MSC
The MSC is a three-day conference that examines activities required to achieve, enhance and coordinate international security cooperation and awareness.
Maritime Security Conference Addresses Maritime Safety And Security Issues Through Combined Effort
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Rafael Martie, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (NNS) — The Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence (CJOS COE) and the Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW) began its combined Maritime Security Conference (MSC) 2012 here June 5.
The MSC is a three-day conference that examines activities required to achieve, enhance and coordinate international security cooperation and awareness.
The participants are from various organizations and governments who have maritime security interests.
“We have about 150 attendees from several dozen nations from around the world and what it shows me is that there is an international maritime community of interest concerned about and ready to take action on common maritime security challenges that we face around the globe,” said CJOS COE director, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. David H. Buss,
In addition to a number of speakers presenting on key topics, attendees also participate in working groups led by panels of experts. Each panel focuses on key topics presented by conference organizers. These topics include improvements in information sharing, enhancement of national and interregional maritime security governance and how to confront future challenges.
“Maritime security is an extremely complex field. It requires a comprehensive and holistic approach. It is necessary to have experts from all over the globe to deliver good products after the conference,” said Director COE CSW, German navy Rear Adm. Thomas E. P. Jugel.
By enabling participants from various organizations to interact and familiarize themselves with counterparts from across the globe, they are able to develop shared ideas and better plan for future operations.
“The reason I came to the conference is because I am working on a research paper on anti-piracy,” said conference attendee Lt. Cmdr. Jean Edmond from the Republic of Madagascar navy. “We need to come up with a solution for anti-piracy through cooperation with our allies and partners.”
This is the first time the conference has been held in North America. Halifax was selected particularly for its strong naval presence and support within the region. Commander, Royal Canadian Navy Maritime Forces Atlantic Rear Adm. David C. Gardam said he was pleased to have civilian and military professionals from all over the world attend MSC in Halifax.
“Marine security for Halifax is something real and tangible that we deal with every day,” said Gardam. “There are thousands of vessels tracked by Halifax everyday going either from the great circle routes from Europe down into North America or into the St. Lawrence seaway and the heartland of our two great nations. So, Halifax, is the right place to hold this conference”
The MSC is an annual event co-sponsored by CJOS COE based out of Norfolk, Va., and COE CSW, based in Kiel, Germany, and will run until June 7.
The COEs are nationally hosted organizations supported by sponsoring nations that perform work on behalf of NATO. They are manned by teams who possess in-depth multinational joint maritime expertise and experience to help address evolving operational capabilities. They offer leading edge advice on ways by which allies and partners may improve education, training, doctrine, and interoperability in the multinational context. The COEs also actively engage in testing and validating new concepts through collaborative experimentation.
Source: Navy.mil
