Speeches
Consul General Sharon Wiener's Remarks on the Occasion of the Opening of New Marmara Vessel Traffic Services Extension at VTS Facility, Istinye
Istanbul - July 2, 2008
Your Excellency Minister Yildirim, Undersecretary for Maritime Affairs Naiboglu, Director General of the Coastal Safety Administration Salih Orakçı, Istanbul University Vice Rector Papila, Lockheed Martin Corporate Business Development Director Sireilles, and distinguished guests, good afternoon.
It is my pleasure to be at the Vessel Traffic Services facility here in Istinye this afternoon. We at the U.S. Consulate General are your neighbors and the many high level U.S. visitors we bring are always impressed with the operation here and with the high quality – and hospitality – of the management.
On the occasion of the opening of the new Marmara extension of the Vessel Traffic Services System, I would like to congratulate all of you for your hard work and dedication to making the seas of Turkey safe for the vessels of all nations.
For centuries, these picturesque waterways before us have had a pivotal role in the history of Turkey, and in the history of the world. This is something I am reminded of every day, because one of the many rewards of being the U.S. Consul General in Istanbul is that my official residence has a truly spectacular view of the Bosphorus. I begin and end every day with this view. Despite its historical importance, however, I believe that this passage has never been as important as it is today. In our globalized, interdependent, energy-hungry world shipping through Turkey has taken on monumental significance for the health of world economies.
By the 1990s it was clear that vessel traffic in the Bosphorus had reached a saturation point, with 50,000 vessels transiting the straits each year, in addition to an uncountable number of ferries and smaller vessels. It was clear that a modern, comprehensive system had to be put into place to govern this traffic, and to prevent possible disaster. Almost exactly five years ago, that need was filled when Turkey opened the original Vessel Traffic Management Information System. This project turned out to be one more excellent example of how the United States and Turkey can work closely together for our mutual benefit. We were extremely proud that the Ministry of Transport selected Lockheed Martin, a world leader in this field to help build this important system.
This proven technology has helped move massive amounts of materiel and product in close proximity to one of the largest cities in the world successfully and safely for five years. Lockheed Martin’s innovative software works seamlessly with the original 13 remote sensing towers to sort out and manage this congested waterway.
Today Minister Yildirim will open the Marmara extension to this system. The extension will give a clear picture of shipping in the Marmara Sea and allow uninterrupted management of vessels from the entrance of the Canakkale straights through to the Black Sea.
This is sure to promote safer navigation and enhanced search and rescue capability if needed.
This is truly yet another historic day for this venerable waterway and for Turkish-American relations. Once again, I congratulate all of you on this project.
Thank you
