Mozambique has reinforced its maritime security architecture with the completion of a roadmap to strengthen its National Maritime Information Sharing Centre (NMISC) at a workshop held in Maputo (27-30 July).
Organized by IMO, with financial support from the European Union through the Crisis Response Project for the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean (CRP-RedWIO), the workshop brought together representatives* from key government ministries, maritime agencies and security institutions. The nationally owned roadmap for establishing and operationalizing a multi-agency NMISC was developed, providing a practical framework for enhancing national maritime domain awareness, improving inter-agency coordination and integrating Mozambique into the regional information-sharing architecture under the Djibouti Code of Conduct.
Opening the workshop on behalf of the Government, Mr. Lourenço Afonso José Machado, Member of the Board of Directors of Maritime Transport Institute (ITRANSMAR, IP) reaffirmed the country's commitment to strengthening maritime governance and enhancing cooperation to address evolving maritime security challenges. "Effective responses to threats such as piracy, illicit trafficking, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and fraudulent vessel registration require robust information-sharing mechanisms and coordinated action across national institutions and with regional partners," he said.
Participants reviewed Mozambique's legal, institutional, technical and operational framework and identified priority actions to establish a fully operational NMISC aligned with the regional information-sharing architecture established under the Djibouti Code of Conduct.
They examined existing coordination mechanisms, identified legal and procedural gaps, and developed governance arrangements and standard operating procedures to support the NMISC. The roadmap outlines practical milestones towards achieving full operational capability while strengthening inter-agency cooperation, maritime domain awareness, and timely information exchange among national authorities.
The workshop also reinforced Mozambique's growing integration into the regional maritime security architecture. Experts from the EU CRIMARIO project, the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles shared practical experiences on regional information sharing, operational coordination and collaborative responses to maritime incidents. Their participation enabled participants to better understand how national centres contribute to collective maritime domain awareness across the Western Indian Ocean.
This initiative builds upon progress made earlier this year under the EU-funded Port Security Project, where groundwork for the establishment of a National Maritime Security Committee (NMSC) was laid.
Additionally, Mozambique has expressed interest in joining the Safe Seas for Africa Project and the wider Regional Maritime Security Architecture, which would further strengthen cooperation with regional information-sharing centres and improve coordinated responses to maritime threats. The workshop also recognized complementary national initiatives, including maritime legislative reforms and the establishment of maritime coordination mechanisms that will support the future operation of the NMISC.
Participants agreed that the roadmap provides a solid foundation for strengthening national maritime information sharing while enhancing Mozambique's contribution to regional maritime security. The roadmap will now be refined and submitted to the Government for review and endorsement, providing the basis for future technical assistance and capacity-building activities under the CRP-RedWIO project.
The workshop forms part of IMO's continued support to DCoC Member States in strengthening national maritime information-sharing capabilities, enhancing inter-agency coordination and improving regional cooperation to address piracy, armed robbery against ships and other transnational maritime threats across the Western Indian Ocean.
*Representatives were drawn from National Institute of Maritime Transport (ITRANSMAR, IP), Ministry of Interior, National Maritime Institute (INAMAR), National Migration Service (SENAMI), National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), Coastal, Lake and River Police (PCLF), Mozambique Revenue Authority / Customs (AT), National Communications Institute of Mozambique (INCM), Mozambique Navy (MGM), Ministry of National Defence (MDN), Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries – Directorate of Legal Affairs and Litigation (MAAP–DAJC), Institute of Sea and Boundaries (IMAF) and the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DACM).
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