Abu Dhabi activates waterway monitoring centre for maritime safety

The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport – Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Maritime (part of AD Ports Group) and with the support of the National Guard, has activated the Waterway Monitoring and Control Centre to strengthen maritime safety in Abu Dhabi. The facility serves as a central hub for waterway safety monitoring and public maritime service operations and will leverage smart systems and predictive analytics to support maritime activities and enhance the experience of waterway users across the emirate. A nexus for waterway management in Abu Dhabi, the centre delivers comprehensive situational awareness across navigational channels and open waters within the emirate’s waterbodies, which span more than 45,000 square kilometres. This enables real-time monitoring of public maritime service dispatch, public water transport, and marine craft circulation. Furthermore, the centre coordinates and oversees the positioning and maintenance of nearly 2,000 navigation aids and sensor-equipped smart lanterns, including 1,063 lateral marker buoys, 367 beacons, 227 signage buoys, and 62 shallow-water signage boards. The centre also facilitates the delivery of more than 40 public maritime services through official digital channels, while ensuring close monitoring of visiting vessel journeys, including occupancy patterns across more than 1,500 public berths. Its scope extends to monitoring public water transport movements, including ferries and water taxis, managing wreck and debris clearing operations, and issuing marine notices and circulars. Additionally, the centre is responsible for official inspections and enforcing maritime safety regulations across more than 100 public and private maritime facilities and approximately 3,600 recreational marine craft, ensuring seamless communication with relevant authorities.