Office facilities for Somali Maritime Administration supports greater coordination of search and rescue and safety at sea

The EU Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) has handed over temporary office facilities to the Somali Maritime Administration (SMA), as part of support to maritime security and blue economy in Somalia.

The handover was attended by H.E. Maryan Aweis, Minister of Ports and Marine Transport, Dr. Mahad Mohamed Hassan, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Ports and EUCAP Somalia’s Head of Mission, Mr. Chris Reynolds

Minister Aweis said the new facilities will enhance the coordination between federal member state ministries and the federal Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport.

“Greater coordination would make it easier to tackle security incidents at sea off the coast of Somalia, and will also improve the registration and management of the country’s fishing boats, which will considerably contribute to Somalia’s blue economy,” the Minister added.

The Somali Maritime Administration is part of Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport and was set up by the Somali government in 2019 with support from EUCAP Somalia. It is the lead-agency for maritime search and rescue (SAR) and is responsible for coordinating key international agreements and conventions on SAR as well as on the maritime industry.

The facilities contain six offices in total which, which alongside the SMA, will host the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC), National Maritime Operation Centre (NMOC), an office for Crew Certification, and an office for Ship Registration.

The offices are fully equipped with computers and I.T. equipment and more computers are expected to delivered by EUCAP, as part of rollout of professional training courses on maritime security administration.

Somalia Head Mission Chris Reynolds said EUCAP’s donation of temporary offices represented an important milestone in the operational development of the SMA and maritime coordination.

“Search and Rescue activities requires a coordinated national effort and clear responsibilities on aligning to international and domestic legal frameworks. As the offices will also have space for a Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre & a National Maritime Operation Centre, it is aimed that they will support not just the SMA but also the wider maritime architecture and maritime industry,” he said.