ISTANBUL - Director General of Coast Guard and Ship Rescuing Enterprises (KEGKI) Hucum Tulgar said on Tuesday that the Turkish Straits Ship Traffic and Information System (VTS) strengthened the security on the Straits.
''Earlier, ten big or small accidents used to take place on the Strait in average in one month. Atfer the system started to operate, no accidents took place,'' Tulgar told A.A correspondent.
Tulgar stated that VTS system operated like it was planned since July 1, which was the Cabotage Day and by when the system was put into force.
Tulgar said that the system would formally start to operate in October, adding that ''although it is in trial process, the system brought important facilities to us. We can see what is happening on the Istanbul Strait in 24 hours. We can watch all the ships and see which ones exceed the speed limit or break the rules. Ships are also aware that they are being monitored, so they act according to that.''
(Öª-AÖ) 05.08.2003