Wärtsilä has been contracted to upgrade its existing vessel traffic monitoring and information svystem (VTMIS) serving ports in Cyprus
The order was placed in November 2019 by the Shipping Deputy Ministry to the President of Cyprus, and includes a 5-year equipment maintenance agreement.
This upgrade will enable the Cyprus VTMIS to become a central point of contact and exchange information with other systems in the region.
Wärtsilä said the broader coverage will improve safety, combat illegal immigration and smuggling, improve environmental protection services, facilitate coastal surveillance and traffic monitoring, support search and rescue operations, and improve the overall operational efficiency of the region’s ports.
Wärtsilä Marine commercial project manager Valentin Roslyakov said the system, which has been in operation since 2008, will now be upgraded to feature innovations in vessel traffic management.
“The new system will be based on the dedicated Wärtsilä Navi-Harbour system software, and will deliver a multitude of benefits.”
Cyprus’ Port and Coastal State Directorate, head of maritime surveillance and anti-pollution unit Themis Evriviades said the country’s strategic location in the north-eastern corner of the Mediterranean makes it a natural port for vessels sailing in and out of the region.
Ms Evriviades noted that as an intersection of major shipping lanes, it is vital that an efficient vessel traffic monitoring system be in place adding, “The main efforts of the Government of Cyprus are focused on continuous improvement of the existing maritime infrastructure.”
The upgrading project is expected to be completed in March 2020, after which the 5-year maintenance agreement will become effective.
Wärtsilä’s software has extensive functionalities, and the solution is modular, scalable, and accessible for future upgrade developments. This year, the company will split its maritime operations into entities concentrating on marine power, onboard engineering and simulation, vessel traffic and voyage solutions.
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