ALLIED MARITIME COMMAND MARCOM/N350/NSC Vision Iss 1 01 Oct 2015 The NATO Shipping Centre Strategic Vision
THE NATO SHIPPING CENTRE (NSC) STRATEGIC VISION OCT 2015 I. Background The NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) was created in 01 July 1999 to establish close cooperation between NATO and the wider maritime community in order to promote maritime security. International shipping has seen great changes during the last 15 years. Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) systems, implemented by the International Maritime Organisation, enable global identification and tracking of vessels. Communication systems are being developed that offer new opportunities for networking and exchange of information. Threats and risks to commercial shipping have become more diverse. Convergence of transnational organised crime funding terrorist organisations threatens national and regional stability and makes this a concern for international communities. The NSC, embedded in ALLIED MARITIME COMMAND HQ (Northwood, UK) currently supports military operational planning and execution and serves as a conduit between NATO and the maritime community for on-going operations (Counter-Terrorism Operation Active Endeavour (OAE) and Counter-Piracy Operation Ocean Shield (OOS)) in order to share information on maritime risks with the merchant shipping industry. As NATO areas of interest transition from regional to global, and its planning efforts shift from on-going operations to contingencies, the NSC must similarly clarify its role as an enduring organization with a strategic vision that addresses NATO s overarching objectives and provides purpose in its close relationship with the wider community. This vision document outlines the strategic plan for the NSC and delineates its role, areas of interest and engagement plan. II. WHAT the NATO Shipping Centre is planning to achieve Roles of the NATO Shipping Centre Contribute to Maritime Security & Freedom of Navigation Support Commercial Shipping Advisor on Maritime Security Risks Deconfliction from military operations across spectrum of utilization NATO NATO Shipping Centre Support Military Operations Support for all NATO, Nations and Multinational military operations involving NCAGS, worldwide Monitoring/maintain global Maritime Situational Awareness Merchant Industry/Shipping Understanding the Maritime Domain
In accordance with the above, the NSC is NATO s primary point of contact for the commercial maritime community: 1. Contributing to planning and execution of military operations globally: a. Providing knowledge of the civil maritime environment and thus minimizing interferences between military operations and civilian shipping; b. Delivering advice to Military Commanders on maritime security risks to the wider maritime community; 2. Contributing to the Alliance s global Situational Awareness by establishing and maintaining global merchant shipping Maritime Situational Awareness display and analysis capability; 3. Engaging with the maritime community in order to: a. Build and maintain trust and confidence towards NATO and promote information sharing; b. Participate in NATO and non-nato forums, i.e., working groups, industry conferences and meetings, commercial shipping security forums, etc.; c. Deliver maritime security advice to shipping industry; d. Advise merchant traffic of on-going military operations in order to facilitate the free flow of shipping. III. HOW NATO Shipping Centre will fulfil this strategic vision 1. The strategic vision is based on three pillars described below. These consist of a series of activities and milestones which are not isolated, but interdependent. NCAGS Advice to military commanders and D&G to commercial shipping MSA Development of global white picture, identifying trends in the maritime domain Contribute to operational planning and execution, doctrine development and engagements with the wider maritime stakeholders NETWORKING Building of trust and confidence and exchange of information
NAVAL COOPERATION AND GUIDANCE FOR SHIPPING (NCAGS): NCAGS is the provision of cooperation, guidance, advice and assistance to merchant shipping in support of the Commander s mission and to enhance the safety and security of merchant ships. The NCAGS doctrine and procedures, designed to give a common framework for commercial and military operations, can be implemented globally, based on cooperation and guidance between military and commercial shipping. Of particular interest to the commercial shipping industry is the publication Naval Cooperation And Guidance (NCAGS) Guide To Owners, Operators, Masters And Officers, which is recommended to be available on the bridge of every merchant vessel engaged in international trade. This publication is available for download, free of charge, at www.shipping.nato.int. MARITIME SITUATIONAL AWARENESS (MSA): MSA is an enabling capability which facilitates the NSC in achieving a comprehensive understanding of the maritime domain in order to increase effectiveness in the planning and execution of military maritime operations, and to better advise commercial shipping on maritime risks. The MSA process includes the collection, fusion and analysis of merchant shipping positional, pattern of life and risk/threat data from all available sources, both sensor and non-sensor, to generate maritime security related information that can be shared as required to improve overall maritime security for all. NETWORKING: Establishing and maintaining a comprehensive engaged stakeholder network for the exchange of maritime security related information between key maritime civilian and military stakeholders is essential for achieving improved global maritime security for all. To achieve improved maritime security networking is based on maintaining, developing and improving organisational relationships to build trust, collect and share information, to achieve an increased overall shared understanding of maritime issues/risks to improve security for all mariners. Information on maritime security related issues are disseminated to the shipping industry primarily through the NSC website www.shipping.nato.int, but also via e-mails, meetings, conferences and workshops connecting with specific audiences within the shipping industry. 2. NATO Shipping Centre strategic plan will undertake the below tasks along these lines of operation to achieve its vision. a. NCAGS: Analyse merchant shipping behaviour to define vulnerabilities; Analyse maritime criminal patterns to identify how they exploit vulnerabilities, provide this information to the maritime community to support risk assessments; Provide advice on protective measures to commercial shipping, and as an integral part of operational planning teams for all NATO maritime operations and exercises, to ensure due consideration of commercial maritime concerns.
b. MSA: Establish global shipping picture by: Expanding satellite and shore-based AIS coverage from regional to global; Extending LRIT coverage from the current High Risk Area in the Indian Ocean to global coverage1; Process data from areas of interest to build a baseline of information for military commanders and aid detection of anomalies indicating safety or security related risks. c. Networking: IV. Conclusions. Establish formal contacts with key maritime stakeholders, to include international governmental and non-governmental organisations, commercial shipping entities, academic institutions, and international centres of excellence; Conduct regular meetings and dialogues with shipping industry; Connect to key international, regional and national organisations to promote exchange of security related information. 1. Since the NATO Shipping Centre was established, it has developed an extensive network of maritime stakeholders in the military and industry. It has provided direct support to numerous military operations and safety and security information to the commercial shipping industry, and continues to do both. The NSC has successfully executed its role as the primary contact between NATO and the maritime community. 2. The NSC mission within this vision has expanded from a regional focus to worldwide. To deliver this expansion, the NSC will likewise need to extend its situational awareness from regional to global and in doing so must broaden its stakeholder engagement accordingly. 3. As a maritime stakeholder your engagement with NSC to deliver this vision is critical. The NSC would welcome any comments on this vision and in particular seeks your positive engagement with NSC to deliver this vision. You are encouraged to contact the NSC with any comments you may on this vision or on any related maritime security matter by using the NSC website at www.shipping.nato.int. 1 For the purpose of contributing to Counter-Piracy operations off the Horn of Africa (OOS), NATO and EUNAVFOR have been given access to Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) system information from some 90 flag states through the Information Distribution Facility (IDF) established in IMO in 2010 (IMO Maritime Safety Committee Resolution MSC.298(87).