VTS: "A service implemented by a competent authority, designed to improve safety and efficiency of traffic and the protection of the environmentThe service should have the capability to interact with the traffic and to respond to traffic situations developing in theVTS area." (IMO Resolution A.857(20)) ' The first embryo VTS appeared in 1948 at the Port of Liverpool to support pilotage after it was found, two years before at the International Meeting on Radio Aids to Navigation that jointly using land based radars and VHF communications could significantly help navigation in fog. Although other similar systems developed in Western Europe during the following years, they were mainly aiming at maintaining relatively safe navigable conditions during fog periods.The concept of navigation surveillance arose with the occurrence of maritime accidents in the years 1971-1972 and the severe pollution that was their consequence. With this new concept came the need to provide advice to assist traffic flow and to improve traffic patterns. This was not a new subject for IALA, which had been monitoring means to enhance vessel traffic since the late 1950s.
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