ABSTRACT
Nowadays, maritime traffic control is mainly performed via the VTS (vessel traffic service) system, which exploits information from AIS (automatic identification system) systems installed on board of cooperative vessels, remote radar site (RRS) and GPS system. The AIS allows the port authorities to know with adequate accuracy absolute geographic coordinates, velocity, trajectory, type, size, draught and cargo of each cooperative vessel (equipped with AIS) thus providing the means for controlling and monitoring the area of interest.
