US to help in study for marine traffic

MaryKay Carlson —RICHARD A. REYES

The US government will assist the Department of Transportation in doing a feasibility study for the implementation of Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) in at least 10 locations in the country.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson signed on Saturday the agreement on a $1-million grant for the selection of a consultant that would undertake the feasibility study.

The VTMS is expected to address maritime safety issues by enabling increased awareness and coordination of maritime traffic. Bautista, in a statement, said that the VTMS is vital not just for managing sea traffic, but also provides the Philippine Coast Guard with advanced communication redundancy.

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The VTMS integrates data and information collected by advanced sensors, including radar, automatic identification systems and very high frequency radios to develop a complete picture of the maritime environment for effective traffic management and communication. —JEROME ANING