From 16 to 20 January 2023, directors, officers, and technical experts from the main Information Fusion Centres (IFC) in Singapore, Madagascar, Peru, Vanuatu, India met in Bangkok and online for the 2nd SHARE.IT Interoperability Framework Conference to discuss how to link information systems in the Indo – Pacific to strengthen maritime security in the area.

SHARE.IT is a framework that will link existing information-exchange systems together and therefore facilitate the exchange of information and data among different Centres, thereby increasing speed of communication in a structured, secure, and sustainable way.

During the four – day conference, organised by CRIMARIO II in close coordination with the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP), practitioners tested and demonstrated a first prototype, which was developed in the past months based on maritime safety and security at sea scenarios.

This allowed an assessment of how the technology would start being used in the real world: during a simulation scenario which involved a container vessel transporting drug, the information exchange between RMIFC Madagascar, IFC Changi, and IFC Peru proved to be fast, relevant, accurate and secure.

The next conference, which will take place in Asia in the fall, will take SHARE.IT to the next level, developing SOPs, and expand the community to like-minded partners.

SHARE.IT: strengthening the relationship amongst maritime centres and consolidating existing information-exchange systems for the benefit of all stakeholders.