Date: April 20, 2016
Japan Aids to Navigation Association

Initiation of the “Development of VTS Capacity” Project
The Project is to establish the ASEAN Regional Training Center for VTS
operators - the first regional training center to be established in its kinds, and toconduct VTS operator training to the trainees from ASEAN Member States inaccordance with the international standard for the purpose of securing safe
navigation of ships.
*Note: VTS is an abbreviation of Vessel Traffic Service

1. Objective
As recent economic growth in the ASEAN region are noteworthy and developments ofto conduct VTStraining
which is theas
firstin its
kindsbases
infrastructure
suchoperators
as ports etc.,
which Projectwill be functioning
theproject
strategic
centralfor andgoods’ distribution in the region, are being rapidly progressing, marine trade in theregion seems to be getting more active than before.. However, some ASEAN member
states are at present still striving for the high risks of marine accident as the safetymeasures for ships navigation have not yet been established to the level. .
On the other hand, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
defines VTA as one of marine aids to navigation services contributing to safety ofmarine traffic. In recent world-wide trend, many countries intend to introduce VTS andsome ASEAN States have requested the technical cooperation to be extended fromJapan either on establishment of VTS facilities or on VTS operators’ training to build up
their operation capabilities.
It is regulated by IMO that VTS operators should be in possession of the internationallyrecognized certification. Certain states have already established such a training system,
but as for ASEAN as the whole, it has not been established to the certain level as far as
the training scale is concerned. In view of this and in order to improve the situation, theProject leadingly to establish the ASEAN Regional Training Center was proposed andadopted. This ASEAN Regional Training Center will be utilized for implementation ofthe training of VTS personnel for the VTS training instructors in accordance with theinternational standards, which consequently contributes to safe navigation of ships inwaters of ASEAN region
This Project was proposed by the Marine Department Malaysia as a framework ofcooperative activities in the field of transport segment, namely “Cooperation in the fieldof safety at sea (Development of VTS Operator’s Capacity)”. The Project is to be fundedby the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) that Japanese government had provided
to the ASEAN Secretariat.
2. Brief Project Description
The ASEAN Regional Training Center will be located at the already-existing Maritime
Transport Institute of Malaysia (MATRAIN, Port Klang, Selangor.) and in preparationfor establishment of it, the followings will eventually be worked out. Accreditation
procedure necessary for the ASEAN Regional Training Center to become the training
body will also be processed in accordance with IALA Guideline. Those who have been
trained at the Center and successfully completed the training will receive the VTS
operator course certificates.
Procurement of equipment necessary for the training such as a VTS simulator

Preparation of the training materials such as text bookImplementation of the training to train for VTS training instructors

3. Implementation Arrangement
For implementing the Project, implementation bodies will be set up as bellows.
(1) Implementation Body A (Japan Aids to Navigation Association)
Overall coordination and management of the Project, management of Fund,procurement of equipment and development of training materials(2) Implementation Body B (Expert Group on ASEAN Regional Training Center for
VTS Operators)
Development of training policy and overall plan, selection of instructors andtrainees, and liaise with IALA
(3) Implementation Body C (Maritime Training Institute of Malaysia)
Implementation of training in cooperation with Implementation Body A, operationand maintenance of the provided equipment

4. Budget
Necessary budget to be funded by JAIF is approximately 4,000,000 U$ which includes
costs of equipment procurement, implementation of training and cost for holding
meetings of the Expert Group and other costs.
5. Schedule

To complete the work of procurement of the VTS Simulator, etc., by December,2016



To commence preparation of the training materials, such as a text book fromFebruary, 2017To hold the Expert Group meeting once in a year in 2016 and 2017 to beattended by members of the Expert Group on ASEAN Regional Training Centerfor VTS Operators

To hold the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Regional Training Center for
VTS Operators in July, 2017

To implement the training for three months starting from July, 2017 toSeptember

6. Provision of information related to the Project
Further information related to the Project will be published on JANA’s home
page.(http://www.jana.or.jp)

Inquire to:Masahiko Ohtani
Director in charge of general affairs
Japan Aids to Navigation Association