Figure 63
Combined Maritime Forces is a 25 nation coalition committed to ensuring regional
security. CMF operates in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations
Security Council Resolutions and is supported by three distinct missions. Combined Task
Force (CTF) 150 operates in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the
Gulf of Oman conducting Maritime Security Operations. CTF 151 operates in the Gulf of
Aden and Somali Basin and the Indian Ocean to deter, disrupt and suppress piracy,
protecting the safe passage of maritime vessels of any nationality. CTF 152 operates in
the Arabian Gulf conducting maritime security operations in conjunction with Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) partners in order to prevent destabilizing activities.
www.cusnc.navy.mil/cmf/cmf_command.html
Figure 64
EUNAVFOR is the main coordinating authority which operates the Maritime Security
Centre (Horn of Africa). Operation Atalanta includes the deployment of a major EU Naval
Task Group into the region to improve maritime security off the Somali coast.
Additionally the mission also encompasses a broad range of liaison, both regionally and
with industry, to help establish best practices and to disseminate information through
its 24/7 manned Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) and through the
website www.mschoa.org
Figure 65
INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 188
member countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and
supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to
prevent or combat international crime.
INTERPOL’s Maritime task Force (MPTF) was set up in January
2010 to co-ordinate the Organization’s international response
to the maritime piracy threat in its various facets by:
- Improving the global collection, preservation, analysis and dissemination
of piracy-related evidence and intelligence in aid of criminal investigations
and prosecutions by its member countries; and
- Developing police and judicial investigative and prosecution capabilities
in Eastern Africa in partnership with key international actors and
donors.
Figure 66
The Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) mission is to facilitate the exchange of
information between the United States Navy, Combined Maritime Forces, and the commercial
maritime community in the United States Central Command’s (CENTCOM) Area of
Responsibility. MARLO operates as a conduit for information focused on the safety and
security of shipping and is committed to assisting all members of the commercial
maritime community. To help combat piracy, MARLO serves as a secondary emergency point
of contact for mariners in distress (after UKMTO) and also disseminates transit guidance
to the maritime industry. MARLO disseminates guidance to merchant shippers via
briefings, website, email, and duty phone concerning Naval Exercises, Boardings, Aids to
Navigation, Environmental Issues, MEDEVAC Assistance, Security and Augments, Regional
Search and Rescue Centres.
Figure 67
The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) aims to provide a service
to mariners in the Gulf of Aden, the Somali Basin and off the Horn of Africa. It is a
Coordination Centre dedicated to safeguarding legitimate freedom of navigation in the
light of increasing risks of pirate attack against merchant shipping in the region, in
support of the UN Security Council’s Resolutions (UNSCR) 1814, 1816 and 1838. Through
close dialogue with shipping companies, masters and other interested parties, MSCHOA
will build up a picture of vulnerable shipping in these waters and their approaches. The
Centre, which is manned by military and merchant navy personnel from several countries,
will then coordinate with a range of military forces operating in the region to provide
support and protection to mariners. There is a clear need to protect ships and their
crews from illegitimate and dangerous attacks, safeguarding a key global trade route.
www.mschoa.org
Figure 68
NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) provides the commercial link with NATO’s Maritime
Forces. The NSC is NATO’s primary point of contact with the maritime community and is
used by NATO as the tool for communicating and coordinating initiatives and efforts with
other military actors (most notably UK MTO, MSCHOA and MARLO) as well as directly with
the maritime community, and thereby supporting the overall efforts to reduce the
incidence of piracy. www.shipping.nato.int
Figure 69
Operation Ocean Shield is NATO’s contribution to international efforts to combat
piracy off the Horn of Africa. The operation develops a distinctive NATO role based on
the broad strength of the Alliance by adopting a more comprehensive approach to
counter-piracy efforts. NATO’s counter piracy efforts focus on atsea counter-piracy
operations, support to the maritime community to take actions to reduce incidence of
piracy, as well as regional -state counter-piracy capacity building. The operation is
designed to complement the efforts of existing international organisations and forces
operating in the area.
Figure 70
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) office in Dubai acts as the primary
point of contact for merchant vessels and liaison with military forces in the region.
UKMTO also administers the Voluntary Reporting Scheme, under which merchant vessels are
encouraged to send regular reports, providing their position/course/ speed and ETA at
their next port while transiting the region bound by Suez, 78°E and 10°S. UKMTO
subsequently tracks vessels and the positional information is passed to CMF and EU
headquarters. Emerging and relevant information affecting commercial traffic can then be
passed directly to ships, rather than by company offices, improving responsiveness to
any incident and saving time. For further information or to join the Voluntary Reporting
Scheme, please contact UKMTO or MSCHOA Email: ukmto@eim.ae
Figure 71
Figure 72
Figure 73