Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways & Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the new Radars and Vessel Traffic Management System of Cochin Port Trust today. Shri Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Additional Secretary (MoPS&W), Dr. M. Beena, Chairperson, Cochin Port Trust and senior Officers from the Ministry and Cochin Port Trust were present.
The VTMS (Vessel Traffic Management System) commissioned in Cochin Port in 2009 has been upgraded with a state-of-the-art system consisting of 2 new radars, 1 AIS Base station, 3 VHF Radios and associated software and hardware installed at a cost of ₹5.8-Cr. The Vessel Traffic Management System is an essential tool for enhancing safety of navigation in the port by monitoring and regulating the shipping movements. Apart from navigational safety, the system also enhances security of the port waters by detecting and tracking all crafts moving in the port.
The Minister also inspected the Port infrastructure and project sites including oil terminals, ICTT Vallarpadam, Multi User Liquid Terminal, LNG Terminal and SCB re-construction project, during the tug ride in the Cochin harbour. A neem tree sapling was planted by the Minister in the Administrative lawns of Cochin Port Trust.
