New initiative to secure and maintain Bahrain's sovereignty in surrounding territorial waters
Bahrain, 01 June 2011: The General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) today announced a new initiative to control and supervise the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) at the Khalifa Bin Salman Port's (KBSP) harbour control tower. As part of the new initiative the GOP will direct and supervise the operation of the VTMS centre to secure coastal surveillance and maintain sovereignty in Bahrain's surrounding territorial waters.
A GOP delegation led by GOP Chairman, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, Director General, Hassan Al Majed, and senior team members visited the control tower to commemorate the new initiative.
Commenting on the announcement, the Chairman of GOP, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, said: "GOP's supervision of the VTMS will play a vital role in ensuring continuous surveillance of the territorial waters, compliance of safe navigation regulations and protection of the Kingdom's marine environment. Maintaining Bahrain's sovereignty in its surrounding territorial waters, the high performance navigation system will further help us track live ship positions, closely monitor vessel traffic movement in the anchorage area, and on the main route to KBSP and regulate maritime traffic flow entering and leaving Bahrain's ports.
"Strengthening the Kingdom's coastal surveillance, we are confident that GOP's control of the VTMS will ensure greater operational efficiency and higher service quality. As a regulator, the GOP remains commited to improve efficiency of ports and supervise all maritime activities to further Bahrain's growth as a regional transhipment hub and maritime centre", he added.
As part of its strategic plan, moving forward GOP aims to build a complete team of VTMS professionals by providing top-of-the-line training for existing staff and recruiting new professionals in order to take complete control and run the VTM System at KBSP.
Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) is one of the latest cutting-edge technology installed at the KBSP which helps to improve safety of vessel traffic, provide information regarding traffic situations during bad weather, regulate maritime traffic flow, improve planning of berth, anchoring area occupancy and traffic, track violation of navigational rules inside the controlled area and several other functions with the help of specially installed radar coverage.
GOP remains committed to demonstrating the professional excellence of the maritime and shipping industry and to offering quality services to meet the increasing needs of users and stakeholders alike. Recently GOP was awarded the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Systems (QMS) certification for conformity to the highest international standards across in all its activities across all departments within the organisation.
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About General Organisation of Sea Ports:
The General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) was established in September 2006 with a mission to develop Bahrain's maritime industry and infrastructure and regulate its operation in line with the Kingdom's Economic Vision 2030 development strategy. The GOP's overarching responsibility lies in guiding the development of strategies to position Bahrain as a global leader in the maritime industry.
As a regulator, the GOP is responsible for supervising all maritime safety and environmental matters and ensuring adequate infrastructure is in place to serve the needs of the Kingdom's seaports, including the region's newest state-of-the-art port Khalifa Bin Salman Port. The GOP is also responsible for operating and developing the Bahrain Logistics zone.
Adhering to the highest international quality standards of safety, environment and security, the GOP aims to position the Kingdom as the strategic gateway and trans shipment hub to the northern Gulf.
For press information contact:
Kamalakshi Misra/Neena Punnen
Hill & Knowlton
Tel: +973 1753 3532
Fax: +973 1753 3370
Email: Kamalakshi.misra@hillandknowlton.com
Neena.punnen@hillandknowlton.com
© Press Release 2011
