a n a l y s i s i s t o a s s i s t i n p l a n n i n g t h e VTS system f o r a a r e a by l e t t i n g t h e VTS d e s i g n e r s and a u t h o r i t i e s know where and how t h e t r a f f i c a c c i d e n t s can be p r e v e n t e d .

- S u r v e y o f u s e r r e q u i r e m e n t s .

• P r e d i c t i o n o f t h e f u t u r e changes o f v e s s e l t r a f f i c and o t h e r s f a c t o r s w h i c h may a f f e c t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e VTS system. These may i n c l u d e :

(a) Number o f v e s s e l s due t o t h e changes o f t h e economic s i t u a t i o n and/or t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r i e s n e a r b y . (b) T r a f f i c c o m p o s i t i o n i n t e r m o f s h i p c a t e g o r i e s .

(c) V e s s e l s i z e s and m a n o e u v r a b i l i t y .

(d) Cargoes, e s p e c i a l l y t h e n o x i o u s o r dangerous goods. (e) P o r t s t r u c t u r e and/or f a i r w a y s .

"A VTS can be any s e r v i c e i m p l e m e n t e d by a c o m p e t e n t a u t h o r i t y , d e s i g n e d t o i m p r o v e t h e s a f e t y and e f f i c i e n c y o f t r a f f i c and t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t . . . . " [ 2 ] . Survey o f t h e e x i s t i n g VTS s y s t e m i m p l e m e n t a t i o n shows t h a t f o u r e l e m e n t s can be r e c o g n i z e d , w h i l e a c o m p r e h e n s i v e system c a n be any c o m b i n a t i o n o f them ( t h e s e e l e m e n t s a r e r e f e r r e d t o as l e v e l s w h i c h a r e r e l a t e d t o t h e c o s t and t h e

p o t e n t i a l b e n e f i t o f t h e s y s t e m s ) . L e v e l 1 T r a f f i c S e p a r a t i o n Schemes L e v e l 2 V e s s e l Movement R e p o r t i n g Systems L e v e l 3 Shore-based T r a f f i c S e r v i c e s w i t h r a d a r s , CCTVs, and VHF c o m m u n i c a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s f o r t r a f f i c s u r v e i l -l a n c e and i n f o r m a t i o n s e r v i c e s L e v e l 4 C o m p u t e r i z e d r a d a r d a t a p r o c e s s i n g system, and d i s t r i b u t e d i n f o r m a t i o n / d a t a p r o c e s s i n g system.

D e c i s i o n - m a k i n g among t h e s e o p t i o n s must be based on t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e VTS system d e r i v e d f r o m t h e s t u d y o f t h e p r a c t i c a l t r a f f i c s i t u a t i o n s and on t h e c o s t - b e n e f i t a n a l y s i s . As a summary, F i g . 1 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g p r o c e s s i n t h e p r e l i m i n a r y VTS p l a n n i n g . I 4.4 VTS O p e r a t o r s The VTS a u t h o r i t y s h o u l d e n s u r e t h a t VTS o p e r a t o r s have t h e q u a l i f i c a -t i o n s and have r e c e i v e d s p e c i a l i z e d -t r a i n i n g a p p r o p r i a -t e -t o -t h e i r -t a s k s i n VTS o p e r a t i o n , i n p a r t i c u l a r w i t h r e g a r d t o t h o s e a u t h o r i z e d t o i s s u e t r a f f i c i n s t r u c t i o n s o r t o g i v e n a v i g a t i o n a l a s s i s t a n c e s [ 2 ] . T h e r e f o r e , t w o t a s k s a r e i n v o l v e d i n t h i s t o p i c : t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e VTS o p e r a t o r s and t h e i r t r a i n i n g program. A t t h e moment, t h e r e i s n o t an i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d on t h e r e q u i r e -ments f o r VTS o p e r a t o r s . The q u a l i f i c a t i o n , s k i l l s and knowledge o f t h e e x i s t i n g VTS p e r s o n n e l v a r y f r o m c o u n t r y t o c o u n t r y . F o r example, t h e COST 3 01 s t u d y on t h e e x i s t i n g VTS systems i n t h e European w a t e r s has shown[7] a w i d e v a r i e t y o f VTS o p e r a t o r e n t r y r e q u i r e m e n t s among t h e 15 European VTS c e n t e r s , r a n g i n g f r o m h a v i n g none o r l i t t l e n a u t i c a l knowledge t o h o l d i n g M a s t e r o r P i l o t l i c e n s e s . B u t i n g e n e r a l , many m a j o r VTS c e n t e r s i n Europe t e n d t o r e c r u i t o p e r a t o r s w i t h Master l i c e n s e s . I n Canada, however, t h e e n t r y r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e m a i n l y c o n c e n t r a t e d on t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n b a c k g r o u n d and t h e n t h e c a n d i d a t e s a r e s u b j e c t e d t o a d e d i c a t e d t r a i n i n g program. Perhaps t h e r e a s o n s f o r such a w i d e v a r i e t y i n VTS o p e r a t o r r e q u i r e -ments a r e t h e d i v e r s i t y o f i n d i v i d u a l VTS systems i n such a s p e c t s as

