Capital plans maritime database

The database would provide as much information as possible about vessels and other maritime activity in Abu Dhabi waters.

DUBAI // Seeking to enhance its control of Abu Dhabi waters, the Government plans to develop a unified database for all vessels and marine establishments.

The database is expected to help the Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA), which is responsible for maritime safety in the emirate, to safeguard the Abu Dhabi coastline and physical facilities.

It would do this by providing as much information as possible about vessels and other maritime activity in these waters, an official said yesterday at the Border Control, Airport and Seaport Security conference in Dubai. The conference began on Monday and concluded yesterday at the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai.

"By knowing the identity of people taking to the sea and having comprehensive information on all the boats registered, one will be able to have better control of the sea and thus can intervene better when needed," Ibrahim al Nuaimi, the acting rapporteur for the Abu Dhabi maritime security executive committee, said yesterday.

The database is expected to be completed by the end of next year. The move is also viewed as a way to simplify registration procedures for boat owners.

"The different authorities which will be linked to the database are still to be decided, but we would like it to include as many concerned authorities as possible," said Lt Col Ahmad al Marar, the CNIA head of security. "We are facing many security challenges including infiltration by illegals as well as international terrorism."

The database initiative is still in its early stages, and the exact scope of information to be included was yet to be determined, officials said. The CNIA is talking with several authorities about linking the database with them.

The authority is also planning to set up a new registration office in the Western Region next year to help facilitate registration procedures, Lt Col al Marar said.

Currently, the authority is responsible for issuing e-passport devices to monitor boats. The tracking devices allowrescue teams to quickly respond to emergency calls.

The rule to install the device was announced by the authority in June last year. Owners of boats that do not adhere to the rule are subject to fines.

The concluding day of the border control conference also allowed insight into the declining number of pirate attacks in Emirati waters. Six vessels suffered such incidents this year within the country's marine territory, compared with 16 last year, statistics provided by the UAE Coastguard showed. No information was available about when or where the incidents took place, or their scope and nature.

According to the Coastguard's definition, piracy is illegal activity at sea such as violent attacks or seizing, plundering or stealing from a ship, people or property.

Piracy is on the rise in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden as incidents involving raiders from Somalia increase.

Since a Japanese oil tanker was attacked in July while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, concerns about security along the UAE coast have increased.

Threats such as maritime terrorism, illegal infiltration and piracy were addressed by Col Hassan al Matroushi, the Coastguard's commander, during the conference.

"Coast guards play an important role in combating maritime terrorism through the deployment of air and marine patrols as well as radar monitoring," he said.

"We also seek to prevent any smuggling of weapons or explosives through our coastlines."

The UAE Coastguard also inspects identification documents for people and marine transportation vessels to prevent members of any terrorist groups from either entering or exiting through UAE sea ports, Col al Matroushi said.