MarAd Awards Grant To Develop Computerized Vessel Locator System

The Maritime Administration announced the award of a cooperative agreement of $97,989 to the Marine Exchange of the San Francisco Bay Region as a first step in the development and demonstration of a computerized system which would track and, in an emergency, provide the location of all ships in or scheduled to arrive or depart U.S. ports.

The management information system would support a nationwide vessel in-port locator system known as VIPLOC. By storing data on vessels scheduled to arrive and depart U.S. ports, it would aid in MarAd's decision- WtmK^^^m SH making process concerning ship resource utilization at the start of a national emergency.

Thomas McCarthy and Associates of Annapolis, Md., under a subcontract to the San Francisco Marine Exchange, will design and implement the VIPLOC computer application software and documentation, including a cost-benefit analysis. The Marine Exchange of the San Francisco Bay Region will spend an additional $30,000 for the acquisition of the computer hardware connected with the installation of the system.

The project is expected to be completed by June 30, 1982. Following its completion, a report on the application software and documentation will be made available to the participants and members of the National Association of Marine Exchanges. Adaptation costs would be borne by the user.

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.