Vessel Traffic Management System launched at Sandakan Port

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SANDAKAN: The Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) installed at Sandakan Port is capable of contributing to safer navigation and more efficient traffic flow in Sandakan waters, Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said.

The RM6 millions tower of VTMS was completed on August, 2012 and officially opened by Pairin at the launching ceremony on Friday.

The VTMS has a radar for monitoring and controlling the vessel real time position for easy control of system.

With the installation of VTMS, it will not only benefit ship owners, but also enforcement officers such as Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN), Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency, Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) and other related government agencies.

The VTMS at Sandakan Port is the third VTMS built in Sabah after Sepanggar and Lahad Datu while two more VTMS, namely in Tawau and Kimanis are expected to be completed this year.

Pairin said traffic flow at the entrance area, anchorage area, main routes and harbours can be coordinated safely, in the best interest of the port and its users.

The tower is also able to detect vessel movements as far as 40 nautical miles, data from the traffic movements can be stored up to six months  and use as reference information for port administration, port authorities, coastguards and search and rescue services,?he said at Sandakan port.

In other development, Pairin, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure Development, said the state government had appointed a new contractor to complete the Bokara-Batu Sapi bypass project.

He also expressed his disappointment with the previous appointed contractor for the project who failed to complete the project thus, calling on local residents in the area to be patient.

Also present at the ceremony were Assistant Ministers of Infrastructure Development, Datuk Bobby Suan, Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan; Member of Parliament for Batu Sapi, Datuk Linda Tsen Thau Lin and State Director of Public Works Department, Datuk John Anthony.