On 15 July, EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) German frigate Bremen organised an exchange of experience with the Piracy information-sharing centre (ISC) in Mombasa. This centre is one of three under the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, commissioned by the , International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 2011.
The Mombasa ISC is co-housed with the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC), which operates on a 24-hour basis and covers extensive areas of the western Indian Ocean, including the Seychelles. Countries such as Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Kenya and later also Somalia are reporting information on the movement of pirates to the ISC/RMRCC, and thus contribute to efforts to supress piracy in the region.
FGS Bremen operations officer liaised with ISC/RMRCC personnel, exchanged experience, shared information on the current situation of piracy and briefed on the Mercury system, an internet-based secured communication network, used as an alert and coordination tool by all anti-piracy stakeholders, civilian and military. On-board the German frigate Bremen the operations officer and other crewmembers answered questions in regard to counter-piracy efforts by FGS Bremen and Operation Atalanta.
Such engagements and the exchange of experience are paramount for mutual success in the fight against piracy. The current significant decrease in piracy activity has indeed been achieved by coordinated military action and use of BMPs but also by liaising and assisting local navies, coast guards and maritime authorities.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, July 19, 2012; Image: EUNAVFOR