Vessel Navigation and Traffic Services for Safe and Efficient Ports and Waterways Interim Report (1996) / Chapter Skim
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Pages 1-7
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The United States does not have a centralized, national management structure for ports and waterways, which are remarkably diverse in terms of geography and environmental conditions, the vessel traffic they serve, and the variety of services they provide. Ports must provide efficient, rapid turnaround capabilities to accommodate expanding trade and the increasing size and speed of oceangoing ships, a growing proportion of which are foreign.
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In other words, funding and institutional issues, not technology, are the limiting factors in the implementation of improved navigation information systems. The institutional issues include bringing all vital interest groups together, providing responsible leadership, and fostering a consensus on needs and mechanisms for funding and management.
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These and other private systems usually satisfy the needs of the operators and users who established the system, but most of them provide limited coverage, and they may not fully serve the needs of the public.1 Fully private operators do not have legal authority to intervene in emergencies, as IThis committee finding is supported by comparisons of the capabilities of specific private systems with international guidelines for VTS and by input from stakeholders, such as environmental and harbor safety organizations.
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Although the Coast Guard has yet to design VTS-2000 systems for specific ports, the maritime industry, port managers, vessel operators, and other interested parties already have strong opinions about how the program should be implemented and alternative approaches that may serve their needs and ensure safe and efficient maritime transportation:
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trade and economic prosperity, and the persistent risk of maritime accidents involving casualties and environmental damage, there is significant public interest in ensuring the safety and efficiency of maritime transportation through Coast Guard missions addressing port safety and security, maritime law enforcement, and search and rescue operations. The committee concludes that there is a compelling national interest in protecting the environment and in providing safe and efficient ports and waterways.
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In addition, the committee concludes that there are deficiencies in the accuracy and availability of many essential types of navigation information provided by federal agencies. VTS can enhance maritime safety and efficiency by collecting and managing the most reliable navigation information, monitoring and evaluating vessel traffic and potentially dangerous traffic situations, and providing accurate and timely information to mariners.
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COST-SHARING OPTIONS Although the national interest in safe and efficient ports and waterways justifies federal funding for generic VTS systems that meet national safety needs and Coast Guard mission requirements, the committee recognizes that full federal funding may not be feasible in the future. Private support can best be encouraged by negotiations to determine a costsharing formula acceptable to local stakeholders.
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