New sea satellite system helps South Africans combat piracy

Source: Xinhua

JOHANNESBURG, March 8 (Xinhua) -- In order to combat piracy and to improve maritime safety, South African authorities have begun using a sophisticated navigation satellite system, it was announced on Tuesday.

Piracy, especially by Somalis, has been increasing along Africa east coast in recent years. The South African Press Association (SAPA) reported on Tuesday that Karl Otto, head of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) announced the surveillance tool at a conference in Durban.

Called Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT), the system monitors and tracks vessels in waters south of the equator.

Otto said the introduction of the LRIT followed concerns over the safety of seafarers, the safety standards of ships within South African waters.

Otto said there were high levels of cargo at risk, such as fuels and oils.

He said reasons for installing the system included the number of shipwrecks along the South African coast, and the threat of pollution of the marine environment by ships.

"It also serves as a mechanism to prevent piracy."

Otto said the satellite system has the capacity to identify and track vessels up to 1,000 nautical miles (1,850 km) from the South African coastline as well as South African-flagged vessels anywhere in the world.

"This is a revolutionary development in the security of our seas," he said.

SAMSA was determined to protect South Africa's seafarers, its coastline and the marine environment, Otto said.