The Goa Mines and Geology department has made the automatic identification system (AIS) and vehicle tracking system (VTS) compulsory for all the ships carrying iron ore from state's jetties to the ports.
The move is to arrest the instances of iron ore exports fromthe state using these ships, commonly known as barges.
Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya said that theAIS and VTS will help in tracking the movement of iron ore till its loading inthe vessels, anchored at the ports.
Acharya has told the association of barge owners that novessel would be allowed to transport the iron ore without installation of thesesystems.
Goa is the biggest exporter of iron ore, majority of whichis shipped to China. The state has 300 mining leases of which 90 areoperational.
