10K fishing boats from Sindh and Balochistan to be brought under VMS network
The federal government has finalised a plan to install Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) on fishing boats to enhance maritime security. curb illegal activities at sea.
The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) will oversee the installation. Before the equipment is fitted, all boats will be registered formally.
Officials said the move will allow real-time tracking of hundreds of boats operating simultaneously at sea. It will help identify suspicious vessels, reach accident sites faster, prevent the use of harmful nets. illegal fishing, and monitor smuggling of liquor, drugs, and human trafficking. The long-pending project was previously stalled after reservations from fishermen's organizations.
Maritime experts said VMS is a satellite and communication system used worldwide to monitor vessels. It tracks a boat's speed, direction,. movement in real time, similar to an online tracking system, and also supports enforcement of fisheries laws.
In an emergency, pressing a single button will enable rescue agencies to locate a boat in distress. It will further help detect boats operating without personal safety gear or firefighting equipment,. crack down on the nighttime distribution of banned nets from illegal jetties.
Under the law, vessels over 15 meters cannot go into deep sea without the system.
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