The offshore patrol vessel ‘Infanta Cristina’ visits Madagascar

The offshore patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Infanta Cristina’, currently integrated into the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean made a port of call in Madagascar.

In the course of the scheduled training activities to enhance Maritime Security in the region, 10 Malagasy officers attended a series of lectures and briefings on capacity building measures on the matter.

The first briefing was focused on the ‘Mercury’ command and control system, which integrates the different multinational forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden, the Horn of Africa and the Somali coast, as well as those civilian departments with responsibilities in the maritime domain and the ships transiting the area.

The system is built on secure Internet protocols, allowing the use of chats and sharing information among the C2 users. The Common Operational Picture of the system shows all vessels transiting the area.

A second conference was subsequently delivered on Command and Control doctrine employed by coalition warships which will eventually be used by the regional Maritime Security Services, once standard operating procedures and criteria are implemented.