Beach outings can be very safe now

Dubai: Beach outings will be safer now as you can check sea conditions three days in advance and make your plans accordingly. A new Operational Marine Forecasting and Warning System launched by the Dubai Municipality provides not only forecasts about waves, currents and wind, but also oil spills that could hinder the movement of ships.

"The information is available three days in advance and anyone can go online and check it. There is also a system to alert people, who are registered on the website, through emails and SMS about any abnormal conditions," Alya Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, head of the Coastal Area and Water Canals Management Department at Dubai Municipality, told Gulf News.

The Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority, Dewa and Coast Guards are among the organisations that will utilise the information.

There have been incidents of drowning and damage in the past due to high tides. With the new system the authorities are expecting to be prepared in advance for any potential hazards.

Salem Bin Mesmar, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality, said this system is the first of its kind in the region. "This will support the strategic decision-making process of the organisations through its high-tech forecasting technology and warning systems, especially in exceptional circumstances such as an oil spill that hinders the movement of ships and adversely affects the environment."

Presently, the system can cover a wide area that includes the entire Arabian Gulf from the north-west of Kuwait to the south-east of Oman. The forecast, as of now, would be available for Dubai, Alya said.

"It is a catalyst of operational forecasting, applied scientific research, a planning and decision support tool and safety net that generates significant social and economic benefits to a large segment of the population."

"Everyone can go online and access it and now that the forecast is available online, we are expecting the number of our registered users to double from the existing 10,000," she added.