Quality of information about tracked vessel in VTS centre

The paper describes selective results of tests performed in the area of the Bay of Gdansk with the effect to compare information accuracy about position, heading and speed and course over ground of a tracked vessel equipped with gyrocompass and DGPS receiver, accessible on its board and in VTS centres with different shore based radar tracking systems. For the purpose of the measurements additional positioning equipment was involved. To receive precise reference system, one real time kinematic (RTK) GPS and three DGPS receivers were installed onboard the survey vessel. All DGPS receivers were tracking the same Polish reference station installed in Rozewie. There was output data automatically recorded from VTS radar tracking systems and ship´s gyrocompass and DGPS/GPS receivers. Presented results show advantages of application for VTS purposes AIS system in comparison with shore based radar tracking system.