Transparency data

Strengthening Maritime Security: objectives 2018 to 2019

Published 20 September 2018

1. Overview

The UK’s overall objectives, as set out in the UK’s National Strategy on Maritime Security, is focused on promoting a secure international maritime domain which will benefit all nations. All nations, including the UK, rely on safe and secure seas. Over 80% of global trade by volume is carried by sea, so the economic effects of maritime crime are significant. Promoting a secure international maritime domain will help to strengthen global peace, security and governance and promote global prosperity. This will help address poverty reduction overseas, support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and advance the objectives of the National Security Strategy and UK Aid Strategy.

2. FCO objectives on strengthening maritime security

The UK works with other countries to uphold and strengthen the rules-based international system. We are committed to freedom of navigation, unimpeded lawful commerce, and the peaceful resolution of disputes based upon international law. Specifically we work to:

• improve global understanding of threats to maritime security and how States can work together to combat them;
• improve capabilities to respond to terrorist attacks at sea
• maintain piracy in East Africa at pre-2007 levels or below
• in West Africa, currently the area most affected by piracy, improve implementation of the 2013 Yaoundé Code of Conduct Concerning Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery Against Ships and Illicit Maritime Activity
• prevent maritime crime from worsening in South East Asia
• improve maritime policing, judicial and penal capacity, as well as maritime domain awareness, in all areas of heightened threat; and
• strengthen international maritime norms, including freedom of navigation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes based upon international law

3. Official Development Assistance (ODA) and strengthening maritime security

A stable and secure maritime domain is essential for the global economy. Maritime security depends on international cooperation to set and enforce appropriate shared norms and standards of action, consistent with international law.

Maritime crime poses a serious threat to the safety of seafarers, international trade and regional stability. Extensive criminal networks around the globe engage in piracy, trafficking of people, arms, and narcotics, robbery and illegal fishing, all of which can impact on the stability and security of developing countries.

FCO’s strengthening maritime security programme is funded by a blend of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA funds. ODA scoring within the programme is limited to ODA-eligible activities in DAC-listed countries.

4. Strengthening maritime security project objectives

The main work streams in the FCO’s Strengthening Maritime Security programme aim to:

• improve leadership on maritime security in priority countries and regions, including in the fight against piracy and efforts to improve institutional capacity and governance
• increase the capacity and improve the capability of maritime law enforcement institutions in priority countries (and in regional bodies) so they can secure their territorial waters, resulting in fewer incidents of piracy and other types of maritime crime
• improve the ability to track maritime crime across borders, enhance partners’ awareness of maritime crime, and increase communication and cooperation between regional maritime security bodies
• improve the capacity to reduce tensions and uphold international norms in potential maritime flashpoint regions

5. Strengthening maritime security programme during financial year 2017 to 2018

In the past, the programme has helped to establish Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecutions and Intelligence Coordination Centres, and increased capability to disrupt maritime crime networks through specialist law enforcement training in Somalia/Somaliland.

In financial year 2017 to 2018, the strengthening maritime security programme included the following successes:

• in Somalia, UK provision of training and mentoring has enhanced the capability of the Mogadishu Maritime Police Unit to deter maritime crime in the waters around Mogadishu. The proportion of the MPU’s fleet that is available and operational increased from 16% to 67%. Daily boat patrols reduced instances of drowning and enabled routine checks on vessels for licenses and illegal goods, which resulted in a major drugs interdiction.
• in Nigeria, UK assistance helped to develop human rights compliant anti-piracy legislation that will help tackle Nigerian-based piracy and armed violence at sea in the Gulf of Guinea
• in Ghana, UK assistance has enabled a Marine Police Unit to become operational and led to successes in preventing or tackling crime at sea that were not previously achievable