Teesport Upgrades to C-Scope

Teesport, recognized as the first port in the world to be fitted with a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system, will upgrade to C-Scope, the next generation maritime surveillance system from Kongsberg Norcontrol IT.

“The relationship between Kongsberg Norcontrol IT and Teesport is the longest running technology partnership in our history,” said Steve Guest, General Manager for Kongsberg Norcontrol IT’s UK office.  “Norcontrol installed the first Teesport VTS system in 1979, and over the past 34 years, Teesport has consistently chosen us when upgrading.”

Located five kilometers east of Middlesbrough on the River Tees, Teesport is one of the United Kingdom’s major ports and one of the largest ports in Western Europe.  Owned by PD Ports, it handles both international and domestic cargo in excess of 38 million tons per year.  A highly accurate VTS Traffic Image is critical for protecting the environment as petrochemicals represent approximately 50% of the cargo handled.

The Teesport VTS system will be upgraded from the VTMIS5060 to the C-Scope VTS system, including the latest C-Scope Operator Client, Decision Support, Sensor Fusion, Management Information services and C-Scope Extractor/Trackers.  Five RADAR sites, two VHF radio sites (five VHF radios), three metrological, hydrological sensors and seven CCTV cameras  will be installed and integrated, along with state of the art operator consoles all connected via a microwave link based Wide Area Network.  Installation work is scheduled to begin this month, with site acceptance in early 2014.

PD Ports opted for the KNC Academy’s eLearning program as the method to deliver VTS operator training, 3D perspective views of the real-time VTS Traffic Image, import of Ordnance Survey maps using OS OnDemand service, as well as a virtualized server solution.