BY SACHIN KUMAR
DOHA: Qatar is set to play a key regional role in marine forecasting, with its Marine Forecasting Office set to become operational by the middle of next year. It will be the first facility of its kind in the Gulf to provide meteorology services to ships entering the region.
“It will be the centre for marine forecasts for the Gulf region and will cover the area from Kuwait to Oman. The entire Gulf region will use its services,” Ahmed Abdulla Mohammed, head of the Meteorological Department in the Civil Aviation Authority told The Peninsula on the sidelines of the sixth regional conference on Management of National Meteorological and Hydrological Service. “We are trying for this office to be operational by the mid of 2015,” he said.
All ships entering Gulf waters will be able to get weather forecasts and warnings about bad weather from the office. Accurate and updated data will help ships reach their destination safely and on time.
“For ships, it will provide information on all the elements of weather, including up to 10 days of forecasts, plus warnings,” said Mohammed. “The services will be available to all kinds of ships, be they commercial, industrial or military ships,” he added.
The new forecasting office will put Qatar in the select category of countries that have such facilities.
“There are just five such centres in the world and this will be the sixth one to provide such services. Qatar’s role in the maritime world will increase significantly,” he said.
The centre already has the backing of neighbouring countries and the World Meteorological Organisation, a United Nations body.
“It is recognised by the GCC countries and World Meteorological Organisation as a centre for marine forecast,” Mohammed said.
Equipped with latest devices and equipment, the centre will be in Al Wakra.
Apart from providing weather forecast-related services, the centre will help ships facing any difficulty. In case any ship requires help, it will be able to connect with the centre which will alert coastguards or other agencies.
The Peninsula
