NATO MARSEC COE conducted the Maritime Security Exercise-2021 (EXER MARSEC-21) the week 13 - 17 December 2021.

The activity event gathered 92 participants, from Greece, Romania and Türkiye as the main training audience as well as Algeria and Bahrain as observers. Additionally a number of various maritime security stakeholders from the NATO COEs community, Ministries, Governmental institutions, private space-based Earth observation companies, and academia attended the activity either as Observer/Evaluator or as advisor.

The EXER MARSEC-21 aimed at developing Maritime Security related concepts through experimentation, and improving cooperation, collaboration and awareness among maritime security stakeholders (civilian and governmental alike, and private sector). Furthermore, the exercise achieved its goal at developing leading guidelines on multinational and multiagency engagement for maritime security challenges, understanding Crisis Response Centres (CRC) & Combined Joint Maritime Security Operation Centre (CJMSOC) in MSO Environment, through focus on planning and conducting MSO in accordance with the provisions of the NATO MSO Concept. EXER MARSEC- 21 Distinguish Visitors Day (DV Day) also gathered 7 high officials from Algeria, Bahrain, Benin and Türkiye on 16 December 2021.

HAVELSAN created and provided the software to support the CAX execution phase of the exercise. Additionally is the first time that a number of private companies (GEOSAT, NIK System, Kleos Space, Horizon Technologies, ICE-EYES Company, C-SIGMA Company) that dealing with the SPACE-BASED systems worked together with HAVELSAN and provided satellite real data to feed the WHITE PICTURE of the Exercise.

Within the scope of collaboration with Turkish National Defence University (NDU), NATO MARSEC COE’s Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) along with academic advisor provided training on "MSO Staff Course", including theoretical lectures. The course was finalised in the EXER MARSEC-21 as well as scenario-based case study, to the Command and Staff trainees of Naval War Institute on 29 November - 17 December 2021.

Participating Institutions/Countries

Algerian Navy
Bahrain Navy
Romanian Navy
Turkish General of Staff
Turkish Navy
Turkish Coast Guard Command
United States Africa Command
United Kingdom Strike Force (COMUKSTRKFOR)
Turkish Maritime Force (TURMARFOR)
NATO Shipping Center
NATO Strategic Direction South Hub
NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC)
OSG Special Operations Command and Control Element (SOCCE)
Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW)
Human Intelligence Centre of Excellence (HUMINT COE)
European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (HYBRID COE)
Yasar University
National University of Political Studies and Public Administration University,
Panteion University
Galatasaray University
Turkish National Defence University

Türkiye:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Trade
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure

Companies:

HAVELSAN
GEOSAT
NIK System
Kleos Space
Horizon Technologies
ICE-EYES Company
C-SIGMA Company (MSA Technology Adviser)
CNK Company (Exercise Event Manager)