This paper by the Harbour Master of Marseilles and his adviser on radio aids describes the system of traffic surveillance developed by the Port of Marseilles. The paper was originally presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Vessel Traffic Services held in Bremen from 28 to 30 April 1981.

The creation of an Integrated Traffic Regulation Centre (ITRC) was the solution chosen by the Port of Marseilles Authority to deal with the numerous traffic problems that had arisen in recent years in the Gulf of Fos due to the extremely rapid growth of the maritime traffic, especially oil tankers, converging on the Gulf which now totals over 80 million tonnes per year and the general tendency towards the construction and operation of very large ships, conspicuous in the development of oil tankers but now to a lesser extent in other categories of ship also.