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1st September, 2011
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.
GNA
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.
GNA
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