In the framework of the EU funded SAFEMED IV project, EMSA organised a training for VTS Supervisors. Overall, ten participants from Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia have undergone the training from 26 August to 6 September 2019 in Turku, Finland.

The training reflected, as much as possible, the guidelines set out in the IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities) Recommendation V-103/2. At the completion of the course, the participants matured sufficient knowledge and competence to carry out the duties of a VTS Supervisor at a VTS centre. In particular, they acquired the skills and knowledge with the administrative functions of a VTS and the methods of responding to emergency sistuations as well as the principles of Vessel Traffic Service, the services that a VTS centre can provide to shipping and the resources and means of providing those services.

Such activity is embedded in Component 3 “Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System” which aims, beside the core activity of AIS and SAT-AIS sharing, at improving the technical capabilities as well as on-the-job skills of the maritime administration of the beneficiary countries and their staff.