This paper outlines the design of a Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS) for the Turkish Straits and taking this as an example shows how modelling and simulation may aid safe and efficient navigation of vessels through waterways which are narrow and winding with changing currents and are therefore difficult to navigate and prone to accidents. Ship Handling and Vessel Traffic Flow simulation models and Hyrographic Prediction model are described and the simulation trials conducted under different traffic and environment conditions are discussed to show the role that these prediction and simulation programmes can play in preventing marine casualities in different waterways, which may result in loss of human lifes and property and contamination of the environment.
