Port Authority of New South Wales (NSW) has established the technology of Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) system for safer manoeuvring of large ships in the ports of Newcastle, Kembla and Botany.
The new contract centralises and upgrades the DUKC systems for the Port Authority of NSW providing Under Keel Clearance (UKC) calculations, system implementation, ongoing maintenance and support, quality assurances and data management processes for all large commercial vessels at the three ports, according to the Port Authority of NSW’s Sydney and Botany Harbour Master, Myron Fernandes.
In particular, the DUCK’s marine pilots have oversight of over 4,500 deep-sea vessels navigating in and out the three ports and provide them with near real-time data, taking account of a number of variables, such as the height of the tide, the speed of the ship, the ship’s manoeuvrability, tidal streams and the dynamic motions of the vessel.
“Ports provide the life support for our economy with 99% of our exports and imports arriving by sea and over US$73.8 billion worth of trade passing through NSW ports each year” explained Fernandes.
“The technology, called a Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) system, being rolled out in Port Botany marks another milestone in NSW’s journey delivering new efficiencies, safety outcomes and environmental protections for ships and our port waters,” he added.
Furthermore, the CEO of the partnering agency OMC International, Peter O’Brien said that DUKC will be used to safely optimise the visiting deep-draft container and tanker vessels.
