BAE bags vessel traffic management contract

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract for installing a vessel traffic management system in Portsmouth Harbour and the Eastern Solent in the UK, the company announced on 25 June.

The £5.5 million contract is part of wider work between the company and the UK Ministry of Defence and Royal Navy for modernising the Portsmouth naval base and preparing it for the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier that will be based there.

The system, which will be installed by early 2016, will provide the situational awareness required by the vessel traffic service team and harbour master to control vessels around the base's operational area. It will integrate four radars, 17 high-definition CCTV cameras, six meteorological sensors, four hydrological sensors, a thermal camera and an automatic identification system.

Philip Dunne, Minister of State for Defence Procurement, said: 'A huge amount of investment is under way right across the naval base to get Portsmouth ready for the arrival of our HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier in early 2017, including refurbishing the base's jetties to ease access for the ships and installing new power supplies. This new system, to help control and monitor ship movements within Portsmouth Harbour and the Eastern Solent, is an essential part of these upgrades.'

John Hudson, managing director UK maritime sector, BAE Systems, said: 'We are pleased to continue our support to the Royal Navy by managing this important project for Portsmouth.  With shipping activity expected to increase over the next few years a new vessel traffic management system is essential for the future safety and security of Portsmouth Harbour.  The contract is an excellent example of how we are working in partnership with the Royal Navy to deliver service improvements and modernise Portsmouth naval base.'