Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani takes a look at the miniature version of the Al Daayen Naval Base, the new building of the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, in Semaisma area in nor
Doha: Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday inaugurated Al Daayen Naval Base, the new building of the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, in Semaisma area in northern Qatar.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by a number of Their Excellencies the Ministers, senior officials, ambassadors accredited to the State and guests of the country.
The ceremony included a documentary film about the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, from its inception in 1951 until the opening of Al Daayen naval base, its stages of development, potentials, specialities, its role in securing maritime borders and preventing smuggling and illegal migration, and other specialities.
The total area of the base is 639,800sqm, while the built-up area is 143,164 sqm divided into 25 buildings. It includes all the advanced requirements for marine security, which will contribute to securing the maritime borders of the State and tightening the security control and protection of all its coasts by conducting maritime patrols to prevent infiltration and smuggling of prohibited materials and control maritime violations, as well as providing marine services to citizens and residents at the same level in term of performance efficiency.
“Thanks to the directives of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the follow-up and direct support of H E the Prime Minister, this naval base was completed as a cornerstone of MoI Qatar’s strategy while supplementing Qatar Vision 2030. To achieve this, the work system at the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security was updated to develop competent human cadres,” said Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Aziz Ali Al Mohannadi, Assistant Director-General of Coasts and Borders Security.
Al Mohannadi added that this was done through the dispatch of several officers to the most prestigious maritime colleges specialised inside and outside the country, as well as the establishment of a specialised maritime training centre within the naval base to qualify the field and technical cadres through many specialised courses in their fields of specialisation.
He pointed out that the Directorate was provided with a fleet of medium and long-range boats as well as specialised boats for rescue and special tasks to perform its multiple functions within the competence of the Department.
“All the security and service facilities in the naval base have been complemented by shooting and training fields, sports and logistic facilities to help coast guard personnel to perform their tasks efficiently,” he said.
H E the Prime Minister and Interior Minister also inaugurated a new fleet of boats that were recently added to the Directorate. They include 48-metre long boat, which was rated as one of the best marine boats in the world, for surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
In addition to the Hercules 150 type boat, the largest in the fleet of long-distance boats with a length of 48 meters and width of 9 meters, and speed of 35 knots.
It can stay at sea for six consecutive days without refuelling and has the ability to respond quickly and flexibility in movement and naval manoeuvres. It also includes Hercules 75 type boat with a length of 24 meters and a width of 5 meters to carry out maritime security duties.
The search and rescue team presented a search and rescue operation scene using some of the boats.
Officials in the Ministry of Interior stressed that Al Daayen Naval Base represents a quantum addition to the development and modernisation march of the Ministry as part of its strategy for the next five years, especially with regard to enhancing maritime security and securing the coasts, borders, ports and territorial waters of the State.
“We are delighted today with the opening of the new premises of the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security. It represents a quantum leap in the field of Department’s work and will contribute to raising the performance level and ability to excel while meeting the requirements of modern maritime security,” Staff Maj. Gen. Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, Director of Public Security said.
He stressed that more than 95% of the Ministry of Interior building projects has been completed and it strives to complete the remaining projects as well. “The Ministry of Interior has a comprehensive plan to modernize its facilities.
The works are going on to complete the buildings of the police college, the General Directorate of Passports and other buildings”, the Public Security chief noted.
Director of National Command Centre (NCC) major General Khalifa Abdullah Al Nuaimi said that Al Daayen Naval Base is a real addition for the staff of the General Directorate of Coast and Border Security in carrying out the maritime security tasks entrusted to them and in securing the territorial waters of the State.
