13th International VTS Symposium,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
08/08/2016
13th International VTS Symposium
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 8-12 August 2016
Keynote address by Mr. Kitack Lim,
Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be here with you today and I am grateful for theopportunity to say a few words as we begin this important symposium
on vessel traffic services in this beautiful city, Kuala Lumpur.
I would like to start by thanking the Marine Department of Malaysia and the Malaysian Ministry ofTransport for hosting us. And I would like to congratulate IALA for organizing this event, which takes
place every four years, providing a forum for delegates from governments, competent authorities andVTS services around the world to review the past few years and discuss the current challenges andopportunities in VTS and domain awareness. I know from personal experience the distinct role VTS
plays and the value thereof.
IALA of course has a long association with IMO, having consultative status since 1961. It plays an active
part in discussions relating to safety of navigation and in developing the e-navigation concept. Throughthe delivery of aids to navigation and the improvement and harmonization of VTS worldwide – IALA
plays a vitally important role in fostering efficient, economic and safe movement of vessels, which inturn helps protect the marine environment.
I am pleased that you have chosen the theme "Sustainable Safe Navigation" for this 13th international
VTS symposium. As part of the United Nations family, IMO is actively working towards the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development that world leaders pledged to support in 2015, with a set of clear
Sustainable Development Goals. Most of the elements of that Agenda will only be realized with asustainable maritime transport sector supporting world trade and facilitating the global economy.
Safety of navigation at sea – protecting people and ships, preventing collisions and thereby protecting
the marine environment – is a vital element in maintaining the sustainability of shipping. I think looking
at this theme from a sustainability angle also helps us focus on the future and what technology andinnovation might offer. I know that the coming days will provide ample opportunity to discuss where weare now and how VTS might look in the future and ways to ensure "sustainable safe navigation". Newtechnologies and innovation and e-navigation feature heavily on your programme this week. I havenoted sessions on the "Convergence of VTS and e-Navigation" and "VTS in the Age of the Digital
Information", to name but two.
In IMO's strategic plan for the implementation of e-navigation – which refers to the harmonizedcollection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of marine information on board and ashore

– we include a priority task relating to "Improved communication of VTS service portfolio (not limited toVTS stations)". This task needs to identify the possible communications methods that might be used
and test beds need to be built to demonstrate which systems are best in different areas of operation,such as deep sea, coastal and port.
These are exciting times in which we might consider an increasing role of VTS and its capabilities. The
extensive use of new information and communication technologies have already provided opportunities
for enhanced interaction and information sharing, not only between ships and shore based authorities,
but also with and between many other stakeholders.
We might also consider how data generated by existing and new VTS systems might in the futurecontribute even more to decision-making on a broader level, such as at IMO.
Technology has moved on a lot since the advent of radar provided the opportunity to accurately monitor
and track shipping traffic and led to the first formal VTS systems being established in the mid-20thcentury. IMO recognized the importance of VTS in Assembly resolutions adopted in 1968 and 1985.
In 2000, IMO adopted the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulation
V/12 Vessel Traffic Services which clarifies the role of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) in contributing tosafety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and protection of the marine environment,
adjacent shore areas, work sites and offshore installations from possible adverse effects of maritime
traffic. The regulation also outlines the role of Governments and, importantly, makes it clear that thedecision as to the provision of VTS lies with the national authorities.
The associated Revised Guidelines for Vessel Traffic Services, including Guidelines on Recruitment,
Qualifications and Training of VTS Operators, were adopted as Assembly resolution A. 857(20) in
November 1997. Although they were published almost 20 years ago, they still provide an excellent
framework for Vessel Traffic Services, alongside the IALA standards for training and certification of VTS
personnel, which have been updated in recent years and have been recognized as an industry standard
through an IMO Maritime Safety Committee circular.
Indeed, IALA has made a crucial contribution by working together with IMO and its Member States inthe development and review of VTS-related documentation on issues such as the qualification of VTS
personnel, operational procedures, equipment requirements, the impact on the provision of services,
responsibilities, the impact of new technologies and the role of VTS in security and global trafficmonitoring systems.
While the development of guidelines and standards is vitally important, it is equally crucial forContracting Governments and Competent Authorities to ensure that these are implemented. Only full,smart and effective implementation of a harmonized VTS service is extremely important for the safety
and efficiency of navigation and protect the marine environment, not at least in coastal and port areas.
This requires a focus on capacity building and training and so I am pleased to see that you have asession addressing "Training and Competency" which asks the question whether "the shore is lagging
behind the bridge?”.

This is an interesting theme which I hope to see further addressed next year when our IMO World
Maritime Day theme will be: "Connecting Ships, Ports and People", building on our theme for this year
which is "Shipping: indispensable to the world". We intend to take the ships-ports people theme as astarting point in looking at training and capacity building and working with developed and developing
countries in linking the ships and shore side activities and all those involved.
Of course, there are many excellent, collaborative initiatives specifically focusing on VTS. One example
is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Regional Project on VTS Operator
Training at the Maritime Transport Training Institute in Malaysia. Under this initiative, a Regional
Training Center for VTS personnel was established for ASEAN countries, which will allow VTS
operators of those countries to be trained effectively and in a harmonized manner.
I would also like to congratulate IALA on its initiative in establishing the IALA World Wide Academy(WWA), which commenced operations in 2012, and aims to make VTS and Aids to Navigation training
accessible to all, through the development of national centres. These are also available for thepersonnel of neighboring States. This is exactly the kind of positive cooperation that will help to drive
progress in the coming years.
And this 13th International VTS Symposium also embodies that spirit. The three "C"s: cooperation,
collaboration and communication are essential, not least when pursuing global goals and aspirations
that require countless countries, organizations, authorities and individuals to work together.
VTS can also support safe navigation and protection of the marine environment alongside other tools,
which themselves can service the VTS.
Not too far away from here we have the Marine Electronic Highway in the Straits of Malacca andSingapore, where besides VTS to assist safe navigation through a defined part of the Straits, there is a
network of electronic navigational charts using Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems(ECDIS) and environmental management tools, all combined in an integrated platform covering theregion that allows the maximum of information to be made available both to ships and shipmasters aswell as to shore-based users, including Vessel Traffic Services.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I wish you fruitful and enjoyable discussions during the coming days.
This symposium's theme of "Sustainable Safe Navigation" is not only necessary – but achievable. For
IMO's part – we will continue to work hard to provide a smart, robust regulatory framework that ensuressafe, secure, efficient shipping on clean oceans – helping to create conditions for a sustainable blue
economy.
And I would like to reiterate that the worldwide harmonized implementation of Vessel Traffic Services
continue to be a very important objective of IMO and IALA, as we continue in our pursuit of even more
safe, efficient and environment friendly shipping.
Thank you.