The emergency operations centre which will provide virtual eyes to the State port regulator Gujarat Maritime Board to monitor all the activities in the Gulf of Cambay (Khambhat) has become operational.

Mr Pankaj Kumar vice chairman and CEO of GMB said that the new capability would not only help in monitoring ship movement in the Gulf but also facilitate swift action and coordination of emergency operations in times of emergency within and beyond the Gulf.

The new facility assumes significance in monitoring ship movements in the Gulf, particularly in view of the fact that terrorists had captured a fishing boat near Porbandar to reach Mumbai on November 26th 2008.

The only Vessel Traffic and Port Management System in India, for the Gulf of Cambay, had become operational on August 15 last year.

The project undertaken for GMB by Aatash Norcontrol Ltd was completed within two years with modern radar and other communication equipment, Mr Jinofer Bhujwala chairman and MD of ANL.

The Master Control Station at Hazira in Surat district of Gujarat operates round the clock, guiding ships plying in the Gulf in safe navigation. It keeps an eye on all the vessels sailing in and out at various ports in the Gulf.

The usefulness of the VTPMS in search and rescue operations was established during the sinking of a vessel, Logos, off Jafrabad on January 22 this year. Timely action saved 25 lives, which was hailed by the Coast Guard.