The Supreme Iraqi Maritime Authority launched on Tuesday the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system to monitor ships in Iraqi territorial waters and regulate their entry and exit, in light of the continuing risks facing commercial navigation and unrest in the Strait of Hormuz.
And quoted by the newspaper "The New Vision" for the Iraqi Ministry of Transport that the director-general of the Authority, Ali al-Tamimi, said that the launch of the system comes in implementation of the ministry's directives aimed at developing the technical and operational capabilities of Iraq, improving ship surveillance and tracking, and enhancing maritime security.
Al-Tamimi pointed to the importance of the project in view of Iraq's geographical location on the Shatt al-Arab and the Gulf, as well as the role played by Iraqi ports in linking the national economy to global markets.
Enhancing maritime safety and regulating the movement of ships
According to the Ministry of Transport, the system is expected to contribute to regulating the movement of ships, raising levels of navigational safety, reducing risks and illegal activities, as well as protecting vital facilities and the marine environment.
The system will also enhance the exchange of information and regulatory procedures, improve the flow of commercial transport, and open up new investment opportunities in the maritime sector, according to the ministry.
The VTS typically relies on coastal stations to monitor ships in designated waterways, provide navigational information and guidance, and issue warnings about potential hazards.
Al-Tamimi stressed that the project will keep pace with technical developments and international practices in managing the movement of ships, in accordance with the relevant international laws and conventions.
Implications of the Strait of Hormuz Closure for Iraq
And the launch of the system comes at a time when the movement of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is facing increasing unrest and risks against the backdrop of the US-Iranian war and the closure of the strait, which has been largely reflected on Iraqi oil exports and the national economy, given Iraq's dependence on this strategic corridor to export a large part of its crude oil.
According to the report, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced on Tuesday that it targeted two commercial ships that were crossing the strait outside the routes approved by Iran, using naval mines, warning that crossing the mined tracks will expose the violating ships to destruction.
Oil tankers inside Iraqi waters have also been subjected to several attacks during 2026, including the targeting of the Panama-flagged tanker "New Andros" by a drone last September, without recording casualties, according to the report.
And in light of the difficulties of exporting oil through the strait, Baghdad is seeking to find alternatives and other routes to alleviate the repercussions of restrictions on shipping movement, while the development of the ship control system is a step to strengthen the management of maritime navigation and the protection of Iraqi vital passages and facilities.
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