Due to the increasing number of wind farms at sea, more sensors are needed to properly monitor maritime traffic. The Traffic Image at Sea project processes data from these sensors and updates the associated infrastructure. The goal is to provide the Coast Guard with a single integrated nautical traffic picture.
The Coast Guard relies on reliable radar and AIS data.
The Coast Guard is a collaboration between six ministries and various agencies. It performs various tasks in the North Sea, such as search and rescue, disaster response, border surveillance, and monitoring fishing and environmental activities. To carry out these tasks, the Coast Guard uses radar images from radar sensors, including those from port authorities, Rijkswaterstaat (Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management), and Defense, as well as AIS data from several AIS base stations.
Role of Rijkswaterstaat
In the coming years, the Coast Guard will take on more tasks and responsibilities. To better focus on its core tasks, the Coast Guard has outsourced its radar infrastructure to Rijkswaterstaat. Rijkswaterstaat collects radar images, processes them, and merges them with AIS data and information from other parties. It then delivers the combined image and individual data streams to the Coast Guard. Rijkswaterstaat has the knowledge and experience to set up and manage this complex infrastructure, as it already does for the inland navigation traffic posts.
Setup of Traffic Image at Sea
Rijkswaterstaat’s service is organized in the Traffic Image at Sea project, which consists of the following components: • Technology: Realizes all technical components and documentation.
• Governance and Management: Ensures agreements on data delivery.
• Testing: Ensures that ICT components are properly tested before being handed over to Rijkswaterstaat.
• Migration of AIS North Sea: Manages the migration of AIS base stations from the Ministry of Defense to Rijkswaterstaat and also installs additional offshore base stations.