Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Conference Name
The International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) Conference
Conference Location
Alexandria, Egypt
Conference Dates
October 26- October 28, 2021
First Page
201
Last Page
217
Publication Date
2021
Abstract
The Gulf of Suez (GOS) is one of the most important waterways in the world. Furthermore, issues like maritime safety, avoidance of accidents and effective conduct of navigation, as well as protection of the marine environment in the GOS are always among the highest priorities of Egyptian legislators. As a result, maritime surveillance in the area under discussion is facilitated by a technologically advanced Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) that has been established by the competent authority as a cost-effective measure to reduce and mitigate risks in accordance with international standards and guidelines. The main aim of this paper is to discuss the status of the GOS VTMS and identify relevant opportunities for improvement. This effort utilizes qualitative primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected by employing in-depth, semi-structured interviews; secondary data was sourced from relevant national legislations, IMO, IALA and UK hydrographic office publications. Thus, the distinctive features of the GOS VTMS along with its degree of compliance with international standards and guidelines have been closely examined for a comprehensive assessment. A conclusion standing out is that GOS’ VTMS is a very powerful tool for a more efficient conduct of navigation, with a positive contribution on maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment; however, certain gaps that must be addressed in the near future were identified. A portfolio of the necessary recommendations on how to improve the system’s overall performance are also provided