Iraq inaugurates a system for monitoring ships in its territorial waters.
Iraq inaugurates a system for monitoring ships in its territorial waters.
2026-10-20
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Tuesday, the Iraqi Higher Maritime Authority inaugurated the (VTS) system project to monitor the movement of ships and regulate their entry and exit in Iraqi territorial waters, as part of developing maritime control systems and enhancing the efficiency of managing maritime traffic.
The head of the authority, Ali Abdul Latif Al-Tamimi, said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the project comes in line with the directives of the Ministry of Transport aimed at developing technical and operational capabilities, and raising the level of monitoring ships and verifying their movement, in order to enhance the security of Iraqi territorial waters and support maritime and commercial activity.
Al-Tamimi added that the importance of the project stems from Iraq’s geographical location on the Shatt al-Arab and the Arabian Gulf, and the role of Iraqi ports in linking the national economy to international markets, explaining that developing maritime monitoring systems contributes to regulating ship traffic, enhancing safety and security procedures, reducing risks and illegal activities, as well as protecting vital facilities and the marine environment.
He explained that the system will support regulatory procedures and information exchange, and improve the smooth flow of maritime and commercial traffic, thereby enhancing the efficiency of maritime work and supporting investment opportunities in the sector, in addition to keeping pace with technological developments and international experiences in managing ship traffic.
He noted that the project takes into account relevant international laws, agreements and standards, including the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), each according to its scope of application.
shafaq.com
