Qatar has announced plans to deploy a Centralised Vessel Monitoring and Alerting System (CVMAS) to provide oversight of vessel activity and offshore infrastructure across its waters, to be delivered by Norwegian technology company Vissim.
The CVMAS platform will cover the nation’s coastline and more than 300 offshore assets, integrating multiple data sources, such as automatic vessel identification system (AIS) data, radar technology, and weather information from platforms like Storm and Vaisala.
Data collected by the system will be accessible at QatarEnergy’s Joint Operations Centre in Doha, a hub for oil and gas operators in the region. The centre will support real-time situational awareness and coordinated decision-making, with the goal of creating a safer and more efficient maritime ecosystem.
Vissim’s software processes millions of data points to create an overview of vessel activity, integrating personnel and logistics management systems like SkyTrac and DaWinci, as well as geographic mapping technology from ArcGIS.
“Our software systems deliver a fully digitised and user-friendly overview of vessel traffic across Qatar’s waters, including its coastline and offshore assets,” said Benedicte Stiberg, Vissim’s regional director for the Middle East.
“Equipped with 24/7 surveillance, the system continuously monitors maritime activities, using an alarm mechanism to prioritise critical events. This not only enhances asset protection and maritime operations but also improves ocean space awareness by delivering a clear and actionable understanding of activities across Qatar’s waters.”
The system is expected to be fully operational during the first half of 2025.
