Vessel traffic services on the Three Gorges Dam

A Zetron dispatch console system has recently upgraded operational communications at China’s Changjiang Three Gorges River Maritime Safety Administration (MSA). This expands and updates a Zetron system that was originally installed for the MSA in 2009-10.

One of the engineering wonders of the modern world, the Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River in the Hubei province of China. The Chinese government regards the dam as a historic engineering, social and economic success, as well as a move toward limiting greenhouse gas emissions. Its enormous significance to the Chinese economy is often compared to the effect the Panama Canal had on commercial maritime traffic in the 20th century.

Three Gorges Dam is also the world’s largest power station, with an installed capacity of 22,500 megawatts (MW). In addition to producing electricity, the dam has increased the Yangtze River’s shipping capacity and reduced the potential for floods downstream by providing flood storage space. Newly installed ship locks have increased river shipping from ten million to 100 million tonnes annually and cut transportation costs by almost 35%.

The navigation and management of shipping traffic through the gorges are overseen by Changjiang MSA. Because exports are the lifeline of the Chinese economy, and the gorges are notoriously dangerous to navigate, the MSA initially decided to install new technology that would help ensure a safe and efficient shipping environment.

Following an in-depth analysis of global vendors, they chose Zetron in 2009-10 to provide communication consoles for their vessel traffic services (VTS) system. The system was successfully deployed and proved to be reliable, flexible and user friendly. Due to China’s rapid economic growth, the required freight capacity increased sixfold in three years. As a result, the MSA’s VTS systems were expanded in late 2012, and Zetron consoles were once again selected.