By HENRY EMPEÑO | February 22, 2024

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) unveiled a modern vessel traffic management system (VTMS) on Thursday, February 22, upgrading tracking facilities that has been in operation for more than 15 years.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo L. Aliño inaugurated the system with Bill English, president and CEO of systems provider Xanatos Marine Ltd., and other SBMA officials at the SBMA Seaport Department here.

Aliño said the system makes use of the latest technology in vessel tracking management, thereby putting Subic among the top ports in the world.

“It will significantly improve port management efficiency and safety, as well as security in Subic Bay, particularly in ports that handle cargo ships, as well as passenger vessels,” Aliño said.

He added that the project is also aligned with the 10-year Maritime Industry Development Plan 2028 of President Marcos, which call for a whole-of-nation roadmap for the integrated development and strategic direction of the maritime industry.

The Canada-based Xanatos provides customized maritime domain awareness solutions to enhance safety, security and environmental stewardship by providing a user-friendly, precise sensor-integrated display.

The monitoring technology is based on the specific needs of Subic port, which has handled more than 12,600 ship calls from 2019 to 2023 alone.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao told BusinessMirror that the ship traffic here consisted predominantly of commercial vessels, with rare sprinkling of foreign military ships that arrive for joint military exercises held in the country.

Yambao said the SBMA had requested funding for the upgrade of its VTMS as early as 2019, and the National Government approved the funding request under the General Appropriations Act for 2021 at P270 million.

The following year, the project further received the green light at the contract price with Xanatos of P233 million.

Yambao said the new vessel trac king system will increase marine radar coverage with the replacement of the radar at the SBMA Seaport Department and the installation of a new radar station at Ilanin Bay. These will address deficiencies or dead spots in areas north of Subic Bay, Triboa Bay in the east, and around and beyond the Grande Island here.

The new system will also provide an upgrade of hardware and software, including replacement of VHF and Automatic Identification System (AIS); replacement of VTMS operators’ consoles with new VTMS software; installation of monitoring display and printer; provision of database and application servers; and renovation of VTMS operator room and equipment room.

Moreover, the new system will increase visual coverage through the installation of three closed-circuit television cameras at the SBMA Seaport, and Kalaklan and Ilanin areas to enhance monitoring and track smaller vessels that may not show up on radar.

To top it all, the new VTMS will result in the integration of port management systems, thereby allowing seamless operations, Yambao said.

He said the new system will support the financial aspects of the maritime industry, such as invoicing of a ship’s visit and providing information to service providers, terminals, waste collectors, ship chandlers and government. 