SimPlus is developing a vessel traffic planning tool based on its Vessel Traffic Management (VTM) system, for Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), Singapore, for the assessment of channel capacity and navigation risk in Singapore waters.
VTM is a vessel traffic simulator capable of simulating realistic vessel navigation behavior in port waters. It is flexible and configurable, allowing easy customization by plugging in waterway layouts, traffic information and navigation parameters.
With the application of VTM to the busy port of Singapore, SimPlus has made a strong foray into developing solutions for the marine sea space, in addition to the terminal activities which was their forte earlier. Given the scale of maritime activities in Singapore, this is a challenging start, but one that SimPlus feels that they are up to. Ye Rong, a Director of SimPlus, feels that “it will be a challenge to incorporate vessel navigation behavior with local characteristics into the model, but given the expert input of MPA pilots engaged in this study and the involvement of professors from Nanyang Technological University, we believe the results will eventually be realistic and comprehensive. Such experience is important for its application to other busy ports around the world.”
