Freight Forwarding, Ports & Maritime Forum

VTS EVENT, PORT OF HULL, 29 APRIL 2008

SUBJECT: VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES
SPEAKER: IAN SPIKINGS, VTS MANAGER, PORT OF HULL

A lunchtime event was held on 29 April at the Port of Hull on the subject of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) on the River Humber. The speaker was Ian Spikings, the VTS Manager at the Port of Hull, and an extensive presentation was delivered on the VTS system on the River Humber, with an active diagram on how the system operates, as well as a detailed overview of the VTS system, its structure and its operation. Those present were able to see on an active screen how the VTS system functioned with regard to the movement of vessels into and out of the River Humber, and how potential accidents can be anticipated and avoided. Much of the presentation concerned the information required by the VTS Control Centre with regard to vessels and their identification, as well as their intended course up the river.

In this respect, the message was conveyed to those present that there is a significant need for agents to notify the port authority when a vessel is due into the river, so that the port authority can make provision for its safe course up the river and the arrival at its allocated berth at the port of Immingham or Hull.

Further details were provided about the extension of the control to the upper river to facilitate the passage of vessels up to the Port of Goole. Overall, there was a very detailed and well-explained account of how the system is designed to account for all vessel movements in the river and the estuary to points beyond Spurn Head and out into the North Sea, in a manner which could be easily understood by all present.

Mark Rowbotham joint Chairman of theFreight Forwarding, Ports and Maritime Forum gave the vote of thanks to Ian Spikings and Associated British Ports and gave a resume' of the role and activities of the Forum.

The event was well supported and attended by 24 members and guests of the local maritime community and was deemed an overall success, along with a sumptuous finger buffet provided in Port House afterwards.