Strengthening Maritime Security: Somalia Inaugurates New Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre

On 05 December 2024, the Federal Government of Somalia inaugurated the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at the Somali Police Force’s Department of Coast Guard headquarters in Mogadishu Port, Somalia. This vital development marks a significant step forward in ensuring maritime safety and strengthening Somalia’s capacity to respond to emergencies at sea. The launch of the MRCC was made possible thanks to the support of EUCAP Somalia, the EU’s civilian crisis management mission deployed in Somalia.
CRIMARIO contributed to enhancing maritime safety and security in the area through the IORIS platform and the MARCO3 tools, which provide a safe, secure, and cost-neutral solution for establishing and maintaining a unified maritime common operating picture for information sharing and collaboration throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
CRIMARIO has been working closely with partners in Somalia and the surrounding region to strengthen Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) since early 2023, supporting maritime agencies in Somalia through training and capacity-building activities, notably in the use of the IORIS platform, for improving interagency coordination, secure communication, and information sharing.
CRIMARIO kicked off its engagement in the Horn of Africa with IORIS training in Djibouti, reaching five key regional authorities: the Djibouti Coast Guard, Somalia Maritime Authority, Somaliland Coast Guard, Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), and the Yemen Maritime Affairs Authority in March 2023. In the same period, CRIMARIO also conducted a historic tabletop exercise (TTX) in Djibouti, where the above regional agencies coordinated joint maritime interdiction efforts using IORIS.
Building on the success of initial training, in November 2023, CRIMARIO provided targeted IORIS training for the Somaliland Coast Guard, training seventeen officials on using IORIS for effective communication, document exchange, AIS data, and mapping. A few weeks later, CRIMARIO trained the Somali Police Force, Somali Navy, Somali Coast Guard, and the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy on the IORIS platform in partnership with the EU Capacity Building Mission to Somalia (EUCAP Somalia).
In response to a request from the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), CRIMARIO delivered specialised training for the Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) based in Bossaso, Puntland, from 28 January to 1 February 2024. The training focused on enhancing the Centre’s capabilities in maritime operations, with a particular emphasis on using the IORIS platform for secure communication and effective coordination.
On 6 February 2024, a joint tabletop exercise (TTX) was conducted between EUNAVFOR’s ES Victoria and the PMPF MOC, simulating maritime security scenarios. This exercise, supported by EUCAP Somalia, further demonstrated the effective use of IORIS for real-time coordination and information-sharing between regional maritime security agencies.
Last August, CRIMARIO, with the support of EUCAP Somalia, facilitated a two-phase IORIS training for Somali maritime agencies. The first phase was a Training of Trainers course for experienced users, followed by a Foundational Course for new users, where the trainers acted as instructors with guidance from the IORIS Senior Instructor.
This training marks a key milestone, as Somali agencies are now self-sufficient in using IORIS and are empowered with the knowledge and skills to operate independently. CRIMARIO remains available for any further support if needed.
The Somali maritime agencies are now interconnected 24/7 via the newly created SOMSEA Community Area, a virtual National Community within IORIS. This network allows Somali agencies to coordinate maritime operations up to the outer boundary of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Moreover, they can connect with neighbouring countries through the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Horn of Africa, and Gulf of Aden (ROHA) Community Area.
Creating the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mogadishu Port is a further milestone for safer and more secure seas for all.