In order to achieve navigational safety conforming to global standards, between 1995 and 1996, the Latvian Maritime Administration, in co-operation with experts of the European Union PHARE programme, formulated a project on the incorporation of Latvian ports into a single sea transport information system for the Baltic Sea Countries. Together with the Dutch firm MARITIME SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY specialists, pre-project research was carried out on the construction of new vessel traffic service centres (VTSC) at Latvian ports. The construction of the VTSC of Riga was commenced on 28 January 1998 under the guidance of Architect J.Gertmanis. The Centre was put into operation in December 1998.
Today the VTSC is equipped with up-to-date navigational and communication systems ensuring the vessel traffic safety conforming to global standards. This facilitates safe entry of vessels into Latvian ports and speeds up Latvia’s incorporation into the Global Marine Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and the Early Warning System, which is of utter importance for carriers of dangerous goods by the Baltic Sea. The new VTSC of the Freeport of Riga houses the port control service, the harbour master, and vessel traffic operators. The staff of the VTSC as well as other structural units of the Freeport of Riga use the information system Velkonis – one of the most advanced IS in the Baltic Sea ports – designed by the Joint Stock Company HMS for vessel movement data processing. The Freeport of Riga Authority is planning to invest another 1.5 million Lats into construction of a pier complex for the needs of the ice-breaker, pilot and port operational services, which will increase the navigational safety in the port aquatorium. The Freeport of Riga Authority has joined the European Sea Port Organisation (ESPO), which, pursuant to formulations of international conventions and the overall EU policies, has set navigational safety its top priority. Ttherefore we have a good reason to believe that an important step has been taken to make the Freeport of Riga more attractive for our clients.
More information about Freeport of Riga
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