Vessel Traffic Services.

This paper will examine the historical impetus for Vessel Traffic System VTS development in the United States. Cost benefit techniques utilized to establish the VTS requirement are discussed and the data base upon which the analysis is conducted is critiqued. General Accounting Office criticism of the Coast Guards VTS development process are analyzed. Finally VTS is examined as a single component in the improvement of port logistics, which must be arrayed against other alternatives to make the most effective use of scarce resources. This final element is discussed with respect to the Federal governments attempt to recover clearly allocatable costs in the form of user fees. Author