Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) will probably be creating an indigenous Vessel Traffic Management Software and {hardware} utilized in ports. Currently, Indian Ports use international choices for fulfilling the identical function, thus main to increased prices. A Memorandum of Understanding between IIT-M and the VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Trust in Tuticorin was signed for this software program improvement mission.
Led by the National expertise Center for Ports Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC), a Centre of Excellence at IIT Madras, this mission is according to Atmanirbhar Bharat(self-reliant India) and Digital India. The current VTS at VOC Port has been operational for practically seven years. Given the fast will increase in maritime visitors in India and overseas, a extra VTS efficient system would assist create increased security ranges.
According to T.Okay. Ramachandran, IAS, Chairman, VOC Port Trust, Tuticorin, theirs is the primary main Indian port to signal a MoU with NTCPWC for indigenous software program improvement. He stated this home-grown various can be a game-changer in Indian Maritime Industry.
Zee Media spoke to Prof. Okay. Murali, Professor In-charge, NTCPWC-IIT Madras, to perceive some great benefits of this mission, its bigger significance compared with international choices.
According to him, when shopping for from international firms, they provide very costly, full hardware-software packages, whose inner workings usually are not recognized to the consumer. Whereas, within the case of indigenous improvement, software program might be developed right here and improve of {hardware} might be performed primarily based on in-house specialists advice. The {hardware} so required is supposed to be straight procured by the ports, thus figuring out to be 50% cheaper.
“Though ours is a maiden initiative, the software is expected to be ready in less than a year. Our software will be developed using open-architecture. It will be flexible and interoperable, which means it can be integrated with other existing systems that ports use for daily operations” Prof. Murali advised Zee Media.
In a optimistic step for this home-grown initiative, it’s stated that talks are on with extra Indian ports to undertake this software program. There can also be no restrict to the variety of vessels this indigenous software program can handle, as this functionality might be scaled up on the {hardware} facet.
