Falklands : Extension of VMS to all licensed vessels Discussed at Fisheries Committee Meeting
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 17.04.2008 (Article Archived on 01.05.2008)
Dr. John Barton, the Director of Fisheries has stated that AIS is due to be implemented on 1 July 2008 for all licensed vessels. He has proposed to make VMS also mandatory from 1 July 2008.
Extension of VMS to all licensed vessels Discussed at Fisheries Committee Meeting
By J. Brock (FINN)
Dr. John Barton, the Director of Fisheries has stated that AIS is due to be implemented on 1 July 2008 for all licensed vessels. He has proposed to make VMS also mandatory from 1 July 2008.
At minor transmission costs this is possible because the relevant equipment is aboard the vessels. VMS is working better than it was and Fisheries have a 5 year agreement in place for technical support. The system was chosen because VMS has global coverage obviously including the entire FI zone, whereas AIS is VHF range.
On the subject Stuart Wallace, an industry representative, said that such a development is generally welcomed and further stated that jigger owners had initially been worried by this enforcement but had now accepted the proposal. However, he queried whether the proposed SAFC system was sufficiently tamper proof. DoF stated that InMarSat C has all the necessary safeguards, there is currently no intention to make tamperproof boxes mandatory, but this can be implemented if necessary. Legislation is in place to make VMS mandatory. Use of SatC systems across the FI fleet has not encountered erroneous reporting.
Councillor Cockwell asked if the Ordinance would allow improper use of VMS to be penalised. The Principal Crown Counsel confirmed regulations could be made. But the Argos transponder operates slightly differently; it had been agreed to go the InMarSat C route, although it is conceivable that the VMS server could accept Argos reports.
Councillor Cockwell stated that whilst attending the Cluster Seminar in Spain this item had been raised and the general view seemed to be that VMS should be mandatory across all fisheries.
Lewis Clifton asked who was likely to be responsible for cost, to which John Barton said that the paper could be submitted to ExCo. Initial costs were not excessive and there was no immediate proposal to pass these on.
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