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.

David Nattrass, CRIMARIO information sharing component manager, participated in the workshop held at the Djibouti Regional Training Centre (DRTC); he took part in discussions to develop a roadmap for better coordination of capacity building efforts and to establish recommendations to the high level meeting on capacity building coordination.

François-Régis Cloup-Mandavialle, CRIMARIO coordinator, participated in the high level meeting, opened by Ambassador Rachel Omamo, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Kenya, and chaired by Mrs. Nancy Karigithu, Principal Secretary, Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Kenya’s Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Housing. The meeting gathered 14 of the 21 signatory countries as well as observers from 14 countries and international organisations.

During the meeting, the signatory countries to the Code agreed to establish a governance framework to champion its implementation of the Code. As a result, a steering committee was established alongside with working groups on information sharing and coordination.

The steering committee is constituted as follows: Chair: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Deputy Chair: Djibouti; Members: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The working group on Information Sharing (Chair: Kenya; Deputy Chair : Madagascar) will spearhead work on the development of an information sharing network, including a plan to establish multi-agency National Maritime Information Sharing Centres. There will also be support for the development of regional maritime information sharing centres.

The working group on Coordination of Effort (Chair: Ethiopia; Deputy Chair: Mozambique) will be responsible for championing the coordination of capacity building efforts, including work to enhance maritime domain awareness and coordination of training activities.

Observers from partner organisations agreed to establish a Group of Friends of DCOC (JA) which will serve as an informal platform for Member States and Organizations to exchange information and initiatives to support and advocate for DCOC (JA) objectives.

During the donor forum, the CRIMARIO coordinator proposed to the interested countries that they connect to the IORIS platform. The proposal was very well received and was included in the official press release:

“Signatory States of the code were encouraged by partners to share information nationally between States for their consumption and use, thereby creating a culture of information sharing by and between their National Sharing Centres. In this regard the EU CRIMARIO offered all DCOC (JA) Signatory States a licence to the IORIS sharing software.”

The Mombasa meeting was jointly organized by IMO and the Republic of Kenya with financial contribution from the United Kingdom. 

The next high level meeting (including working groups and donor forum) will be held in Jeddah, KSA on 29 March-4 April, preceded by a workshop on the information sharing network at DRTC on 3-7 February 2020.

Download the press release 

L’article EU CRIMARIO, an active stakeholder of the amended Djibouti Code of Conduct est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.