#TWO HARBORS ARRIVALS DEPARTURES SERIES#

The group proposed the development of a VTMS serving both ports and embracing a geographic area extending approximately 20 miles seaward. Navy and Coast Guard, the two port authorities, and pilots from both ports.

The advisory group was composed of representatives of the tug and barge industry, dry cargo and tank vessel operators, the U.S. Interest in preserving the preeminent role of the pilots organizations in the management of traffic inside the breakwater The perceived need for user input into the procedures followed by the Marine Exchange in the operation of the information service Industry recognition of the significant risk of accidents in the area immediately offshore of the two breakwater entrances The group apparently was formed to meet three concerns: In 1988, the LA/LB Marine Exchange Port and Navigation Safety Advisory Group was formed, with the goal of creating a vessel traffic management system (VTMS) for the combined ports. With the passage of time, and as voluntary participation by arriving and departing vessels increased, procedures for both vessels and the information service became increasingly formalized. Few resources were required to provide the basic service, and the costs were covered by the Marine Exchange information-generated revenue stream. The service was initiated in response to requests from the maritime community for improved real-time information on vessels arriving and leaving port no government sanction or support was provided. In 1983, building upon its information functions, the Marine Exchange began operating a voluntary traffic information service to provide information to vessels in the main approaches to LA/LB (Mizuki et al., 1989). Over the years, the information services have evolved from rudimentary communication to the sophisticated dissemination of shipping information to subscribers. The Marine Exchange has been handling maritime information affecting the LA/LB region since the 1920s.

#TWO HARBORS ARRIVALS DEPARTURES SERIES#

The present organization and services evolved from a series of actions by various groups: efforts by the Marine Exchange to meet perceived local needs, steps taken by the JPS to apply technology to its commercial functions, and actions by both state and federal governments. The VTIS is a public-private partnership. The Los Angeles Pilots are public employees of the Port of Los Angeles. The Jacobsen Pilot Service (JPS), which serves Long Beach, is a private company. Management of traffic inside the breakwater is not in the purview of the VTIS and is handled by the pilot organizations serving the two ports. Much of the area is in international waters, beyond the jurisdiction of the state of California and the United States, raising an interesting legal point about mandatory vessel participation in the VTIS. The VTIS area of responsibility (AOR) lies seaward of the breakwater and extends approximately 20 miles offshore. The operation is supported by user fees assessed as part of the tariffs of the Ports of LA/LB, and the VTIS reimburses the Coast Guard for the cost of staff. The goal of the VTIS is to “improve vessel transit safety by providing vessels with advanced information of other reported marine traffic and any additional information which may affect traffic safety within the area covered by the VTIS ” (Marine Exchange of Los Angeles-Long Beach, 1994). VTIS is staffed jointly by Marine Exchange employees and Coast Guard personnel. The VTIS is a cooperative effort by the nonprofit Marine Exchange of Los Angeles-Long Beach, Incorporated, the state of California, and the U.S. The LA/LB port community has long been concerned about the safe movement of vessels in heavy congestion, a concern that may have originated prior to 1960, when the harbor was home port to a significant portion of the U.S.

There are two relatively narrow openings in the breakwater to allow deep-draft ships access to the harbor and port area. The port complex lies along the northern shoreline of San Pedro Bay, with the harbor area protected from the open sea by a long breakwater. The Los Angeles-Long Beach (LA/LB) harbor complex is one of the busiest ports in the nation in terms of numbers of vessel calls and amounts of cargo handled.

Two harbors arrivals departures