Airbus has completed the upgrade of the Port of Sydney VTS (Vessel Traffic Services), through its maritime product family STYRIS®. Airbus’ maritime security and safety solution ensures the complete traffic monitoring of Sydney Habour and Port Botany, both managed by the Port Authority of New South Wales (Port Authority).
The recently completed upgrade of Sydney’s VTS to STYRIS® comes after the agreement signed in 2010, when Airbus was initially awarded the contract to supply the Sydney VTS system. In 2019, with this upgrade Airbus offers the Port Authority the latest VTS Product Generation of Airbus, providing an efficient way to manage the increasing vessel traffic while meeting updated local VTS regulations.
Radar coverage of the Sydney VTS
The Airbus VTS system provides the Port Authority with real-time maritime information
Airbus has also extended the radar coverage of the Sydney VTS with the integration of a new radar site, located in Circular Quay, following the relocation of the former 115 metre high AMP Building radar to a new home in Darling Harbour.
With an offshore overview for pre-planning all vessel entries, the Airbus VTS system provides the Port Authority with real-time maritime information, helps organise port traffic, provide navigation assistance to vessels entering Sydney waters and ensures smooth operational conditions.
Complex environment for authorities
The Port of Sydney is arranged in two distinct areas: Port Jackson (commonly named Sydney Harbour), home to the famous and distinct Sydney Opera House and heritage-listed Sydney Harbour Bridge and Port Botany. While Port Botany plays a significant part in the trade handled through the Ports, Sydney Harbour also receives a large number of daily vessel movements, from small leisure boats to the largest passenger cruise ships, through the Passenger Terminals.
In addition, there are large volumes of Sydney ferry services that form part of the city public transportation network with its hub is located in Circular Quay.
The Sydney waters with their high density of traffic represent a complex environment to manage for the Port Authority, whose focus is not only to drive the operational efficiency of Sydney Ports but also to ensure every movement is conducted safely for all who use the busy waterways.
VTS system at Sydney
The Port of Sydney becomes ever busier, with over 1,200 vessel visits in 2018 including 350 cruise ships
Each year, the Port of Sydney becomes ever busier, with over 1,200 vessel visits in 2018 including 350 cruise ships, some of which can carry up to 5,000 passengers plus crew, and 1.6 million passengers passing through Port Authority terminals.
The VTS system is a major component of Sydney waters operational safety management and especially in the monitoring of key events such as the popular Sydney New Year’s Eve Midnight Fireworks, the Australia Day Regatta and the annual 630 nautical mile (1,170 km) Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Responses to varied scenarios
Philip Holliday, Chief Operating Officer and Habour Master Sydney at Port Authority of New South Wales (Port Authority), said: “Managing this port is a particular challenge, especially taking into account the high density of maritime traffic, which is very diverse in nature. Airbus brings state of the art maritime vessel traffic services to support responses to the many and varied scenarios that may arise: From the standard monitoring of the maritime traffic to specific requirements for enhanced reponse capability during unexpected situations.”
“The longstanding and successful partnership in Australia between Airbus and the Port Authority continues with a new chapter: the upgrade of the Sydney VTS. Since 2010, Airbus has monitored the traffic of Australia’s main harbours. I’m proud that we can support the harbour authorities in their day to day challenges to make the Australian ports safer and protect people's ways of life,” said Evert Dudok, Head of Communications, Intelligence and Security at Airbus.
