Combating maritime pollution in South Africa
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) has installed a sophisticated satellite navigation system that will enable it to monitor vessels that might pollute South African waters. The Long Range Identification and Tracking will be able to track vessels within 1000 nautical miles of South African coastline.
According to the organisation's website, Samsa is responsible for ensuring the safety of life and property in South African waters, as well as preventing any acts that might cause an environmental risk. Through the new system, Samsa's Centre for Sea Watch and Response (CSWR) has the capacity to identify and track vessels up to 1000 nautical miles (nm) from the South African coastline, as well as South Africa-flagged vessels anywhere in the world. The system is known as Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and enables the maritime authority to communicate directly with ships, improving the quality of information exchanged with the vessel's master. CSWR executive Karl Otto told delegates at an international conference last week that the authority was determined to protect seafarers, the coastline as well as the marine environment.
The introduction of the system follows concerns over the standards of ships within South African waters, as well as the associated threat of pollution. "This is a revolutionary development in the security of our seas," Otto said. "Until now we had very limited capacity to identify, track and monitor shipping beyond the horizon. Many ships have sailed our waters without our knowledge. Some may even have polluted our waters unbeknown to us. "Until now we have not been able to track vessels which may have carried toxic and hazardous cargo to South African ports, or were transiting our waters to foreign destinations," he said. Samsa, through the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has extended an invitation to other African countries and member states to make use of the equipment.
Source: Sustainable Shipping
