Safety system dedicated for Tampa Bay area

Safety system dedicated for Tampa Bay area Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard and the ports of Tampa, Port Manatee and St. Petersburg will be on hand today for dedication ceremonies marking the launch of the Cooperative Vessel Traffic Service (CVTS) for Tampa Bay.
   The traffic system is focused on the safe movement of all vessels sailing the navigable waters within a 35-mile radius of a centralized sea buoy and all waters east of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This area includes Old Tampa Bay, south of the Gandy Bridge, and all waters of the Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay.
   “We have worked hard to combine our strengths in developing a winning team here in Tampa Bay, and safety on our waterways, security of our ports and protection of our environment is at the core of what we believe is the best cooperative effort anywhere in the country,” said Capt. Joseph A. Servidio, Coast Guard captain of the port.