Indonesia, EU host regional talks on information sharing to enhance maritime safety and security in Indo-Pacific

Indonesia, EU host regional talks on information sharing to enhance maritime safety and security in Indo-Pacific

More than 90 senior officials and representatives from 53 agencies across the Indo-Pacific region, together with other regional actors are convening in Bali on 24-25 May 2023 to discuss about the future governance structure of the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform. IORIS is designed to facilitate coordination and exchange of information among agencies and to respond effectively to maritime security threats and support sustainable fisheries.

Over the two days, participants will consider how to move towards the common management of the system, to facilitate coherent and efficient use for all IORIS users, whilst also ensuring for the long-term implementation of the platform. This will start with the establishment of the first IORIS Steering Committee in Bali, which will lead to creating a number of supporting working groups.

Once established, the IORIS regional governance will set strategic guidance on the future management, development, administration, and technical support of the IORIS platform itself, further enhancing information exchange and crisis/incident management, strengthening inter-agency cooperation in maritime surveillance, including in supporting sustainable fisheries.

The event is organised by the European Union (EU) in collaboration with Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment; and implemented by CRIMARIO II, an EU-funded maritime capacity building project.

Opening the event, the EU Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, H.E. Vincent Piket underlined: “This meeting co-organised by the EU, CRIMARIO and the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment is a great example of our engagement in the Indo-Pacific region: bringing Asian, African, American and European partners together on a joint platform for collaborating on maritime safety and security. This is the essence of the EU’s Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.”

In the Indo-Pacific, Indonesia is an important partner for the EU, with cooperation spanning trade, climate action and regional security. Last year, the EU and Indonesia conducted a joint Naval exercise in the framework of the Atalanta operation in the north-western Indian Ocean. Beyond the maritime domain, we cooperate on counterterrorism, cyber and crisis management. With today’s meeting we take both the bilateral and the multilateral partnerships another step further.

In his opening remarks Mr Helyus Komar, Acting Director for Maritime Security and Resilience of the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment, underlined: "Technology in maritime and connectivity will boost dynamic routing, considering weather, currents and traffic, and knowing which is the most efficient and safe route. It will power the innovations of the maritime security now and into the future.

Appreciation to the IORIS team for hosting the comprehensive training program for our ministries and agencies personnel. During these trainings, we have noted that IORIS could potentially contribute to addressing maritime security challenges by offering a platform for information sharing."

Mr Martin Cauchi-Inglott, CRIMARIO project director said: “This first historic meeting is one where authorities and agencies from like-minded Indo-Pacific countries are coming together to define how a shared information-exchange platform can be used to address common threats and challenges. This because safer and more secure seas, are vital for global trade, and therefore in the interest of all!”

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ABOUT CRIMARIO

CRIMARIO is an EU-funded project established in 2015 to contribute to enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), through information sharing, capacity building and training, in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). This was achieved through the development of the IORIS platform, a maritime coordination and communications tool for the region, coupled to extensive training programmes on maritime data processing.

In 2020 the project was extended until 2025, and its geographical reach enlarged with the ambition of inter-connecting the Indo-Pacific. In this second phase the project aims at:

• enhancing information exchange and analysis, and crisis/incident management
• strengthening inter-agency cooperation in maritime surveillance, policing, investigation and judicial matters.

Through these objectives, CRIMARIO supports the implementation of the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy where the EU aims to promote an open and rules-based regional maritime architecture, because all will win through safer and more secure trade routes.

The project is implemented by Expertise France.

ABOUT IORIS

The Indo Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform is a secure and neutral, web-based maritime coordination and information-sharing tool for national and regional multi-agency use. In its primary function, IORIS provides maritime centres with a means to jointly plan and coordinate maritime operations, including crisis/incident management, offering enhanced information-sharing functions and strengthen interagency collaboration at national and regional levels. The platform also offers additional surveillance functionalities.

IORIS functions are flexible and can be adapted to the mandate and role of the specific centre or organisation, using capabilities including communications, geographic displays and the provision of satellite AIS data. Dedicated areas are tailor-made to manage day-to-day information-sharing and the coordination and monitoring of maritime safety and security operations, amongst civilian agencies and/or military users, depending on the needs.

IORIS incorporates the latest encrypted technologies for ensuring a robust level of security and privacy; it is only accessible to authorised users / centres / administrations designated by partner countries, maritime centres and regional organisations. A training programme, delivered by a pool of certified instructors, ensures a smooth deployment of the platform.

At present over 50 national and regional maritime agencies from 23 countries and organisations across the Indo-Pacific use IORIS platform.