PRESS RELEASE
20 February 2016
From February 14th to 20th EUCAP Nestor, supported by EU Naval Force, Operation Atalanta, conducted an “Operation Room staff training course” as part of an ongoing Mentoring,Teaching and Training (MTT) programme, aimed at enhancing Somaliland Coast Guard operational capacity.
This stage of the Mission led MTT took place in the coastal city of Berbera where an Interim Operation Room is being built and equipped to serve as the future Maritime Operation Centre for the Somaliland Coast Guard (SLCG).
The MTT students were ten SLCG nominees employed in the Interim Operation Room – between 24 and 35 years of age. The officers were trained by EUCAP Nestor and Oceans Beyond Piracy experts who assessed their English language, computer skills and maritime experience.
Currently EUCAP Nestor and the Somaliland Coast Guard are working together to achieve Limited Initial Operational Capability (L-IOC) for the Interim Operations Room in Berbera in order to improve Maritime Situational Awareness and the ability to manage and coordinate ‘interagency’ responses to maritime safety and security situations (accidents and incidents).
OBP supports these activities and is responsible for the refurbishment of the Operations Room and technical installation of – for instance – solar panels.
The MTT was supported by EU Naval Force through training activities conducted on board the FGS German Corvette Erfurt in Berbera. FGS Erfurt crew provided theoretical and practical assistance to the SLCG students, with emphasis on maritime communications such as hailing vessels.
The MTT in Berbera contributes to a first step in capacity enhancement of the SLCG, aiming at building a better understanding of what happens in the Somaliland coastal waters. This activity builds on previous MTT programmes.
In the spirit of the comprehensive approach EUCAP Nestor, OBP and UNODC are working together with the Somaliland Coast Guard (SLCG) to enable the SLCG to communicate with foreign and domestic vessels at Sea. This will happen more effectively once the Interim Operations Rooms is fully equipped and operational.
A functioning Operations Room is vital for the Somaliland Coast Guard communications and surveillance capability, as well as the control of their vessels that patrol the coastal waters to respond rapidly to emergencies, accidents and incidents.
Background
EUCAP Nestor is a civilian EU mission, under the auspices of the Common Security and Defence Policy, which assists host countries in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region in strengthening their capacity to ensure maritime security and in particular to fight piracy.
EUCAP Nestor – Somalia Office
Press and Public Information Department
CBA Centre, Mara and Ragati Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi
P.O. Box 30475, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: +254 727 106 645
Email:
francesca.marretta@eucap-nestor.eu
Webpage:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/eucapnestor
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/EUCAPNESTOR
