Mogadishu Maritime Police enhances capacity through intensive training
To be more efficient, Maritime Police officers need to deepen the skills and knowledge on the coast guard functions, navigation-related matters and operations at sea, putting additional effort to increase their operational capabilities. In particular, an area where the SPF-DCG pays particular attention is the capacity for sustainable self-regeneration and for conducting its own training to reach a level, in skills and knowledge, that allows to progress on its own.
How could the Somali Police Force - Maritime Police be supported in strengthening their capabilities and be more efficient in their operations?
In order to boost the Maritime Police capabilities in very specific areas and to inject "critical mass and momentum" to achieve a significant lift of sustainable skills and knowledge of the whole Unit, the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) facilitated and coordinated the deployment of a Specialised Team generated by the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR) to deliver an intensive training in Mogadishu.
The Specialized Team was composed of five experts, three from the Spanish Civil Guard (Spanish Guardia Civil) and two from the Portuguese National Guard (Portuguese Guarda Nacional Republicana).
During six weeks, the Specialized Team and EUCAP Somalia conducted a fully scaled training to firstly establish a functioning self-generating capacity to improve the sustainability and resilience of the Maritime Police. The training enhanced operational capabilities of selected 20 coxswains, boat crew members, communication personnel and boat technicians in specific areas, such as boat handling and maintenance, Search and Rescue (SAR), Maritime Operations Centre activity, coastal navigation and maritime law. The training also contributed to increase sustainability and resilience, and, ultimately, to the projection of safety and law enforcement into the Somali waters.
The curricula developed for the training was developed with both theoretical sessions and practical exercises so to include among other maritime concepts, procedures and recognized operations standards for sea operations, boat/vessels crewmembers’ functions, duties and responsibilities, skills development on navigation and communication, operations at sea and preventive maintenance.
The program included the development of Standard Operational Procedures (SOP), especially in the field of Search and Rescue (SAR) operations and boat/vessel maintenance which is very relevant in the West Indian Ocean considering its maritime traffic alongside related hazards for seafarers.
20 officers attended the six weeks training for 6 days a week and very positive comments were received. “Getting the Maritime Police equipped with skills they need to conduct complex maritime operations in a safe and professional way is a vital priority for us. We are very pleased to be part and subject of this training and grateful to both EUCAP Somalia and EUROGENDFOR for their professionalism, commitment and approach. We see this as another step in ensuring that police is ready to deliver efficient and professional service to the Somali people in the maritime environment” said the Head of Training.
The completion of this intensive training and the inception of critical mass of knowledge on key areas in a fundamental path towards the development of SPF-DCG capabilities to attain its full operational capability.
EUCAP Somalia will continue to collaborate with the Specialised Team to support Somali counterparts in the development of their skills to enhance maritime security. The second phase of the training is planned for January - February 2023 and will focus on consolidation of already acquired skills, Training of Trainers (ToT) activities and achieving sustainability of efforts.