Stakeholders, partners learn more on centre to share maritime security data |27 March 2017

A group of senior officials from key ministries, agencies, departments and partners gathered at the Reflecs 3 headquarters on Friday afternoon to learn more on a new maritime information sharing centre which is in the process of being established and why the urgency to put it in place.

This was through a detailed presentation led by Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Benoiton from the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG).

The Minister for Home Affairs Mitcy Larue  ̶  under whose portfolio the National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC) for maritime security and safety will fall  ̶  was the first to address everyone present and launch the presentation and information sharing on the important project.

The initiative to set up the NISCC came about a couple of years ago as the government places a lot of emphasis on the development of economic activities related to the Blue economy concept.

And in response, private enterprises have seized the opportunities to expand and develop their businesses in the maritime space and as a result of these developments, the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) and the SCG which have been the main law enforcement responding agencies at sea for so many years, foresee a large increase in law enforcement in the coming years.

Therefore while the two continue to cope with these increases and provide sufficient maritime security necessary to sustain development of the Blue economy sector among other related missions and duties at sea, the task of dealing with non-security matters at sea will migrate to this new national structure  ̶  the NISCC. 

The new centre will be manned by a team of professional civilians operating in the maritime and aeronautical space such as the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA), the Seychelles Port Authority, the Seychelles Fishing Authority, the police, customs department, the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), together with their SPDF counterparts.

The NISCC will coordinate activities in Seychelles waters and will be a central point to which all maritime information can be requested. It will not take over any of the functions and responsibilities of the mentioned agencies as it will only be a coordinating body with a systematic approach to search and rescue coordination as guided by international norms and standards.

In order to meet the exigencies of such a structure and for it to effectively operate on a 24/7 basis, the centre is required to have a high level capacity of fusing data from various inputs at national, regional and international level in order to develop the correct intelligence and to give the correct Recognised Maritime Picture (RMP) of Seychelles waters and beyond as well as the right communication tools to export this information/intelligience on time to the right destination or body.

In order to realise this project Seychelles is in the process of getting the right contractor to design and execute the project and this will include delivering the training component and maintenance requirement. A committee responsible to carry out this task is seeking the assistance and support of international organisations, agencies to come up with a proposal to design and execute the project together with local technical teams.

Addressing the gathering Minister Larue said NISCC will play a vital role in strengthening our maritime and aeronautical security and safety through the close sharing of information and partnership in safeguarding our maritime safety and security among all partners concerned.

“President James Michel in his keynote address at the One Ocean, One Future conference in Abu Dhabi last year, said ‘the global challenges are immense but so are the opportunities’ so let us seize this opportunity to establish this NISCC,” Minister Larue said.

In his presentation Lt Col Benoiton said the NISCC will have memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with different stakeholders to make easier the sharing of information.

He added that a place is yet to be found to house the centre but part of it will be at the Reflecs 3 base.

After the presentation those present were able to seek more clarifications and ask further questions on the proposed centre.

In his closing remarks the director of Reflecs 3, Joseph Bibi, said the concept of the NISCC aims to put people at the centre of innovations for informed and intelligent decision-making.

He added that our riches lay in the oceans and beyond and the way to prosperity is the safety and security of our marine resources for the development of the Blue economy sector.

“It is for this reason that all citizens need to unite under one common objective to safeguard these precious God given gifts,” he said.