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.

ALMERAJ1

On 22 November 2023, a pirate action group (PAG) hijacked the fishing dhow ALMERAJ1 when sailing off the Somali coast of Somalia, some 90 nautical miles northeast of Eyl. The information was relayed to the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) through IORIS after being received by the Somali Maritime Authority through Somali Police Force Department of Coast Guard in Mogadishu. PMPF thereafter sought the assistance of EUNAVFOR Atalanta, again through IORIS, where further intervention was requested upon agreement by the Federal Government of Somalia,[1] through its Bossaso based Maritime Operations Center (MOC). EUNAVFOR Atalanta, monitored the movements using aerial assets (drones), reporting movements back to PMPF again through IORIS, until the dhow proceeded back out of Somali waters after a period of surveillance. The suspicious vessel movements are still under investigation and could be related to MV RUEN.

During the entire ALMERAJ1 operation, IORIS was the primary communication tool used throughout, allowing the Mogadishu-based maritime agencies including the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, and the Somali Police Force Department of Coast Guard (SPF-DCG) to be kept abreast in real-time of ongoing actions.

IORIS Regional Uptake

Serious CRIMARIO engagements in the region commenced in January 2023 when IORIS training was provided to five regional authorities in Djibouti, these including the Djibouti Coast Guard, Somalia Maritime Authority, Somaliland Coast Guard, the Puntland Maritime Police Force and the Yemen Maritime Affairs Authority. In March 2023, a first historic tabletop exercise (TTX) was organised in Djibouti, where students from the afore-mentioned agencies coordinated joint maritime interdiction for the first time, albeit in a simulated manner. European Union Naval Force Operation ATALANTA, operating in the Gulf of Aden, also participated in the IORIS based exercises.

In following months, CRIMARIO organised more activities including an IORIS-based Search and Rescue (SAR) planning course in Kenya, focused on enhancing interagency and interregional information sharing.

IORIS Somali Maritime Agency Uptake

At the beginning of November 2023, CRIMARIO provided focused IORIS training to the Somaliland Coast Guard, training seventeen officials on how to use IORIS to communicate with other entities, exchange documents, use dedicated mapping features and AIS data, and other basic principles of the platform, to support the decision-making process.

And at the end of November 2023, CRIMARIO trained the Somali Police Force Department of the Coast Guard, the Somali Navy and Coast Guard and the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy on the IORIS platform, in coordination with EU Capacity Building Mission to Somalia (EUCAP SOMALIA).

At the course closing ceremony, Andrew Lyttle, IORIS Instructor concluded: “To partake in this training, the participants were required to develop many vital competencies which EUCAP and other Somali and international agencies have supported. The success of having staff members and officers directly benefit from this type of technology, which requires pre-entry knowledge of maritime matters, speaks well on collective development. I see this course also beneficial for the European Union, since enhancing safety and security in the busy waters of Somalia region provides direct mutual gain for all”. 

In response to a request from the PMPF, CRIMARIO trained the Maritime Operations Centre based in Bossaso Puntland between the 28^th January and the 1^st February 2024, and, in the not-too-distant future, CRIMARIO intends facilitating an interagency Standard Operating Procedure workshop through which all Somali maritime safety and security authorities and agencies will define harmonised procedures for exchanging information.

CRIMARIO further supports EUNAVFOR in its Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) activities specifically using IORIS as the communication tool via TTX to exercise maritime safety and security scenarios. Such an exercise (supported by EUCAP) was most recently undertaken on the 6^th February 2024, between EUNAVFOR ES Victoria and the PMPF MOC which used the case of the AMERAJ1 as a exercise example.

Since the ever-growing IORIS network is beginning to push CRIMARIO resources to their limit, CRIMARIO is now providing Train-the-Trainer courses so that nationals can begin to teach themselves without direct CRIMARIO support, and such a course in the country is planned in the spring.

Virtual Community Areas

Through IORIS, all six maritime enforcement and safety agencies mentioned above are now interconnected through IORIS 24/7. This is through the creation of a nationally administered virtual national Community Area called SOMSEA, allowing for the coordination of maritime operations up to the outer perimeter of their Exclusive Economic Zone. Beyond this, authorities can connect with neighbouring countries through the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Horn of Africa, Gulf of Aden (ROHA) Community Area.

In the words of Colonel Mohamed Jama, Head of Puntland Maritime Operation Centre: “Since CRIMARIO initiated its engagement with PMPF to provide capacity-building training related to IORIS, there has been a significant improvement in PMPF’s knowledge and understanding of the maritime domain. This training has enhanced our capabilities and facilitated information sharing and exchange with other maritime stakeholders in the region. Thanks to the implementation of the IORIS system, PMPF is now able to track the movements of hijacked boats and report local maritime incidents to other maritime security stakeholders and neighbouring countries. Furthermore, PMPF has established effective connections, communication, and collaboration with Somali Maritime authorities, the Somali Maritime Administration, and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA operations in the regional sea.”

