MISNA - Long Range Vessel Identification and Tracking Solution

ASVTS Summary

MISNA's Automated Secure Vessel Tracking System (ASVTS)

Discussion of Need to Implement Long Range Vessel Tracking System to Aid Maritime Security

The world’s maritime leaders have identified the maritime borders as the most vulnerable to terrorist attack. President Bush in addressing this concern stated “the whole purpose is to push out our maritime borders, giving us more time to identify threats and more time to respond”. MISNA members have been providing information on vessel movements to the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Coast Guard since 9/11 to aid maritime security. MISNA has also developed a satellite based Automated Secure Vessel Tracking System (ASVTS) to provide real-time tracking of vessels through the use of the existing Global Marine Distress Safety System (GMDSS), a satellite communications safety alert system required by SOLAS (Safety of Life and Sea Convention) for ocean going cargo vessels since 1999. This system costs approximately $3.00 U.S. a day to track and report a vessel’s position every few hours anywhere in the world. ASVTS addresses U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Tom Collins’ need to improve Maritime Domain Awareness, which he identified as “the centerpiece of our maritime security strategy”. Admiral Collins also noted “we believe the use of long-range tracking systems will aid enormously in providing the necessary information on in-bound maritime shipping long before ships reach our ports.” In response the U.S. Congress passed Section 70155 of MTSA that authorized the development of a long-range vessel tracking system to track vessels. The Act reads as follows:

“Long-range vessel tracking system:

The Secretary may develop and implement a long range automated tracking system for all vessels in U.S. waters that are equipped with GMDSS or equivalent satellite technology. The system shall be designed to provide the Secretary the capability of receiving information on vessel positions at interval positions appropriate to deter transportation security incidents. The Secretary may use existing maritime organizations to collect and monitor information under the system”

The need for long-range vessel tracking has also been identified by the International Maritime Organization, which passed Maritime Security Resolution 10 in December 22nd 2002 that read as follows:

“Urges Contracting Governments to take, as a matter of high priority, any action needed at national level to give effect to implementing and beginning the long-range identification and tracking of ships”.

The Canadian Coast Guard is also evaluating long range tracking options, including ASVTS and is carrying out operational trials with the assistance of the Chamber of Shipping of British Columbia.

In summary, ASVTS is an inexpensive maritime security tool developed and operated by the maritime community that is available today to provide accurate information on vessels’ positions and past port calls to aid the Coast Guard and other governments in carrying out their maritime security missions.

Additional information on MISNA’s Automated Secure Vessel Tracking System can be provided by Captain Ed Page, Vice President of the Maritime Information Service of North America at edpage@mxak.org  or (907) 4630-2607. Amplifying information on ASVTS can also be obtained at www.asvts.org .

Advantages of ASVTS

Posted: 2004-09-29 11:27:30

Highlights of ASVTS

Captain Ed Page The Maritime Information Service of North America's proposed Automated Secure Vessel Tracking System (ASVTS) will track the location of vessels enroute and operating in U.S. waters to aid homeland security through the use of existing communications system (GMDSS), vessel tracking software and hardware, and the marine exchange infrastructure. The advantages of ASVTS over AIS and other alternatives are:

Earliest Implementation: System can be fully operational providing Maritime Domain Awareness within one year, by July 2003. AIS will take years to implement.

Lowest Cost: System can be operated at an annual total cost of $11 million of which $3 million will be funded by the marine industry and $8 million by the federal government. AIS shore side communications towers and infrastructure will cost millions more to both industry and the federal government.

Best Meets Objectives: ASVTS will provide near worldwide tracking of vessels locations. (Polar regions have limited coverage) AIS is limited to near coastal coverage.

Relieves Overloaded Coast Guard of administrative workload: The Maritime Information Service of North America operated ASVTS will relieve the Coast Guard of the burden of collecting and managing data on vessel movements and disseminating the information to other agencies (Customs, INS, TSA, Office of Naval Intelligence, etc.)

Taps Private Industry to Aid Homeland Security Efforts: Marine Exchanges have a long history of serving as trusted agents in providing maritime information to the Coast Guard and the maritime community to aid safe, efficient and environmentally responsible maritime operations. The marine exchanges' reputation for having their "fingers on the pulse" of maritime operations in their regions combined with their operation of ASVTS can provide valuable intelligence information to public and private entities charged with carrying out maritime security missions.

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