Bahrain Telecommunications Company Maritime Operating Centre (Batelco MOC) has been recognised by the ITU (International Telecom Union), IMO (International Maritime Organisation) and all countries in the Middle East region, as the main Maritime Station for the Middle East region for coordinating all safety and distress messages, for over 80 years.
Batelco’s MOC has been providing advanced marine communications to the shipping industry and is globally recognised for its excellence. The MOC, located at Batelco’s Telegraph House in Salmaniya, is equipped with Radio Communications Systems and provides direct linkage to the outside world through sophisticated networks.
At Batelco’s MOC, proficiently trained engineers and technicians monitor operations around the clock 365 days a year. Distress messages can be picked up from vessels not only in the Gulf waters but also far beyond Bahrain’s territorial waters. Batelco’s staff responds instantly by informing the relevant authorities in the area closest to the distress signal – ranging from medical emergencies, technical problems and other urgent situations.
If the situation occurs in Bahrain territorial waters Batelco informs the Harbour Master, Coast Guard, and Bahrain Navy among other relevant authorities who then immediately react, instigating a relevant rescue plan.
All distress calls are monitored by MOC staff from the time they are received until the subsequent rescue operation is complete to ensure that everything that can be done has been done. Without this invaluable service, which never takes a day off, many lives could be lost at sea.
A wide range of emergencies have been dealt with over the years from ships impacted by cyclones, men overboard and fires on board, to mention a few.
In addition to monitoring distress signals, the MOC broadcasts weather reports twice a day at 7am and 7pm which can be accessed by all regional shipping. Receiving such information is an valuable service for those at sea whose safety depends on knowing if severe weather is forecast, for example.
Furthermore, navigational warnings are issued every 4 hours throughout the day and night. Radio navigation information is issued to all shipping in the area including hazards to navigation, reports of ships in distress and urgent navigational information required by the Captain at sea and Broadcasted by Bahrain Radio (Batelco).
Mariners are requested to inform Bahrain Radio (Batelco) immediately on the discovery of new dangers, or suspected dangers to navigation and changes or defects in aids to navigation noticed in Sub-Navarea IX- Arabian Gulf and its Approaches.
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Batelco, August 27, 2013