Yemen advances plans for National Maritime Information Sharing Centre

Discussions focused on enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), improving inter-agency coordination, and strengthening Yemen’s integration into the regional information-sharing network established under the Djibouti Code of Conduct and Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA).

Participants to the national workshop examined the governance framework, operational concept, staffing, infrastructure, systems integration and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) required to establish the NMISC.

The roadmap was finalized during a four-day national workshop held from 22 to 25 June under the European Union-funded Crisis Response Project for the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean (CRP-RedWIO), hosted by Yemen’s Ministry of Transport and facilitated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

Furthermore, through a series of planning exercises, they assessed existing capabilities, identified operational and institutional gaps, and agreed on a phased implementation plan, with the centre expected to operate initially on a daytime watch schedule for its first two years.

Under the agreed framework, the multi-agency NMISC will be based at the Yemen Coast Guard Headquarters in Aden. It will also serve as Yemen’s National Maritime Domain Awareness Centre, bringing together information from multiple agencies to create a single recognized maritime picture, supporting faster decision-making and more coordinated responses to maritime security threats.

The workshop also reaffirmed that the Regional Maritime Information Sharing Centre (ReMISC) will remain under the Yemen Maritime Affairs Authority (YMAA), ensuring close coordination between national and regional information-sharing functions.

As part of the initiative, the Ministry of Transport committed to formalizing the National Maritime Security Committee (NMSC) through a government decree, providing the body with the legal mandate to oversee Yemen’s maritime security governance and supervise the implementation of the NMISC.

A strong and empowered NMSC will provide the strategic direction and institutional coordination necessary not only for the successful establishment of the National Maritime Information Sharing Centre, but also for the effective implementation of Yemen’s broader National Maritime Security Strategy.

…said Faheem Saif, Executive Chairman of the Maritime Affairs Authority.

Furthermore, Kiruja Micheni, IMO Project Manager commended Yemen for its leadership as Chair of the DCoC Working Group 1 on Information Sharing, recognizing its continued contribution to strengthening regional cooperation and advancing the DCoC Information Sharing Network.

The workshop agreed that the NMISC should initially comprise seven permanently represented core agencies: the Yemen Coast Guard, Yemen Maritime Affairs Authority, Customs Authority, Yemen Ports Authority, Yemen Navy, National Security, and the Ministry of Fish Wealth, supported by additional government entities as required. Participants identified key infrastructure requirements, including dedicated workstations, resilient communications, reliable internet connectivity, backup power systems, and integration with existing national and regional maritime information platforms.

To improve coordination with regional partners, participants agreed to use the 2023 Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA) Information Sharing Standard Operating Procedures as the foundation for Yemen’s national procedures. They also recommended translating the guidelines into Arabic to support their implementation and encourage broader national adoption.

Participants stressed that stronger information sharing must be backed by greater operational capability. They called for continued investment in the Yemen Coast Guard and Navy, including personnel, patrol vessels and logistical support, to ensure they can respond effectively to maritime security threats.