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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
JOHANNESBURG, March 8 (Xinhua) -- In order to combat piracy1 and to improve maritime2 safety, South African authorities(当局官方) have begun using a sophisticated(复杂的精细的) navigation satellite system, it was announced on Tuesday.
Piracy, especially by Somalis, has been increasing along Africa east coast in recent years. The South African Press Association (SAPA) reported on Tuesday that Karl Otto, head of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) announced the surveillance tool at a conference in Durban.
Called Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT), the system monitors and tracks vessels3 in waters south of the equator.
Otto said the introduction of the LRIT followed concerns over the safety of seafarers, the safety standards of ships within South African waters.
Otto said there were high levels of cargo4 at risk, such as fuels and oils.
He said reasons for installing the system included the number of shipwrecks5 along the South African coast, and the threat of pollution of the marine6 environment by ships.
"It also serves as a mechanism7 to prevent piracy."Otto said the satellite system has the capacity to identify and track vessels up to 1,000 nautical8 miles (1,850 km) from the South African coastline as well as South African-flagged vessels anywhere in the world.
"This is a revolutionary development in the security of our seas," he said.
SAMSA was determined9 to protect South Africa's seafarers, its coastline and the marine environment, Otto said.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)
1 piracy | |
n.海盗行为,剽窃,著作权侵害 | |
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2 maritime | |
adj.海的,海事的,航海的,近海的,沿海的 | |
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3 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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4 cargo | |
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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5 shipwrecks | |
海难,船只失事( shipwreck的名词复数 ); 沉船 | |
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6 marine | |
adj.海的;海生的;航海的;海事的;n.水兵 | |
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7 mechanism | |
n.机械装置;机构,结构 | |
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8 nautical | |
adj.海上的,航海的,船员的 | |
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9 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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