On September 17, 2024, civilian and military experts from 35 European Union (EU), Latin American, and Caribbean (LAC) countries, along with key decision-makers, gathered in Cartagena, Colombia, for the Fourth Seminar on Security and Defense.

L’article CRIMARIO at the EU & Latin America and the Caribbean bi-regional seminar on peace, security and defence challenges est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

Organized in Palawan, the exercise saw the participation of 22 agencies from the Philippines; it aimed to test and enhance the interoperability among national and local agencies and demonstrate their capability to coordinate and render support in identifying and fighting maritime threats.

During the two days, agencies’ personnel operated together in a simulated and real environment to address and solve a complex situation involving ships suspected of illegal drug trafficking, illegal transport of endangered species, IUU fishing, and Search and Rescue around Puerto Princesa.

To facilitate communication, coordination, and cooperation among operational centers and assets at sea, participating agencies used IORIS, the Indo-Pacific Information Sharing Platform, a neutral, secured, and reliable tool, designed to enable inter-agency communication and coordination between domestic and international stakeholders to address the evolving and complex challenges within the maritime domain.

The successful conclusion of the exercise highlighted lessons learned and techniques that will improve the already good level of joint response to real-world complex maritime emergencies. At the same time, IORIS proved to be a reliable communications platform for interagency planning and coordination at the national level, facilitating the gathering, analysis, and exchange of information to timely and efficiently support decision-making and actions at sea.

Participating in the event, Luc Veron, EU Ambassador to the Philippines stated: “The Philippines’ embrace of IORIS underscores the country’s deep understanding of the importance of the maritime domain. As the first Southeast Asian nation to adopt IORIS nationally, the Philippines, through the leadership of the NCWC, Coast Guard, Navy, and other authorities, demonstrates its commitment to collaboratively addressing the complex challenges of today’s maritime environment.

This exercise is a testament to the Philippines’ dedication to enhancing maritime safety and security at the national level. By leveraging IORIS, it fosters inter-agency cooperation between maritime and relevant agencies.”

The Guest of Honor, the first Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns, Secretary Andres C. Centino on his message emphasized: “With expanded functions, the National Maritime Center will now work with more support agencies, continue to coordinate and collaborate with partners, including our foreign allies, ensuring that we are fully capable of being aware of the maritime situation within our archipelago.”

In his closing message, CG VADM Roy A. Echeverria, Director of NM Center underlined: ““I commend each and every participant of this Interagency Exercise ALALAYAN 2024. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to everyone for we had a resounding success of our Table-Top Exercise, Command Post Exercise, and Field Training Exercise. Your support and participation in this Interagency Exercise is a declaration of your commitment and unwavering efforts to promote a whole-of-government approach to enhancing maritime governance in the country. This activity has indeed demonstrated everyone’s expertise and collective contributions in achieving our objectives and furthering our shared goal of enhancing maritime security.”

Martin Cauchi-Inglott, CRIMARIO project director concluded: “The Philippines has been at the forefront of welcoming IORIS to the region and is now set to lead the way in taking ownership of IORIS, using it internally, and bridge to external partners whenever necessary. My hearty congratulations go to these most professional maritime agencies participating in the exercises in the past days and to the NMC for organizing and playing an essential role in conducting it”.

L’article Philippine agencies exercise together to consolidate coordination in ensuring safer and more secure seas est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

To read more: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/04/22/maritime-security-eu-to-become-an-observer-of-the-djibouti-code-of-conductjeddah-amendment/

L’article Maritime Security: EU to become an observer of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

Co-organised by CRIMARIO and the Indian Ocean Commission, the exercise was designed to be a dynamic and engaging simulation, to test and improve the regional maritime operational capabilities of the Indian Ocean region. Through detailed preparation, robust communication protocols, and strict adherence to legal frameworks, the exercise aimed to foster a cooperative environment that enhanced the response to maritime security threats.

During the exercise participants shared information on #IORIS, a communications platform for interagency planning and coordination at the national and regional level, which facilitates the gathering, analysis, and exchange of information to timely and efficiently support decision-making and actions at sea.

The exercise scenario focused on locating and identifying ships involved in the transportation of narcotics, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing, Search and Rescue and how to respond to these challenges (i.e., interdiction, interception, handover, legal finish, etc.) and coordinate operations at sea, in the framework of the IOC regional agreements.

The TTX helped participants to practice the law of the sea, including article 17 of the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

Moreover, they trained about interagency coordinated responses at national and regional level, refining tactics, techniques, and procedures in a controlled, simulated environment.

In the words of Martin Cauchi Inglott: “Essential in our line of business is the ability to communicate and coordinate effectively, so that we can conduct effective and efficient missions and operations, and this is precisely what the exercise targeted. A total of 11 scenarios were played in this exercise, over 2.5 days addressing the three main themes: people, drugs and IUU. I would like to congratulate all the agencies participating in the exercises for playing an essential role in it”.

In his closing remarks Raj Mohabeer, Indian Ocean Commission, underlined: “These exercises are extremely important to enhance cooperation among national and regional centres. I would like to thank all participating countries, the RMIFC, the RCOC, and EU CRIMARIO project for the good cooperation and for the success of this exercise which will contribute to strengthen maritime security in the region”.

L’article BALINN24: working together to enhance regional coordination and information sharing for safer and more secure seas est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

Operation ASPIDES will ensure an EU naval presence in the area where numerous Houthi attacks have targeted international commercial vessels since October 2023. In close cooperation with like-minded international partners, ASPIDES will contribute to safeguard maritime security and ensure freedom of navigation, especially for merchant and commercial vessels. Within its defensive mandate, the operation will provide maritime situational awareness, accompany vessels,and protect them against possible multi-domain attacks at sea.

The operation will be active along the main sea lines of communication in the Baab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf.

The Operation Commander will be Commodore Vasilios Griparis, and the Force Commander will be Rear Admiral Stefano Costantino. The Operation headquarters will be based in Larissa, Greece.

Operation ASPIDES will coordinate closely with the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea,  as well as, with like-minded partners contributing to maritime security in its area of operation.

For further information: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/02/19/security-and-freedom-of-navigation-in-the-red-sea-council-launches-new-eu-defensive-operation/

L’article Security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea: EU Council launches EUNAVFOR ASPIDES est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

Between the 5 and the 9 of February, 2024 CRIMARIO II instructors, including CRIMARIO’s Regional Representative Admiral (Ret’d) Piyal De Silva, former Commander of the Navy, organised a regional SOP workshop in Sri Lanka, which was attended by officers from the Sri Lanka Navy, the Coast Guard, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, as well as officers from the Bangladesh Navy, the Maldivian National Defence Force and the Maldivian Transport and Civil Aviation Department.

L’article Navies, authorities and agencies and from Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka attend Regional IORIS Standard Operation Procedure workshop est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

The meetings aimed at discussing the future governance of IORIS with partners from a policy, legal and technical point of view to submit recommendations for discussion at the next IORIS Steering Committee, scheduled to be organised in Sri Lanka, supporting the ambition of IORIS being adopted and governed.

Furthermore, from an operational perspective, participants analysed the Regional IORIS Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Indo-Pacific to facilitate the exchange of timely and accurate information across the Indo-Pacific by all members. The adoption of the IORIS SOP will enhance information exchange within regions in a harmonised manner, using standard reporting methodology and terminology, hence facilitating the coordinating process among members, with the ultimate goal of making the seas more safe and secure.

The EU Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, opened the event: “I am very pleased to be open this first important event in our IORIS endeavour. The establishment and commencement of activities of the IORIS Steering Committee Policy Board and Working Groups is another important milestone in the implementation of the Indo-Pacific governance of the IORIS platform. I note the presence at this event of representatives from Latin America, Pacific Islands, South East Asia and Indian Ocean countries. The gathering of 83 representatives from 21 countries from across Indo-Pacific is an outstanding achievement and a clear sign that the IORIS Community is consolidating and growing exponentially.”

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Mathias Chisambo, on behalf of CS Hon Mvurya, affirmed: “IORIS, the Indo-Pacific Information Sharing Platform, has continued to play an important role in enabling information sharing across the region where illicit maritime activities are transnational in nature. We are all aware that no country can singly combat illicit maritime activities, and the continued cross-border corporation will indeed increase maritime domain awareness necessary for efficient law enforcement. Your presence and participation in this meeting are critical, noting that we all will rely on your contributions to develop key recommendations for the upcoming high-level meeting of the Djibouti Code of Conduct in Cape Town at the end of this month. During the meeting, participants will review the applications of Regional IORIS SOPs for the Indo-Pacific and the use of the IORIS platform, considering your feedback.”

Closing the event, Bruno I. Shioso, OGW, Director General, Kenya Coast Guard Service, said: “(During the past days) we have provided very crucial inputs to important working documents that shall define the future of IORIS, as speaker after speaker reminded us to make IORIS part of our daily way of doing business. Therefore, as the users, we team up with the CRIMARIO II Secretariat and keep making invaluable contributions and iterations that shall lead to an improved and better interface that shall serve our nations and regions in the unforeseeable future. “

Furthermore, Martin Cauchi-Inglott, CRIMARIO project director, added: “We are moving towards the end of 3 successful days of activities, where we discussed how to use IORIS at the regional level and adopting several Regional IORIS SOPs and various legal templates to establish how IORIS can best serve your needs. We all agreed that we can use IORIS as a prime platform to exchange information concerning maritime security threats and safety challenges and support sustainable fisheries, being it fully complementarity with the information provided by other maritime domain awareness platforms. The IORIS Community is well-established and sustainable. Thank you all for your support and engagements, making the past 3 days very productive indeed!”

L’article Re-enforcing regional governance through IORIS for safety and security at sea in the Indo-Pacific region. est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

During the course IORIS, the neutral and secure maritime information-exchange platform was used. The tool provides centres, organisations, and agencies with means to plan and coordinate maritime operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

The event comprised a three-day course on the Regional IORIS SOP for the Indo-Pacific (RISIP), designed to equip attendees with skills, best practices, and knowledge to deal with the plethora of complex challenges affecting the ever-evolving maritime domain. During the event, participants discussed adopting standardised procedures and language within the Indo-Pacific region to enhance information exchange and operational coordination and to share best practices related to maritime incidents on IORIS.

At the end of the course, a two-day CRIMARIO tabletop exercise named “Watchful Eye” was hosted on IORIS, with experts and stakeholders from across the maritime community, to strengthen maritime security and safety cooperation at the national and regional level. During the exercise, the Regional IORIS Standard Operating Procedures for the Indo-Pacific presented during previous days were tested and evaluated, with scenarios based on narcotics trafficking and search and rescue.

Speaking during the opening event, Kiruja Micheni, Project Manager, Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jedda Amendment (DCoC/JA) International Maritime Organisation, declared: “I extend my gratitude to our hosts, CRIMARIO II, for championing MDA awareness and capacity building in the region. Your generosity and gracious support to the DCoC/JA cannot be left unmentioned and is highly appreciated as we have become great partners in the journey towards implementation of the DCoC/JA.”

Louis Dey, Regional focal point for the EU’s Global Threats and Challenges programme at the European Delegation in Kenya, added: “In an era where our seas and oceans play a pivotal role in global trade and security, it is imperative that we work together effectively. By sharing information and best practices, we enhance our collective ability to respond to maritime challenges, be it in the form of piracy, illegal fishing, or environmental threats. I would like to commend all the participants for their commitment to this cause. Your presence here reflects your dedication to improving our region’s maritime security and safety.”

Opening the exercise, Graham Harrison, from the UNODC’s Global Maritime Crime Programme, said: “The transnational organised crime of narcotic smuggling in this region is destroying our societies. … Exercise WATCHFUL EYE will test our capability to provide quick and accurate transfer of information to regional and national maritime information sharing centres, to be further actioned by State, regional or international forces, to halt and pursue legal finish. ”

Dave Natrass, CRIMARIO II Deputy Director, added: “Through CRIMARIO II and the IORIS platform, which was designed in collaboration with regional partners, we are now able to provide enhanced operational capability for DCoC/JA Signatory States, their centres and their counterparts in the Pacific region, and we continue to work in close synergy as we go forward and strive to meet your needs and expectations.”

To conclude, participants in both activities, including 30 officials from 15 DCoC/JA partner countries and some observers, were guided on how different types of information could and should be shared amongst agencies and regional partners and when, according to IORIS protocols. The final objective was to enhance operations at sea and support the monitoring and reporting of suspicious and precarious vessel movements.

L’article Common Standard for the enhancement of Maritime Security and Safety in the Indo-Pacific region est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

French instructors, with the help of Filipino and Djiboutian interpreters, initiated coast guards from Maldives and Sri Lanka to different methods and techniques of underwater investigations from searching of traces and clues in an underwater crime scene to classify objects and taking underwater images.  A summary exercise, including a body discovery scenario, closed the training. 

The objective was to provide trainees with the first notions of investigation in an underwater environment. Techniques that they will then be able to use and adapt to their model and their needs, which vary according to each territory. In the Maldives, a country impacted by boat accidents, the CNING gendarmes have thus reinforced the “recording of elements on the victim” aspect. For Sri Lanka participants, who are more affected by problems linked to drug trafficking, the part related to “fingerprints on container” has been addressed more in depth.

Furthermore, magistrates from Sri Lanka learned how to give guidance to the divers to collect evidence, and best use it in trials courts; they were introduced to possibilities and limitations of underwater investigations. 

L’article Improving maritime law enforcement through forensic diving training est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

EU CRIMARIO and National Maritime Foundation speakers have presented oil spill case studies for drawing lessons learnt and discussing with participants from the potential improvements in terms of regional cooperation, liabilities, MDA. Dr Saurabh Thakur, NMF Associate Fellow, explained the impact of major marine pollution incidents in South Asia, especially oil spills caused by the accidents of MV Wakashio in Mauritius and X-Press Pearl off SriLanka. He highlighted the various gaps in conventions and liability issues. Andrew Mallia, CRIMARIO Law enforcement expert, explained in detail the sequence of events that led to the Erika oil spill, off France coastline in 1999. He emphasized that lessons learnt from the incident are still not being duly implemented. Discussions with the participants focused in questioning the different responsabilities, and the ways to better cooperate at regional level to both prepare for and mitigate such serious accidents. In his opening remarks, Olivier Bézier, CRIMARIO law enforcement & capacity building manager reminded CRIMARIO objectives in line with the recent EU Indo-Pacific strategy and the key partnership with NMF to enhance together capacity building activities. In his closing remarks, Captain Sarabjeet Parmar, NMF Executive Director, emphasized the need for improving legislative responses, preparation and mitigation of marine pollution and raised the issue of ports of refuge.

L’article Tuesdays Second Chance: Oil Spill Cases est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

The joint NMF-CRIMARIO II webinar titled “Synergising MDA in the Indian Ocean Region: the Prevailing State of Play” was opened by NMF Chairman, Admiral (Retd) Sunil Lanba and HE Ugo Astuto, EU Ambassador to Indian & Bhutan who provided the key note speeches.

IFC-IOR and CRIMARIO presented the state-of-play of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in South Asia, discussing possible solutions to mitigate maritime security challenges through information sharing agreements, tools such as the IORIS platform, and improving interoperability between existing systems.

The presentations were followed by a high-level expert-panel where panelists discussed the conditions for establishing information sharing mechanisms, and the importance of building trust as a prerequisite; they emphasised the importance of interoperability and interagency working relationships.

The panel was composed of the following distinguished participants:

·      Rear Admiral M Lokmanur Rahman, Chairman, BIMRAD and ACNS (Logistics), Bangladesh Navy (Bangladesh)

·      Rear Admiral Kishan Kumar Pandey (Retd), Director Human Resources, Amity University Gurgaon (India)

·      Colonel Mohamed Saleem, Commandant, MNDF Coast Guard (Maldives)

·      Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne (Retd), Former Chief of Defence Staff of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces, and Former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy (Sri Lanka)

·      Rear Admiral Wachiraporn Wongnakornsawang, Expert Adviser to the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy (Thailand)

Following this first successful collaboration, NMF and CRIMARIO agreed to build on this impetus by continuing to bring regional partners together through the organisation of other similar activities.

The Concept Note and Programme can be found in the NMF website.

L’article CRIMARIO Launches in South Asia with National Maritime Foundation est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

The visual identity of CRIMARIO II reflects these key elements, starting with the logo which exemplifies the continuity with the previous project, the enlarged geographical scope and the emphasis on securing maritime routes, and promoting maritime security.

The activities carried out by the team of CRIMARIO II in conjunction with the European services, will be reported on regular basis through various digital channels: this website, the social networks (Twitter, LinkedIn), and the newsletter.

EU CRIMARIO II is currently in the Inception Phase, expected to last until 31 January 2021, but this may be extended given the COVID 19 pandemic. During this period, the team is conducting desk-top research and remote work with other EU bodies and potential partners (countries and regional organisations). At the end of this phase, a 4-year action plan will be proposed to the European Commission for approval, with a focus on sustainability.

Download the factsheet presenting the objectives of the project, the timeline and IORIS, the maritime coordination and information sharing platform, developed during the prior CRIMARIO project.

L’article Follow the new European initiative on maritime security in the wider Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

CRIMARIO II explained that it was currently in the beginning of its in-depth planning phase, and invited IFC to contribute to CRIMARIO II planning process given IFC’s knowledge and experience in enhancing maritime security in the South and Southeast Asia, through complementary and value added initiatives. Conversely, IFC was keen to learn about CRIMARIO II’s rich experience in the information sharing domain, in the Western Indian Ocean.

In this vein, both sides agreed that there was potential to work towards strengthening links between the eastern and western Indian Ocean regions, initially through exercises, but this could only be accomplished if there was a strong willingness from partners to engage. This was especially the case for CRIMARIO II, whose remit was to support countries and organisations improve maritime safety and security in the regions specified.

In conclusion, IFC invited CRIMARIO II to participate in upcoming IFC events, as the Shared Awareness Meeting (SAM), the Regional Maritime Security Practitioner Programme (RMPP) and Maritime Information Sharing Exercise (MARISX). CRIMARIO II thanked the IFC for invitation to this events and pledged to invest efforts on this regards.

Also in attendance for the video-conference were the French and German liaison officers to the IFC, who form part of the IFC’s staff, and are facilitating interface between CRIMARIO and IFC.

Photo legend: Map of maritime fusion centres in Indian Ocean and Asia (© IFC) and participants to IFC-CRIMARIO II videoconference

L’article IFC Singapore and EU CRIMARIO discuss maritime information sharing in Indian Ocean and Asia est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

CRIMARIO II continues the process begun by CRIMARIO I (2015 – 2019), which was originally established to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through information sharing, training & capacity building in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. This was approached through the creation of an Information Sharing and Incident Management tool amongst others; and through an extensive programme of training in Maritime Data Processing (MDP) analysis and visualisation to strengthen regional maritime capabilities.

CRIMARIO II will build on the experience of CRIMARIO I by expanding its geographical scope towards South and Southeast Asia with a view to contributing to a safer and more secure maritime domain, through cross-sectoral, inter-agency and cross-regional cooperation. These objectives reflect the EU’s priority towards deepening security cooperation with its Asian partners taking into account shared maritime security interests.

Two interlinked areas of action have been identified and will be explored in cooperation with potential partners:

1 – Enhancing information exchange and analysis, and crisis/incident management (to be implemented in both Western Indian Ocean and Asian countries);

2 – Strengthening inter-agency maritime surveillance, policing, investigation and judiciary; and supporting States improve compliance and adherence with relevant international legal instruments and regional arrangements (to be implemented  exclusively in South Asian and South East Asian countries).

The intention is to support partners in developing systems and mechanisms which improve MDA and/or facilitate the exchange of information. Capacity building and training in MDA and law enforcement will also be offered to partner countries and organisations, always with a view to promoting good governance and stability at sea.

A team of seven hand-picked experts has been selected to implement this initiative under my lead. We are:
• Team Leader: Martin Cauchi Inglott
• Strategic Advisor: Marianne Peron-Doise
• Component Manager – Information Sharing: David Nattrass
• Expert Information Sharing: Sérgio Bryton
• Component Manager – Law Enforcement and Capacity Building: Olivier Bézier
• Expert Law Enforcement and Capacity Building: Andrew Mallia
• Communication & Visibility Expert: Isabelle Gachie Vinson
• Monitoring and Evaluation Expert: Jean-Philippe Picquart.

Developed as part of the EU Critical Maritime Routes (CMR) Programme, CRIMARIO II is a four years EU funded project, with a budget of 7.5 M€. The implementing agency will be Expertise France.

Although some delay is anticipated due to COVID 19, the team is investing this time in liaising with partner countries and planning engagements in consultation with other regional actors in order to complement efforts where feasible and avoid duplication of initiatives, whilst offering possible solutions where gaps have been identified.

CRIMARIO II is very much looking forward to working with you!

Martin Cauchi Inglott, CRIMARIO II team leader

L’article Maritime security: The EU CRIMARIO II initiative is starting est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

The agreement was signed for the second time after revisions were made to the previous one that the Secretary of State in the Foreign Affairs Department, Barry Faure, said was not clear.

In the revised agreement, the main aim is to provide a framework for assistance to Seychelles by India. It will help enhance the military capabilities in control and maritime surveillance of the island nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.37 million square km., protection of the EEZ and the outer islands, and search and rescue in the region for the benefit of air and shipping traffic.

The agreement will now go before the Cabinet of Ministers and then the National Assembly for ratification and only then can further transactions take place such as the design and tender for the construction of the base.  

Read the full article published by Seychelles News Agency

Read the article published by the Wire

L’article Seychelles, India sign new version of Assumption Island military deal est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.