During recent years there has been significant development in several technologies which can contribute to the efficiency and safety of maritime traffic. The most important of these are accurate positioning systems (DGPS), digital data transmission/transponder technology, electronic chart systems (ECDIS), control of ships using electronic passage plans, and ship path prediction. With a widespread implementation of these new techniques, combined with advanced ship-shore and ship-ship data transfer, significant improvements can be achieved in traffic situation awareness both in a VTS and onboard. This paper describes the research carried out at VTT on VTS development, and especially gives an outline of new VTS functions using ship—shore and ship—ship data transfer.
