Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Vessel Traffic Services (TRNC-VTS)

Abstract

The first Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) started in 1949 in the Liverpool Port (UK) and it continued in Netherlands in 1956. In Turkey, planning and management of the marine traffic using the waterways and ports in Turkey started with Turkish Straits VTS which came into service in 2003 due to the increase in traffic density enhance its effectiveness and necessity every year. Feasibility studies in five new areas have been initiated for the establishment of the VTS system by force of the strategic decision taken by the maritime authority in 2008. These areas are; Izmit Bay, Izmir Bay and Aliaga Region, Gulf of Iskenderun and Mersin. Monitoring the marine traffic has an important place as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is an important transition point in the Eastern Mediterranean region. For this reason, in this study the impact assessment and necessity of the establishment of a VTS to be located in the TRNC were evaluated by using Environmental (PEST: Political, Economic, Social, Technological) and SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) Analyses. In addition, the suitability of the possible locations of Traffic Monitoring Stations (TMS) has been examined by the field study. Evaluation of TRNC VTS in geographical and strategic terms will benefit from the opportunities and facilities that both the Republic of Turkey and the TRNC will have as a part of the effect of VTS against the embargo imposed on the TRNC in the world. Three appropriate VTS TMSs have been chosen as a result of the field study carried out for 10 determined TMSs; Cape Kormakitis, Cape Apostolos Andreas and Famagusta. It is also concluded that it would be appropriate to plan the Famagusta Station as VTS Centre. It is assumed to monitor and track the vessels in the zones out of the coverage area of these stations by Automatic Identification System (AIS). Safety and security in the shipping, protection of navigation, life, property and the marine environment of the region will be enhanced by monitoring the vessels passing particularly through this region and by making use of the opportunities provided by technology in accordance with national and international regulations.