Within the scope of Vessel Traffic Management System Project, The pre-meeting regarding the feasibility study on Eastern Mediterranean Expansion of Vessel Traffic Services will be held at the Faculty of Maritime Studies of the University of Kyrenia, which is located within the campus of Near East University, at 10:00 on April 20, 2015.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of University of Kyrenia, the pre-meeting regarding the feasibility study on Eastern Mediterranean (TRNC) Expansion of Vessel Traffic Services will be held at the Faculty of Maritime Studies at the campus of NEU at 10:00 on April 20, 2015 within the scope of Vessel Traffic Management System Project envisaging the establishment of Vessel Traffic Management Center (VTMC) in Ankara, the installation of which is continued towards to cover the Regional Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) in Izmit Bay, Izmir Bay, Northern Aegean, Iskenderun and Mersin regions in which vessel traffic is intense and risky. In order to increase the sea traffic safety and efficiency and to monitor, arrange, organize and manage the vessel traffic movements in interaction with vessels, Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) Project is aimed at integrating Regional VTS Systems under the umbrella of the Vessel Traffic Management Center (VTMC) to be established in Ankara.

Shipmaster Mehmet Emin Debeş, faculty member of University of Kyrenia, who has conducted a comprehensive study on launching TRNC Regional Vessel Traffic System and the integration of this system with Turkish Regional Vessel Traffic Systems, will participate in the commission on behalf of University of Kyrenia.

Delivering information regarding the issue, Prof. Dr. Ilkay Salihoğlu, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of University of Kyrenia, underlined the fact that there was not a Vessel Traffic Service System in TRNC and drew attention to the importance of the academic study conducted by the Shipmaster Mehmet Emin Debeş, faculty member of University of Kyrenia. “His study has been taken into consideration within the scope of the project for Vessel Traffic Management System. To establish a TRNC-based Vessel Traffic Service System which will work in coordination with Ankara Vessel Traffic Management Center is very important. University of Kyrenia will be the stakeholder of the establishment of this system” said he.

Alongside the University of Kyrenia, Turkish Naval Force Command, Turkish Coast Guard Command, Turkish General Directorate of Coastal Safety, Turkish Information Technology Department, TRNC Ministry of Public Works and Transport, TRNC Security Force Command, Cyprus Turkish Coastal Safety and Vessel Rescue Ltd and ITU TRNC Education and Research campus provide contribution for the feasibility study regarding Eastern Mediterranean (TRNC) Expansion of Vessel Traffic Services within the scope of Vessel Traffic Management System Project. The project is aimed at creating a single territory image by combining and integrating the sea images created in Regional VTS Centers with the other systems, and monitoring the movements of vessels and cargoes in all ports throughout the country in order to ensure them to be used in a safer and more efficient way.