[CRIMASREX, 20 September 2021] Official launch of the 3-day CRIMARIO – MASE Regional Maritime Exercise – CRIMASREX on Monday 20 September 2021, held virtually in the presence of Mr Raj Mohabeer, Officer in charge at Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), and Martin Cauchi-Inglott, CRIMARIO Team Leader. Conducted by EU CRIMARIO project in close collaboration with the EU-funded MASE programme led by the Indian Ocean Commission, this command post tabletop exercise (CPX/TTX) brings together, 16 agencies from Western Indian Ocean States and EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation ATALANTA. Focused on information exchange and coordination of responses during a health crisis at sea, the Tabletop Exercise aims at improving strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and interoperability between agencies.
The IOC welcomes this important regional exercise. And encourages the MASE agreement signatory States and neighbouring countries, to make the most of the exercise by examining their readiness, and ability to share and exchange information, reacting in a timely manner, implementing initial responses and promote regional coordinated operation at sea through the CRIMARIO-MASE Regional Exercise 2021/01 (CRIMASREX 21/1). The command post tabletop exercise (CPX/TTX) is focused on a crisis at sea triggering multiple health-related and Search and Rescue operations. Feedback and lessons learnt generated from the exercise will support all participating bodies in developing effective national and regional maritime security strategies, related policies, and enhance existing standard operating procedures (SOP).
The 7 participant countries – Comoros, France/La Réunion, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles – have instructed their relevant agencies to participate: besides the two regional maritime centres (RMIFC and RCOC), the participants belong to National Maritime Centres, Coast Guards, Navies, Maritime Affairs, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC), and Health Services.