French maritime surveillance centres have been operating for several years. Experience gained over this period, and the French government's desire to take all steps to limit the possibility of catastrophic pollution, has led the French lighthouse and navigation service, in cooperation with the transport research institute, to implement an updated programme for maritime surveillance centres to allow them to carry out their existing tasks more efficiently and increase the scale of their activities. For this reason, a new system is being tried out at Gris-Nez Centre. It comprises a computer, which receives radar data from the radar tracking computer and effects partial automatization of the operator's tasks. In the future, it is hoped to use this new computer to help the operation centre detect the most dangerous encounter situations between vessels.

Obviously the centre is not intended to replace the officer of the watch, who will retain full responsibility, but it can assist by putting him in touch with vessels which he could encounter. A typical case where the centre might help is that of a vessel whose radar is out of service, or a vessel hindered by her deep draught and limited manoeuvrability.

The participation of such centres in preventing collisions is a new factor in maritime operations and can only be introduced when all preliminary investigations have been carried out.