f u n c t i o n s , l e v e l s o f o p e r a t i o n , c o m p l e x i t y and equipment used, e t c . , and t h e d i f f e r e n t o p i n i o n s on t h e m a t t e r o f o p e r a t o r s ' q u a l i f i c a t i o n . I t a l s o s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t p e o p l e do n o t p e r f o r m t h e same f u n c t i o n s even w i t h i n a s i n g l e VTS system. R e g a r d l e s s t o t h e d i f f e r e n t e n t r y r e q u i r e m e n t s , a s t a n d a r d on t h e f i n a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f VTS o p e r a t o r s can be d e v e l o p e d based on t h e b a s i c f u n c t i o n s o f VTS p u t f o r w a r d i n t h e IMO G u i d e l i n e s and c o n s i d e r i n g t h e d i f f e r e n t f u n c t i o n s f r o m VTS t o VTS and w i t h i n t h e same VTS. G e n e r a l VTS f u n c t i o n s a r e [ 2 ] : - Data c o l l e c t i o n - Data e v a l u a t i o n

- I n f o n n a t i o n s e r v i c e s

- N a v i g a t i o n a l a s s i s t a n c e s e r v i c e s - T r a f f i c o r g a n i z a t i o n

- S u p p o r t o f a l l i e d a c t i v i t i e s

Seven a r e a s o f knowledge and s k i l l s a r e c o n s i d e r e d t o be o f i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e t a s k s o f a VTS o p e r a t o r [ 8 ] : - E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e - G e n e r a l n a u t i c a l knowledge - S p e c i f i c n a u t i c a l knowledge - Equipment h a n d l i n g - L e g a l knowledge - L o c a l g e o g r a p h i c a l knowledge

The COST 301 s t u d y has d e v e l o p e d t h r e e l e v e l s o f VTS o p e r a t o r q u a l i f -i c a t -i o n r e q u -i r e m e n t s [ 8 ] :

j e v e l 3 A s s i s t a n t O p e r a t o r

C a r r y i n g o u t t h e r o u t i n e and c l e r i c a l work o f a VTS, such a s , exchange o f i n f o r m a t i o n by t e l e p h o n e o r t e l e x , r e c o r d k e e p i n g , o r d e r i n g p i l o t s o r t u g s , d e a l i n g w i t h s h i p s ' a g e n t s , e t c . They do n o t communicate w i t h s h i p s by r a d i o e x c e p t f o r t h e r o u t i n e i n f o r m a t i o n b r o a d c a s t i n g . L e v e l 2 S t a n d a r d O p e r a t o r C a r r y i n g o u t c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h s h i p s and g i v i n g g e n e r a l i n f o r m a t i o n s e r v i c e s e i t h e r by b r o a d c a s t i n g o r on r e q u e s t s . L e v e l 1 Advanced O p e r a t o r B e i n g a u t h o r i z e d t o d e a l w i t h m a t t e r s w h i c h d i r e c t l y a f f e c t t h e n a v i g a t i o n o f t h e s h i p s . They u s u a l l y have p r o f e s s i o n a l m a r i n e back-g r o u n d .

The human f a c t o r i s i m p o r t a n t i n t h e o p e r a t i o n and f o r t h e e f f e c -t i v e n e s s o f a VTS sys-tem. A -t -t e n -t i o n s h o u l d be p u -t and work s h o u l d be done on t h i s m a t t e r w i t h more and more VTS systems w i l l be p u t i n t o o p e r a t i o n i n C h i n a .

VTS o p e r a t o r s s h o u l d be t r a i n e d t o r e a c h t h e s p e c i f i e d s t a n d a r d f o r p e r f o r m i n g t h e d e f i n e d t a s k s b e f o r e t h e y c a n go t o t h e p o s t s . A t p r e s e n t , f o r t h e e x i s t i n g s h o r e - b a s e d r a d a r c e n t e r s i n some Chinese p o r t s , t h e o p e r a t o r s a r e t r a i n e d i n t h e companies w h i c h p r o v i d e d t h e r a d a r equipment f o r t h e s e p o r t s . Such a t r a i n i n g , however, i s u s u a l l y r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e r a d a r - r e l a t e d o p e r a t i o n s . And f r o m t h e l o n g - t e r m p o i n t o f v i e w t h i s i s c e r t a i n l y n o t economic.

O p e r a t i o n t r a i n i n g o f VTS o p e r a t o r s c a n be done on t h e j o b , by s h i p -b r i d g e r a d a r s i m u l a t o r s o r -by s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n e d VTS s i m u l a t o r s . However, l i m i t s o f t h e f o r m e r t w o methods f o r t h e p u r p o s e have been r e c o g n i z e d , m a i n l y :

- A c o m p r e h e n s i v e t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m i s i m p o s s i b l e t o e x e c u t e by o n - j o b t r a i n i n g , because t h e c o n d i t i o n s such as p o o r v i s i b i l i t y , t r a f f i c