http://www.english.hadhramaut.info $20 mln coast-watching system to protect Yemeni coastline: Coastguard official [The Source: www.sabanews.net - 9/1/2009] It is expected that a $ 20 million coast-watching system called V.T.S will be in service by the end of 2009, the Chief of the Yemeni Coastguard Authority Ali Rase'a told Saba on Friday. The system contains radars with surveillance cameras to be installed in the seaports and the centers established in Aden Gulf sector. The system will play an effective role in combating piracy in the region, Rase'a said. He added that the centers of Sana'a and Aden would be also in service in February, pointing out that the government has given directions to provide 10 boats for Aden Gulf sector, and then the system will be completed to cover the 500 km in Gulf of Aden, according to Rase'a. Yemen has a large coastline of 2500 km expanding from Oman's borders in the East to the borders of Saudi Arabia Kingdom in the West and overlooks on the major maritime passage of international trading, Bab al-Mandab. Despite this length which could consider as a marine worth and advantage for Yemen, it represents an extra burden on the shoulder of the government due to the lack of Yemeni potentials to benefit from it. Most of risks that threaten Yemen come from the sea, such as smuggled goods, abusive medicines, drugs, illegal migration, terrorist acts and piracy. The Yemeni Coastguards Authority was established in 2002 for protecting the country's territorial water from illegal and terrorist activities after the terrorist attacks on the USS Cole destroyer and French oil tanker (Lemberg). In 2008, Aden Gulf has witnessed increasing piracy acts threatening Bab al-Mandab passage and international trading routes.