An AI-driven system for vessel traffic services (VTS) at the Yangshan Port in Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area started a trial run on Oct 28.

Developed by the Yangshan Port Maritime Safety Administration, the system has launched a new chapter of intelligent, precise, and automated management of maritime traffic safety at the Yangshan Deep-Water Port.

Yangshan Deep-Water Port is located in Lin-gang Special Area, Shanghai. [Photo/lingang.gov.cn]

The VTS system pools data from nautical charts, navigation regulations, Maritime Information System databases, and Automatic Identification System signals to create a dataset with information on vessel identities, navigation trajectories, and navigational environments.

Using multimodal data fusion, big data computation, and AI models, it establishes an intelligent ecosystem that enables 24/7 real-time monitoring and intelligent management of all vessel movements.

As one of the world's busiest container ports, Yangshan Port requires operators to monitor screens carefully, manually check information, and issue alerts under its traditional model. The VTS system can automate these tasks, allowing operators to focus on more complex traffic management and emergency coordination.

The VTS system monitors vessel information and issues relevant warnings. [Photo/Yangshan Port Maritime Safety Administration]

Designed to achieve "zero conflicts, zero incidents, and zero delays", the VTS system consolidates all vessel navigation zones within the Yangshan VTS management area into 25 routes. Through advanced computational analysis, the system assigns six-tier navigation rights and digitizes traffic patterns in high-density convergence zones. This creates a management framework centered on "route allocation, right prioritization, and rule digitization", ensuring the VTS system's instructions are scientifically grounded and operationally efficient.

The VTS system will undertake priority vessel inspection and navigation support tasks during the 8th China International Import Expo. Moving forward, the system will be deeply integrated into the intelligent maritime ecosystem and undergo continuous upgrades to provide safer and smarter support.