Abu Dhabi: The agency charged with protecting Abu Dhabi's strategic assets such as oil rigs and power stations will expand its operations to cover the entire UAE, a senior official said yesterday.
"The Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA) will, in the next phase, extend its infrastructure protection across all the seven emirates," said Brigadier Shaikh Ahmad Bin Tahnoun, chairman of CNIA.
Shaikh Ahmad did not give a time-frame, but said "we are waiting for the higher authorities to give us an order to take over other facilities across the UAE". Shaikh Ahmad also spoke of the authority's plans to have an air wing to conduct air surveillance of the country's vital facilities.
He was speaking to reporters after Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, opened a school for training coast guards, taken over by CNIA last year.
Located at Sadr Port in Taweelah, around 80km off downtown Abu Dhabi, the school was established to train Emirati coast guards on how to operate and take command of interceptor vessels, search and rescue as well as other operations related to naval vessel protection. When they graduate, the guards will be assigned to help protect the emirate's vital assets and infrastructure and support the security forces.
They are receiving training in security procedures, self-defence, driving and manoeuvring, IT, first-aid and English at the school.
"The goal behind this school is to provide a perfect learning environment with the latest technologies for our employees without having to send them abroad for training," Shaikh Ahmad said.
He added that the Coast Guard School is a model to be followed in marine training. "It was designed and established along international standards and equipped with modern technology, adopting the best practice."
Shaikh Saif reviewed the school's facilities and the training services provided. He also inaugurated two high-speed interceptor vessels, manufactured in the UAE. Established in 2007, CNIA oversees strategic assets in Abu Dhabi such as power and water stations and oil and gas facilities.
CNIA has taken control of more than 70 vessels from the Abu Dhabi Coast Guard and Marine Police, and it placed a Dh460m contract for 34 interceptor vessels.
The boats are capable of speeds of more than 60 knots and designed to interdict potential threats in the UAE's maritime zone.
