Spanish consulting and technology firm Indra has completed the implementation of a new vessel traffic management system (VTMS) in Poland’s control centres in Gdynia, Ustka, Szczecin and Swinoujscie.

The iMARE maritime traffic information system has been developed in collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent, a France-based telecommunications equipment company. It will help the authority enhance traffic management along 440km of coastline and 60km of navigable channel in the Oder River, covering about 12 ports.

The system deploys a network of sensors integrating radar equipment, cameras, meteorological stations, radio direction finders and a vessel automatic identification system (AIS).

"The solution will provide the centres with a wide range of communications systems, allowing for advance detection of any dangerous situation."

Designed to transmit information to the European Maritime Safety Agency’s SafeSeaNet system (EMSA), the solution deployed at the four centres in Poland will enable the staff to access integrated information on each vessel such as its position, trajectory, cargo and destination.

The solution will provide the centres with a wide range of communications systems to establish contact with the vessels, allowing for advance detection of any dangerous situation or coordination of the proper response in unfavourable conditions.

The company claims that another ten ports along the Polish coastline have also been installed with the iMARE solution.

Currently, ports in the UK, Brazil, Morocco and Senegal use the technologies developed by Indra to enhance their management, besides countries such as Lithuania, Romania and Hong Kong who use the company’s technology to protect their coastline.