One of the world's most challenging navigable waterways became safer and more secure recently when the Turkish government deployed the final phase of the Lockheed Martin Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) for the Turkish Straits.

This final phase of the system's deployment included the addition of three new remote sensor sites to provide coverage of the Marmara Sea and entrance to the Canakkale Straits. Turkey initially rolled out the first phase of the system in 2003 when it deployed Lockheed Martin's Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system for the Istanbul and Canakkale Straits.

Lockheed Martin's VTMIS provides the Turkish Ministry of Transportation with a comprehensive picture of the existing and developing maritime traffic situation, promotes safer navigation, lessens the possibility of accidents and increases search and rescue capability. Internationally recognized as one of the largest VTMIS in the world, the entire system now provides Turkey with complete coverage from the Black Sea entrance through the Istanbul Strait to the Marmara Sea and through the Canakkale Strait.

"The Turkish Straits carries substantial safety risks for navigation, property, life and environment because of heavy national and international marine traffic," according to a statement issued by the Directorate General of Coastal Safety. "Approximately 155 vessels pass through the Istanbul Strait daily and 135 vessels through the Canakkale Strait. The Turkish Straits VTS is the first in Turkey and is managed by the Coastal Safety Administration. The system offers many features. The past five years of operation has shown that the VTS was successful in reducing the risk of marine accidents and providing more efficient vessel traffic management."

The Lockheed Martin system features a network of remote sensor sites consisting of sophisticated radars, comprehensive camera packages, radio direction finders (RDF) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), as well as Doppler current and salinity sensors, surface water measurement and automatic weather stations. The remote sensor sites send real-time information via an integrated Wide Area Network to the Vessel Traffic Control centers in Istanbul and Canakkale.

"Lockheed Martin is a world leader in maritime systems design and systems integration," said Dan Schultz, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Baltimore-based business. "By integrating advanced sensor technologies with our maritime command and control systems, Lockheed Martin is providing Turkey with one comprehensive system, enabling the Ministry of Transportation to process and share information to enhance safer navigation."

Lockheed Martin develops innovative solutions in homeland security areas of critical infrastructure protection, port security, coastal and border surveillance, maritime domain awareness and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) detection.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin