Following the first level session, this session (MDP4 level 2) deepened the skills in maritime data visualisation. Participants learned how to clean and select shipping data; both by using Excel functions and SQL language. They also learned how to use QGIS, a free and open-source desktop geographic information system (GIS) application that provides data viewing and editing.

The three tools are complementary:

⇒ SQL enables extracting and processing desired data from databases containing millions of shipping records. The participants learn how to write SQL queries; for example, query to obtain the unique identification of ships located within the oil-spill region on 2nd of April.

⇒ Excel is used to perform statistical analysis; for example, computing the frequencies of vessel types present in the oil spill region.

⇒ QGIS enables to project the data on the map for further analysis; for instance, AIS data can be used to display the location of ships navigating through the oil-spill region.

This second session was attended by the 12 participants who successfully completed the test following the first session. The successful one will attend the next train the trainer session organised from 4 to 22 June in Mombasa, to develop training skills in data visualisation.

Kenya attendees belong to the main agencies involved in the surveillance of maritime domain: Fisheries Service, KMA (Kenya Maritime Authority), Navy, Revenue Authority and Ministry of Interior. In addition three participants from Madagascar working at RMIFC (Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre), Secretary of State at Sea and APMF (Port Authority).

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The EU CRIMARIO project has designed a complete training programme on maritime data processing (MDP) for the specialized staff of civilian and military agencies involved in the action of State at sea. A first cycle was delivered in 2017 to Comoros and Madagascar, breaking down into six sessions on data visualisation and three on data analysis. As a result of this cycle, trainers on visualisation and analysts have acquired trainer skills, which will further facilitate knowledge and practice updates.

Kenya is welcoming this complete programme in 2018. The first session (MDP3 training), organised from 12 to 23 February 2018 in Mombasa, focused on maritime data visualisation (level 1). First of all, participants learned how to extract data provided by AIS sources (AIS or Automatic Identification System is an automatic tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services for identifying and locating vessels by electronically exchanging data with other nearby ships, AIS base stations, and satellites). They also learned how to use a free and online geographic information system (GIS) application that provides data viewing and editing.

The participants who successfully completed the test, will attend the next training session organized from 26 March to 6 April in Mombasa, to deepen the usages of these tools and discover others.

Kenya attendees belong to the main agencies involved in the surveillance of maritime domain: Fisheries Service, KMA (Kenya Maritime Authority), KPA (Kenya Port Authority), Navy, Police, Wildlife Service. In addition three participants from Madagascar working at RMIFC (Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre), Secretary of State at Sea and APMF (Port Authority).

More about the CRIMARIO training programme.

See the agenda of training sessions.

Download the press release.

L’article In Kenya, CRIMARIO trains how to visualise the events at sea est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

These two events, and the high attendance level, illustrate how both the EU CRIMARIO project and the RMIFC advocate regional cooperation and interagency coordination, in order to control crimes and incidents at sea.

The EU CRIMARIO project has designed a complete training programme on maritime data analysis for the specialized staff of civilian and military agencies involved in the action of State at sea. Implemented in collaboration with RMIFC (Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre), this first cycle was attended by 25 participants from Comoros and Madagascar: it breaks down into six sessions on data visualisation and three on data analysis, delivered by a dozen European specialists during the year 2017. As a result of this cycle, six trainers on visualisation have been certified and some fifteen analysts have acquired trainer skills, which will further facilitate knowledge and practice updates.

During this last session (from 9 to 26 October 2017), participants were able to reflect on various potential situations such as the closure of Suez Canal and its impact on maritime traffic or the consequences of ship collision in Comorian waters. With this cycle, specialists working within the RMIFC and agencies involved in the action of State at sea have developed a collaborative spirit, favourable to the information sharing.

The end of this cycle was marked by the development of actions led by the MIFC resulting in the signing of maritime information sharing agreements between the MIFC and the agencies working in the maritime domain (Prime Minister’s office agencies, National Defence, Environment, Meteorology, National Gendarmerie, Internal Security, Scientific Research, National Hydrographical Institute, Fisheries Surveillance).

With these agreements, MIFC will be able to improve the interagency maritime information sharing and to provide an enriched analysis of the situation off Madagascar as well as decision-making and warning elements.

In the coming months, maritime cooperation will be enhanced with the construction by CRIMARIO of a web portal called IORIS, dedicated to maritime information sharing and incident management at sea and proposed to all the partner countries of the project. In the same way, RMIFC will ramp up progressively on a technical level and will welcome the liaison officers from the countries of the region, allowing the centre to monitor in real time any event at sea, detect anomalies and alert the competent authorities.

Upload the press release 

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Training objective

The objective of the training is to learn all necessary skills to extract (from a file, internet or a database …), clean, format, enrich and present maritime data (on a spreadsheet, a chart, a geographical information system…). See an example of work done during this course.

« Data of maritime interest» are data related to the maritime domain. Some non exhaustif examples: vessel data (identity, positions AIS-GPS-VMS, manifests…), port and customs statistics, marine meteorology, environmental data, shipping routes et maritime zones …

Target Audience

Staff in charge of data preparation and visualisation within maritime operation centres, civil or military administrations in charge of  action of state at sea.

Knowledge acquired at the end of the training

The training started with 46 students (23 Comorians and 23 Malagasy). After the first training session, 20 obtained the « Specialist in visualisation of maritime data – Level 1 » certificate.

These students now know :

• The IT formats for data adapted to maritime data, their purpose and limits, and how to choose the most relevant format to resolve a given issue.
• How to choose and install the appropriate free software according to the data processing issue at stake, and use its basic functions.
• How to use GoogleEarth© professionally to visualise maritime data and export the result to another application.
• How to use Microsoft© Excel professionally to filter and format data, create quality charts and export the results.
• How to share data in the most appropriate format.

Further to the second training session, 12 students obtained the « Specialist in visualisation of maritime data – Level 2 » certificate

These students now know how to:

• Use the advanced functions of Microsoft© Excel (assumption tests, pivot tables) to conduct a basic maritime data analysis.
• Choose and install a Geographical Information System adapted to the needs of maritime data processing, use its functions to build high quality maps and charts that can support an important volume of data.
• Install and administer (basic functions) a collaborative knowledge sharing data base (Wiki).
• Use, and to a lesser extent modify, maritime data processing programs in Python language.
• Use, and to a lesser extent modify, basic maritime data requests in MySQL© Oracle.

On the last day of the third on-site training session, 7 students received their « Instructor in visualisation of maritime data” certificate.

Beyond the knowledge acquired during the levels 1 and 2 and that have been reinforced, the students having obtained the certificate of “Instructor in visualisation “ can:

• Run a class and train a group of adults.
• Deliver training sessions for the levels 1 and 2 to a group of students, and adapt the content to their level.
• Install and administer a file server.
• Write SQL database requests.

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For any State, it is important to ensure maritime security and safety in its waters and how to contribute to those on the high seas. The exchange of information is crucial for ensuring an efficient action of the State at sea. At first, the exchange must be effective between the various agencies (Transport, Navy, Police, Environment, Coast Guard, Fishery, etc.) because not all events at sea are related to only one Ministry. Secondly, the exchange is built between partner States within regional cooperation because the high seas, as international area, must not host offender and criminals.

Exchange of maritime information is in the heart of EU CRIMARIO action. Its training activities implemented in the region aim to strengthen the skills of the coastal States of the Western Indian Ocean. From January 30th to February 10th, eleven professionals from Madagascar intensively manipulated ship positioning data, reprocessing them using spreadsheet, database and mapping software (GIS). With those good computer skills, they are now able to select the relevant data, to map the vessel movements, and to analyse their tracks. These professionals were selected after tests, passed during a first session, held in Antananarivo last December.

After this second session, some participants who succeeded the tests will be selected for becoming trainers, during a specific session from 20 March to 7 April 2017 in Madagascar.

The objective of this curricula is that Madagascar has a pool of specialists able to identify suspicious ship behavior, verify and share it at the national and / or regional level, and then alert those responsible.

The 11 participants belong to the various agencies involved in the action of State at sea in Madagascar: State Department in charge of Sea; Geographical Institute (FTM); Ministry in charge of presidential projects and Country planning; Fishery Surveillance Centre; Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC); Ministry of National Defense; Customs Directorate.

CRIMARIO works in close collaboration with RMIFC; the mission of this centre is to gather, analyze and fuse maritime information in order to anticipate maritime risks and threats in the west coast of the Indian Ocean.

In 2017 a second curricula, focused on analysis of maritime data will be launched by CRIMARIO to the benefit of Madagascar.

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After this second training session organised by CRIMARIO in Comoros, some participants, who succeeded in post tests, will be selected for becoming trainers; for that purpose, they will receive specific training in the first half 2017 Madagascar.

The ten participants belong to several maritime agencies of Comoros : ANAM (National Agency pf Maritime Affairs), Comoros Port Authority (Moroni, Mutsamudu, Fomboni), Comoros Coast Guard and Civil Security Directorate.

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