Turkey to launch indigenous maritime traffic system in 2019

ANKARA

Turkey will complete its indigenous maritime traffic system project in 16 months and put it into service by April, 2019, Ahmet Arslan, Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications said on Dec. 15.

Speaking at a signing ceremony, Arslan said the project is an important step to reduce dependency on foreign countries.

Arslan stated that Turkish state-run air defense and military software company HAVELSAN and Turkish defense contractor ASELSAN are jointly working on the project.

"The cost of this project is 59 million Turkish liras [$15.2 million],” Arslan said, adding that they planned to complete the project by Apr. 15, 2019.

Once the project is launched, Turkey would have its own information database about vessels on Turkish seas and would be able to share this information with other state institutions instantly, the minister said.

With 90 percent of world trade carried out by sea transport, Arslan stressed the importance of maritime networks for economic growth.

He said Turkey hosted 174 international harbors and that the country exhibited a “remarkable” improvement in maritime safety.

The deal was signed by Arslan, Canikli, Turkish General of Coastal Safety Director Hızırreis Deniz and HAVELSAN General

Manager Ahmet Hamdi Atalay, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli also attended the ceremony.