By: Riviera

Qatar’s state energy group QatarEnergy is investing in a vessel monitoring and alert system to enhance its maritime security and surveillance capabilities as it drives to expand LNG exports and protect its industries.

The world’s largest gas exporter has contracted a Norwegian technology company to deliver a centralised system that integrates information on vessel positioning and movements with weather forecasts to increase its maritime situational awareness.

It improves maritime surveillance at a time of heighted regional tensions and as the energy sector ramps up investment in new gas production infrastructure and LNG export terminals in the maritime nation.

All processed data is presented in an intuitive and comprehensive format at QatarEnergy’s joint operations centre in Doha, to support effective decision-making. This centre is a collaborative initiative between the oil and gas operators in Qatar, providing real-time situational awareness and improving maritime co-ordination in Qatari waters.

Vissim will deliver this centralised vessel monitoring and alerting system (CVMAS) in Qatar during H1 2025 to cover Qatar’s coastline and more than 300 offshore assets. This system was designed to enhance safety and security for offshore assets, improve vessel logistics and contribute towards reduced CO2 emissions.

CVMAS integrates data sources such as the automatic vessel identification system (AIS), weather data from platforms like Storm and Vaisala and radar technology to provide a detailed maritime overview.

“Our software systems deliver a fully digitised and user-friendly overview of vessel traffic across Qatar’s waters, including its coastline and offshore assets, ensuring enhanced maritime safety for all vessels and infrastructure in the region,” said Vissim regional director for the Middle East, Benedicte Stiberg.

“Equipped with 24/7 surveillance, the system continuously monitors maritime activities, using an alarm mechanism to prioritise critical events,” she explains. “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.”

Core to Vissim’s technology is a software platform which, through input from millions of data points, provides situational awareness of the geographical area and increases maritime safety, security, vessel movements and operational efficiency.

CVMAS integrates with maritime tools and platforms, including personnel and logistics management systems such as SkyTrac and DaWinci, and geographic mapping tools like ArcGIS. This integration also monitors helicopter traffic and personnel on board offshore assets.

Vissim is delivering the system to a joint operations centre as a subcontractor to Qatar-based Bin Omran Trading & Telecommunications, which oversees local project management and offshore installations.