The Port of London Authority (PLA) has confirmed it has awarded a contract to Kongsberg Norcontrol Ltd (KNC) to replace its Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) equipment.
A VTS is a key component of ensuring safety and efficiency of navigation are maintained, as well as helping to protect the environment, by ensuring operators have detailed information about traffic activity on the River Thames.
This announcement is a key part of the PLA’s Thames Vision 2050’s Marine Centre Transformation Programme that is targeting delivery of a future-proofed Port Control Centre, utilising the appropriate technology and resilience to support continued growth expectations for the cargo facilities located on the River Thames. Steven Clapperton, Director of Marine Operations, PLA, underlines: “This is a multi-million-pound scheme and will provide London VTS with state-of-the-art equipment, enhancing and improving our operational performance. It will be delivered into a brand new operations centre, ready to accommodate the expected growth of trade on the river which is forecast to rise from 55 million tonnes per year to 78 million tonnes by 2050.”
