The Marine Traffic Control Center, VTS – Lisbon, manages navigation within the jurisdiction area of the Lisbon Port Administration – provides information and advises ships navigating in the Tagus Estuary and approaching it – up to a radius of 16.5 nautical miles (approximately 27 km), centered on VTS – Lisbon and with the Vasco da Gama Bridge as the upstream limit.
Thus, controllers, through surveillance cameras, radars, sensors, among other support equipment, receive data that allows them to monitor and control maritime movement. Additionally, they are also responsible for managing the wharves.
Flanked by the waters of the Tagus Estuary, the Lisbon Port VTS Tower is located in Algés, at the tip of a breakwater in an artificial harbour. It was designed to withstand the extreme conditions of its location, withstanding the impact of tides, strong winds and occasional storms. The structure is supported by 25 piles, each 1 metre in diameter and 20 metres long, sunk 2 metres into the basalt seabed, ensuring stability and robustness.
Designed by architect Gonçalo Byrne, the VTS Tower won the Conde de Oeiras municipal architecture award. According to the jury, “a simple, geometrically clear gesture, with an original and careful treatment and detailing of the façade, a fact that gives it a remarkable uniqueness. Thus, the rigor and quality of the project are still visible in the level of detailing and finishing options.” Furthermore, the tower is considered one of the architect’s most emblematic constructions, standing out for its harmonious integration with the landscape.
Currently, the VTS Tower also accommodates the Dolphin Observatory in the Tagus River, transforming into a reference point for environmental education and awareness about the preservation of marine biodiversity. From its top, visitors can contemplate not only the dolphins and seabirds of the estuary, but also a panoramic view over Lisbon and the Atlantic Ocean.
