Gulf LRIT

issue 01 April 2008
Shiptalk News

Bahrain and its GCC neighbours are beefing up coastal security with a new, hi-tech system to track ships, up to 1,000 miles from the coastline.. The global tracking system called the Long Range Identification and Tracking System (LRIT) will also enable countries to pinpoint their own commercial ships anywhere in the world, at any time. It will also help in search-and-rescue operations by giving instant information on shipping in the area. This is in answer to the new IMO regulation requiring LRIT to be installed on all commercial ships with a gross tonnage of 150 tons and above except fishing vessels. The LRIT tracking of ships came into force at the beginning of the year and will become fully operational by December 31. The LRIT system will entitle governments who have adopted the new regulations to receive reports on identification and position of ships registered to that member state, wherever the ship is located. They will also be able to receive the same information about ships that have declared their intention to enter a port in a member state's territory; ships passing within 1,000 miles of the coastline of a member state's territory and ships in an area where a search and rescue operation is underway.