19 September 2019--Operation-Interagency staff officer Lt CDR Diego Canovas-Canovas represented EU NAVFOR Somalia OHQ at the Seventh Annual Company Security Officer (CSO) / National Maritime Interagency Advisory Group (NIAG) International Meeting, in Baltimore, Maryland
US Maritime Administration (MARAD) organized the meeting in MITAGS Campus, and attendees included company security officers, high representatives of the shipping industry, high officials of US administration and a NATO representative.
Lt CDR Diego Canovas-Canovas provided an update on the situation in the Ocean Indian Region, including latest developments in maritime security and events in the area. In addition, he stressed the importance EU NAVFOR Somalia gives to Company Security Officers, as key elements in security within the shipping industry, and the need to keep Best Management Practices (BMP) compliance at maximum level.
In a panel comprised of different agencies (EU NAVFOR Somalia, MDAT-GoG, UKMTO, US NCAGS and NATO Shipping Centre), Lt CDR Diego Canovas-Canovas briefly defined the existing models of Reporting Centres in the world, pointing out that EU NAVFOR Somalia includes a widely recognized and appreciated reporting centre (MSCHOA) fully integrated in its OHQ.
In contrast to other international reporting centres and naval operations, EU NAVFOR Somalia is the only international naval operation in the world that manages a voluntary reporting scheme (VRS), monitors vessels and conducts full risk assessment of vessels transiting the area, while providing military response to incidents at the same time.
The meeting was chaired by Maritime Administrator RADM Buzby.