Global Maritime Security Conference

October 7, 2019 - October 9, 2019
Abuja, Nigeria

The Federal Ministry of Transportation Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy, organized a Global Maritime Security Conference (GMSC) at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja, Nigeria from 7-9 October, 2019. www.globalmaritimesecurityconf.com

Dr. Dakuku Peterside, NIMASA Director General, said, “Maritime security is the essential foundation for industry ocean activity and the financing of the Blue Economy. Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea Countries are committed to tackling insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea through robust investment in intelligence and maritime security assets. Through our collaboration with World Ocean Council, we invite the international ocean business and investment community to actively participate in the Global Maritime Security Conference.”

The World Ocean Council (WOC) is helping to ensure the global ocean business and investment community is involved in this critically important effort to move forward with the development of a robust maritime security system to tackle piracy and other security risks affecting responsible ocean development.

Under the theme “Managing and Securing Our Waters”, Nigeria convened a gathering of ocean security and sustainable development stakeholders to advance development of a platform for the international community to coordinate actionable strategies on maritime security in support of sustainable development.

The GMSC brought together officials from governments, international agencies, donor partners, shipping firms, oil and gas industry, navies and coastguards and maritime regulators across the globe to discuss the options for tackling security challenges. GMSC international partners include the International Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO, the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The conference objectives included defining the precise nature and scope of coordinated responses to maritime insecurity, evaluating the relevance of various external interventions, and moving towards policy harmonisation and cooperation. The conference also tackled threats to maritime security, strategize alternative approach to prevent cyber security threats, and advocated for deeper global commitment to the deployment of resources for ending maritime insecurity within the region in the shortest possible time.

GMSC thematic sessions included:

  • Maritime Security: Evolving Roles, Models, Missions and Capabilities
  • Ensuring Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Effective Regional Cooperation and Roles of International Partners
  • Balancing Geopolitical, Economic and Geostrategic Interests in Maritime Security Initiatives
  • Maritime Governance and the Blue Economy
  • Maritime Security, Legal Framework and Regulatory Issues in the Gulf of Guinea
  • Maritime Security: Moving Beyond Policy Statements to Taking Collective Actions
  • Technology Deployment in Maritime Security: Emerging Issues
  • Future of Maritime Security: Trends, Emerging Threat Vectors and Capability Requirements
  • Enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)
  • Maritime Security Partnerships: The Roles of Civil Societies
  • Harmonized Standard Operating Procedures (HSOP) – A Model for Cooperation

www.globalmaritimesecurityconf.com

Related to the GMSC, the WOC Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS), Paris, 20-22 Nov, with its theme of “Investing in Ocean Futures”, will include special sessions on:

  • “Maritime Security, Sustainable Development and Women”
  • ”The Navy and Maritime Industries: Exploring Synergies in Ocean Sustainable Development, Safety, Security and Stewardship”