Cooperative Data Centre for Gulf region

The Kingdom of Bahrain has extended an open invitation to all GCC states to join the Cooperative Data Centre, which will increase maritime domain awareness.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation Ports and Maritime Affairs sets up GCC Cooperative Data Centre for the Gulf region.  

The Ministry of Transportation’s Ports and Maritime Affairs has announced that several members of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) have joined forces to form a Cooperative Data Centre for Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) in order to facilitate closer cooperation on maritime security in the region.

The Long-Range Identification and Tracking regulation provides for the global identification and tracking of ships and is mandatory for all International SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention Contracting Governments which Bahrain is party to.

Bahrain’s LRIT Data Centre now provides services to the Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. The setup of the new joint Data Centre was facilitated by Pole Star Space Applications, the LRIT service provider for the GCC member states. The Kingdom of Bahrain has extended an open invitation to all GCC states to join the Cooperative Data Centre, which will enhance regional cooperation and increase maritime domain awareness.

The initiative is in line with the charter of the GCC, whose objectives are to effect coordination, integration and interconnection between member states by formulating similar regulations in all fields.

Commenting on the announcement, His Excellency Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation said: “The formation of the GCC Co-operative Data Centre is a significant milestone achievement for Bahrain. With this new Data Centre, we are able to provide GCC member states the facility to collect and store information on ships which will bolster regional cooperation and increase awareness in the maritime domain.”

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Source: AME Info.