Between April 22 and 25, 22 agencies from 9 countries (Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, France/Réunion, Seychelles, Tanzania), including two regional centers (Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center – CRFIM , and Regional Operations Coordination Center – CRCO), as well as the European naval mission EUNAVFOR Atalanta participated in the “BALINN2024” tabletop and command post exercise.
Between April 22 and 25, 22 agencies from 9 countries (Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, France/Réunion, Seychelles, Tanzania), including two regional centers (Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center – CRFIM , and Regional Operations Coordination Center – CRCO), as well as the European naval mission EUNAVFOR Atalanta participated in the tabletop and command post exercise “BALINN2024”.
Co-organized by the CRIMARIO project and the Indian Ocean Commission, the exercise was designed as a dynamic and engaging simulation, to test and improve the regional maritime operational capabilities of the Indian Ocean region. Through careful preparation, robust communication protocols and strict adherence to legal frameworks, the exercise aimed to foster a cooperative environment to better respond to maritime security threats.
During the exercise, participants exchanged information on #IORIS, a communications platform for planning and inter-agency coordination at the national and regional level, which facilitates the collection, analysis and exchange of information to quickly and effectively support decision-making and actions at sea.
The exercise scenario focused on locating and identifying vessels involved in the transportation of narcotics, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, research and
rescue and how to respond to these challenges (i.e. interdiction, interception, transfer, legal finishing, etc.) and coordinate operations at sea, within the framework of regional agreements of the IOC.
The TTX helped participants put the law of the sea into practice, including Article 17 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
Additionally, they trained in coordinated responses between agencies at the national and regional level, refining tactics, techniques and procedures in a controlled, simulated environment.
Martin Cauchi Inglott said: “In our field of activity, it is essential to be able to communicate and coordinate effectively, in order to be able to carry out effective and efficient missions and operations, and this is precisely what the exercise was aimed at. In total, 11 scenarios were played out as part of this exercise, over two and a half days, on the three main themes: people, drugs and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. I would like to congratulate all the agencies that participated in the exercise for the essential role they played.”
In his concluding remarks, Raj Mohabeer, Indian Ocean Commission, highlighted that “These exercises are extremely important to strengthen cooperation between national and regional centers. I would like to thank all participating countries, RMIFC, RCOC and the EU CRIMARIO project for their good cooperation and for the success of this exercise which will contribute to strengthening maritime security in the region.”