According to Mr. Yonis Adan, Senior Maritime Advisor to the Federal Government of Somali GS Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport recognises the importance of IORIS: “The platform helps on different levels; it allows individuals, organisations, and coastal communities within the federal government of Somalia to share their knowledge and expertise with others. It enables the transfer of valuable insights, experiences, and best practices, fostering continuous learning and improvement. At the same time, IORIS facilitates collaboration and networking among users who have similar interests or goals. It brings together diverse perspectives, encourages discussions, and promotes the exchange of ideas, paving the way for innovation, problem-solving, and new opportunities.

Moreover, through the platform, you get access to up-to-date information: in the virtual IORIS National Community SOMSEA, where there is the need to rapidly exchange information, IORIS ensures that all users have access to the most current and relevant data. It enables users to stay updated on the latest incidents in the region and beyond. One last point I’d like to make is related to empowerment and inclusivity: I believe IORIS provides an opportunity for everyone to share and access information freely. IORIS instructors empower individuals, coastal communities, and maritime administration staff, regardless of their background or location, to participate actively in discussions, contribute with their perspective, to gain valuable insight”. 

Concluding Remarks

Working with officials from the various authorities and agencies has indeed been a rewarding experience for CRIMARIO given that many operators are some of the most active IORIS users in the Indo-Pacific region. This besides the fact that the Horn of Africa and its approaches is probably the region which requires IORIS the most at this moment in time.

[1] The Federal Government of Somalia via the Somali Maritime Administration has a key role in ensuring these permissions considered issues related to the Territorial Waters (TTW) to agree the assistance of EUNAVFOR.

L’article Enhancing connectivity and interoperability around the Horn of Africa through IORIS est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

Considering the latest developments in the legal context for EUNAVFOR Atalanta operations inside Somali Territorial Water (TTW), and the suppression of the High-Risk Area in the West Indian Ocean, CRIMARION introduced a pilot project to use to support Atalanta monitor World Food Programme (WFP) Time-Chartered Vessel delivering humanitarian aid to Somalia. The project enabled the creation of a new IORIS Community Area, including WFP ships, EUNAVFOR Atalanta Joint Operation Centre and Force Head Quarters (FHQ). This project was fully endorsed by the WFP Headquarters in Rome and the EUNAVFOR Atalanta Operation Commander. This involved IORIS being used by the merchant vessel aboard MV Dolores during her transit from the port of Mombasa (Kenya) to Bossaso (Somalia). IORIS was the real-time channel of communication, which facilitated warnings/alerts in case of incidents. It also reported incidents to increase the master’s situational awareness at the regional level.

In October, in the context of support to the Shipping Industry at strategic level, CRIMARIO participated in the European Commission Shipowners Association (ECSA) Policy Group in Copenhagen.

In line with CRIMARIO’s full commitment to the safety and security of the seafarers, the project contributed to establishing and consolidate links between the shipping industry and IFC Peru.

L’article CRIMARIO for the Maritime Industry est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

The partnership was signed by the project director of CRIMARIO Mr. Martin Cauchi-Inglott, and by the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Operational Commander, Vice Admiral José M. Núñez Torrente. It establishes a collaborative framework between the two organisations  with the aim of utilising IORIS to bolster the development of a Regional Maritime Security Architecture. It encompasses both technical and operational aspects.

Both parties of the agreement have regard to the necessity to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness/Maritime Situational Awareness in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea region through information and data-sharing.

In the spirit of this partnership, EUNAVFOR has been an active participant in numerous exercises facilitated by the IORIS platform, emphasizing our commitment to regional maritime security.

This close cooperation spans from exercises such as the Tabletop Exercises (TTX) RAVEN 1, 2 and 3, aboard EUNAVFOR assets, to the Western Indian Ocean Pollution Regional Exercise (WIOPOLREX), including not only the participation of EUNAVFOR assets but also the Joint Operations Centre (JOC), located in the OHQ (Rota, Spain). Furthermore, the collaboration with Omani Maritime Security Centre (MSC) stands as a testament to the expansive operational reach.

In the words of Martin Cauchi Inglott, CRIMARIO II project director: “We welcome EU NAVAL Force Operation ATALANTA, that formally joins the IORIS community, which, as of today, counts more than 40 civilian and military agencies from over 20 countries across the Indo Pacific, from the Western Indian Ocean, through Asia and Southeast Asia and across the Pacific Ocean.

