Vessel safety will be improved in Gladstone, Bundaberg and Alma ports, with the introduction of world-class technology to track shipping movements.

Assistant Minister for Public Transport Steve Minnikin and Gladstone MP Liz Cunningham today inspected the new $2 million vessel tracking centre.

“The new vessel traffic service will oversee shipping movements through some of Queensland’s key ports,” Mr Minnikin said.

“It will provide unprecedented monitoring of shipping movements from a world-class centre, delivering on this government’s promise to revitalise front line services.

“The new port vessel traffic service will assist in safely managing port shipping by ensuring 24/7 advice and guidance on position of other ships, weather, tidal condition and possible hazards to navigation.”

The system was funded with support from the LNG industry, in conjunction with the Port of Gladstone.

Mrs Cunningham praised technicians and staff experts who worked over many months to fit out the new purpose-built centre.

“The centre will have a panoramic view of Gladstone Harbour supported by state-of-the-art radar, CCTV, weather sensors and navigation aids boosting safety on our waterways,” Mrs Cunningham said.

“Traffic in the harbour is increasing due to the LNG facilities at Curtis Island and this new vessel traffic service centre means Gladstone is ready to enter a new energy export era.

“We have also been assured there will be no interruption to ongoing shipping operations when the old centre is transferred to the new facility.”

When the Curtis Island facility comes online in the next few months the vessel traffic service will assist in monitoring LNG ships to safely transit the port of Gladstone and surrounding waters.