Amidst the vast expanse of the English Channel and North Sea, a concerted effort enhances maritime security through innovative operations.
Between May 15th and September 15th, the resources of the coast guard in the English Channel and the North Sea will be strengthened as part of a versatile maritime operation (MMO). This initiative aims to enhance detection and verification at sea through increased cooperation with European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and Fisheries Control Agency (FCA).
The main objectives of this operation are as follows:
- Maritime security reinforcement: Ensure a greater presence and better responsiveness of coast guards to prevent and manage incidents at sea.
- Combating maritime pollution: Intensify efforts to detect and respond to pollution incidents, ensuring a cleaner maritime environment.
- Strengthening fisheries policing measures: Increase surveillance and control of fishing activities to ensure compliance with regulations and protect fishery resources.
Among the resources made available, a Camcopter S-100 Schiebel fisheries drone will play a crucial role. This drone will conduct surveillance flights at an increased pace, with missions extending from four to six hours of flight time, thereby enhancing the capability for detection and control at sea. This allows for better supervision of maritime activities and a quicker response to potential incidents.
The MMO MMdN is the second MMO conducted under the direction of EMSA, following the one organized with the assistance of the EFCA and FRONTEX from June 5th to August 31st, 2023, in the Baltic Sea for the benefit of Estonian, Finnish, and Latvian authorities. In 2024, three other MMOs are or will be established by European agencies: one in the Black Sea (Romania and Bulgaria), one in the Adriatic Sea (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia), and one in the Baltic Sea.
