Workshop on maritime security opens
A team of Scientists from the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of Ghana, are holding a stakeholders’ workshop on vessel traffic monitoring in support of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
The workshop being organised in collaboration with Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Centre Pacific of United States Navy, is to provide a platform for deliberation on policy strategies for maritime security at the local and regional levels.
It would in addition, establish a mechanism for capacity building as well as sharing of tools and data among stakeholders.
Dr George Wiafe, Senior Lecturer of the Department, said the continuous tracking of vessels of all sizes, and identification of anomalies played a significant role in several important areas, particularly in combating drug trafficking, illegal fishing operations, potential maritime terrorist threats and piracy.
He stressed that efforts to develop the capacity and enforce maritime safety and security must therefore take cognisance of elements within the broad spectrum of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and ensure strict and wider monitoring of activities of vessels, including large commercial ships, industrial and semi-industrial fishing vessels as well as very small wooden canoes mainly used in artisanal fishing.
Dr Wiafe said threats from such vessels might arise in a variety of ways, such as avoiding detection and thereby deviating from declared itineraries, tampering with onboard Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and making unscheduled stops or rendezvous.
He explained that, to augment the efforts of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries undertook a collaborative research with respect to application of space-based radar to monitor vessels in the Gulf of Guinea.
Dr Wiafe said it was realised that most of the vessels that were legally registered to operate only in Ghanaian waters often cross over into other territories, but their activities could not be detected because they did not have onboard (AIS) transponders.
“While there may be legitimate reasons for such behaviour from these vessels, current and complete knowledge of the vessel’s activities would be the best way to discern potential threats to act accordingly,” he added.
Dr Wiafe said enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) was realised through better detection, identification and tracking of vessels in an Area of Responsibility (AOR) and this would enhance stability and prosperity in the sub-region.
Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Transport, in a speech read for him enumerated the socio-economic benefits of the ocean and its significant contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
However, he said the illegal activities of some vessels and artisanal fishing canoes often posed major threats to the nation’s economic gains and called for stringent effort to arrest the situation.
Mr Gidisu expressed concern about the gradual depletion and reduction in the quality of fish, which could be attributed to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IIU).
He commended the researchers for their effort in using data acquired from space radar to track vessels, including those which did not have AIS transponders.
Mr Gidisu said Parliament this year, approved a loan facility for the supply, installation and operation of a Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) under the aegis of the GMA.
He said the VTMIS would ensure effective monitoring of the country’s waters and check unlawful activities such as piracy, armed robbery and illegal fishing, possible shipment of narcotics as well as ensure safety of navigation and protection of the marine environment from pollution.
Mr Gidisu advised the researchers to liaise with the GMA to augment the VTMIS with their research findings.
Source: GNA