Georgia improves maritime security by joining EU’s long-range tracking system

Georgia is improving maritime security, sea-search and rescue operations as well as protection of marine ecology by joining the Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT CDC) system, announces the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia.

The objective of the system is to identify and track European Union (EU) flagged vessels worldwide and integrate them into the wider international LRIT system. 

Georgia passed a strict monitoring and evaluation procedure for membership in the LRIT CDC system. 

EU member states unanimously supported Georgia's accession to the system of identifying and tracking the EU’s ships at long distance. Georgia is the first non-member state of the Eastern Partnership, which became part of this system”, read the press release published by the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia.

By joining the LRIT CDC system Georgia will have the opportunity:

• To receive information by satellite about the ships sailing under its flag from any corner of the world every six hours;
• To receive information on request of any third country vessel bound to, or sailing in the EU waters passing within 1,000 nautical miles from Georgia’s borders;
• To cooperate and exchange information with the member states of the LRIT system.

The EU LRIT CDC is one of the largest data centres in the LRIT system. It tracks over 8,000 ships per day.