• The Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) installed in the Turkish town will manage local maritime traffic and security, helping protect the marine environment
• The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Turkish Ministers of Defence and Transport 
• In the largest-scale application of the technology, Leonardo’s VTMS is used to monitor over 7000 kilometres of coastline around the Mediterranean basin

A ceremony was held last Saturday in Izmit, Turkey, for the inauguration of the town’s new maritime traffic and navigation support centre developed by Leonardo-Finmeccanica. The event was attended by the Turkish Minister of Defence Fikri Isik and Minister of Transport Ahmet Arslan. The system will allow local authorities to monitor maritime traffic in the area and will ensure the effective control of fishing activities. 

The solution is composed of two subsystems. The first is the Regional Vessel Traffic Services System (RVTSS) which monitors the extremely busy shipping and transport corridors of the Gulfs of Izmit, Izmir, Iskenderun and Mersin. The other subsystem is the Vessel Traffic Management Centre (VTMC) installed in Ankara, which will provide an integrated and comprehensive picture of sea traffic.

Leonardo’s Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) is the most technologically advanced solution available today. It secures coastal areas and maritime boundaries over wide geographical areas. The VTMS can also provide maritime environmental monitoring and support search and rescue operations at sea. Available in fixed and mobile versions, VTMS is able to manage large areas such as the Mediterranean basin where, in its largest-scale application, it covers over 7000 kilometres of coast.