IORIS will support ATALANTA’s in implementing its mandate, providing a framework to exchange operational information, and connecting in real time domestic and international stakeholders to address the evolving challenges in the maritime domain”.

Vice Admiral Nuñez Torrente, EU NAVFOR Operation Commander (OPCDR) commented: “As a maritime security provider, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA is fully committed to the development of the maritime security architecture in the area of operation. In this framework, IORIS is a high-value tool that offers support to the multinational cooperative environment, and it provides significant benefits. It also lays the foundation for interactions of a number of coastal based entities, and international navies operating at sea, as well as a significant improvement in the security of seafarers.”

Looking to the future, EUNAVFOR is gearing up for the advanced exercise “Aldabra II” in Seychelles. In alliance with the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) and aboard the Spanish Frigate NAVARRA, the exercise aims to harness the full potential of the IORIS platform, ensuring unparalleled coordination and information flow throughout all the participants.

L’article EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA and CRIMARIO sign a collaborative agreement concerning the use of the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

The EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta transferred the five suspects to Seychellois authorities after responding to piracy attacks on 21 April 2019, the local Department of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.

The suspects were transported by Spanish flagship ESPS Navarra and transferred to Seychellois authorities in accordance with a transfer agreement between the Seychelles and the European Union with support from UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Only three out of the five Somali suspects appeared in court on Monday while the other two are receiving medical assistance after they were injured in the piracy attacks.

For humanitarian reasons, Operation Atalanta requested medical assistance from the Seychelles authorities for two of the suspects likely to have been wounded during the piracy attempts.

The case is being heard by Justice Laura Pillay, who remanded the suspects until May 13.

Photo license Rassin Vannier 

Read the original article posted by Seychelles News Agency

L’article After pirate attack off Somalia, judge orders that 5 suspects are held in Seychelles est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.

Bruno Pozzi, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Kenya, firstly reminded the EU comprehensive approach to strengthen maritime security in Africa and its moto “No development without security”. He highlighted the pragmatic approach carried out by the operations and projects and their concrete achievements both in Indian Ocean and Gulf of Guinea.

The first 4 speakers explained why maritime strategies are needed and what are the key elements. Glen Forbes (OceanusLive) reminded the importance of information sharing and gave practical cases to achieve it. Then John Steed (UNODC) emphasized the challenges of capacity building in a post-conflict environment (Somalia case), and the necessity of both national and regional cooperation for cracking maritime crimes.

Cyrille Atonfack (Cameroon Navy) presented the numerous challenges faced by Gulf of Guinea countries for securing their seas and the architecture organizing the cooperation between the States and their regional communities. Because maritime insecurity is an obstacle to develop the blue economy, Marianne Péron-Doise (CRIMARIO) advocated the importance of maritime domain awareness (MDA), which was illustrated by the following 4 speakers.

Bouke Berns (EUNAVFOR) detailed the role of MSCHOA and its tools for the shipping industry, concluding on the need of information sharing and “Information exchange is a two-way street”. David Nattrass (CRIMARIO) gave a full picture of the web-based platform IORIS, its functionalities, maintenance and administration as well as the ongoing discussions on the regional governance. Ronny Matatiken (RCOC), insisted into the linkage between national maritime strategies and the regional cooperation, organized around two regional centres in the western Indian Ocean; the RCOC based in Seychelles started to use IORIS together with the RMIFC in Madagascar.

Finally Thomas Tarrade (GoGIN) presented the specific challenge of MDA in the Gulf of Guinea, highlighting the various levels of information sharing and the new design of GoGIN for supporting the national and transnational structures involved in maritime surveillance.     

The attendees raised several questions and issues: How to establish trust with private sector? how to involve the youth and education? how to avoid conflicts between coastal communities, fishers and industrial uses?

Read the article posted by the EU Delegation to Kenya

Download the presentations

Maritime strategy & the challenges of maritime crime for the Blue Economy by John Steed, UNODC

The challenges of developing a secure Blue Economy in the Gulf of Guinea by Cyrille-Serge Atonfack Guemo, Cameroon Navy

EU initiatives to promote MDA & the Blue Economy by Marianne Péron-Doise, CRIMARIO

The role of MSCHOA for the shipping industry by Bouke Berns, EU Naval Force Atalanta.

IORIS a tool to enhance info sharing in the wider Indian Ocean by David Nattrass, CRIMARIO

GoGIN and the enhancement of MDA in the Gulf of Guinea by Thomas Tarrade, GoGIN

L’article Maritime domain awareness at blue economy conference est apparu en premier sur Crimario II.