Protection of Navigation

Education and training exercises are carried out with the participation of all maritime security stakeholders (naval forces, law enforcement elements, maritime administration, and international organizations). The activities, which held in the past and detailed below, can continue to be carried out in MARSEC COE coordination.

i. Maritime Security & Counter Piracy Course

The Course on Counter Piracy and Maritime Security took place five times in total between November 12-23, 2012 as the first; the second on November between 18-29, 2013; the third on June between 9-13, 2014; the fourth on April between 13-17, 2015; and the last one on May between 2-6, 2016. The purpose of the course was to inform participants about the Maritime Security Operation, Maritime Situational Awareness and Maritime Counter Piracy.

ii. Naval Coordination and Guidance for Shipping Course (NCAGS)

Naval Coordination and Guidance for Shipping Course has been carried out twice in total between 10-14 November 2014 and 23-27 November 2015. The course aims to provide the trainees with the necessary information on how to operate NCAGS procedures in crisis and non-crisis situations. Lessons given to course participants are listed below;

1. Basis Principles of NCAGS,
2. NCAGS Publications,
3. Organizations related to NCAGS,
4. Reporting Formats and Procedures,
5. Guidance and Convoy Procedures,
6. Maritime Situational Awareness,
7. ISPS Code,
8. Maritime Piracy,
9. Maritime Law,
10. Systems used within NCAGS,
11. Routing, Navigation and Crisis Response Plans,
12. Messaging Procedures,
13. Communication with Other Operational Departments.

iii. The Ship Security Team/Armed Private Security Personnel Awareness Course

The Ship Security Team/Armed Private Security Staff Awareness course was conducted on 1-12 April 2013. Lessons given to course participants are listed below;

1. Definition and Characterization of Maritime Piracy,
2. The use of maritime jurisdiction areas and the rights and authorities to use weapons of countries in these areas,
3. Opinions and Circulars published by IMO on PCASP,
4. ISPS, BMP and PCASP Practices,
5. Measures taken against the maritime piracy of the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin,
6. Italy and Netherlands VPD practices and Lessons Learned,
7. Deployment of VPD to commercial vessel,
8. VPD practices on tactical level in Command chain etc.
9. Practical Training showing VPD Organization,
10. Private Security Companies’ Practices,
11. PCASP Practices in Germany,
12. United Nations Approach to VPD/PCASP and Bargaining Techniques with Maritime Pirates.

Maritime Interdiction Operations

An education and training program should be developed in such a way as to be provided by the naval forces, coast guard, maritime police and boarding teams in terms of availability of materials, procedures and organization and mutual workability.

i. Boarding Teams Course (MSC-15)

Training of personnel of the Azerbaijani Naval Forces in NATO Standards was given in Aksaz/Marmaris on 5-9 June 2017. Following courses related to Applied Trainings on Ports and Navigation were given to personnel in TCG AKAR mentioned below;

1. Boarding Operations International Regulations, The Purpose of Boarding Operations and Codes of Practice, Boarding Operations Phases (Planning/Approach), Boarding Operations Ship Organization and Boarding Operations Phases (Operational Briefing-Document and Load Control),
2. Boarding Operations, Tactical Medical Training, Ship Search Methods, Boarding Transition Vehicle and Transition Methods, Boarding Ships, Control of Crewmembers/Passengers, Evidence and Proof Collection, Rules of Engagement and Implementation of Methods in case of Emergency.

Prevent Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

i. Prevent Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Course (MSC-07)

Prevent Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Course was conducted between 15-19 September 2014. The purpose of the course was to train staff officers to prevent the proliferation of WMDs in the maritime security operations and in this context to cooperate with international, governmental and non-governmental organizations. Following courses were given to participants;

1. International Treaties on the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction,
2. The Role of the Maritime Security Operation within the scope of the Preventing Proliferation of WMDs,
3. Possible Damages and Protection Methods of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Materials in the context of Maritime Security Operation,
4. New Technologies.

ii. Multinational Maritime Security Exercise (EXER MARSEC-2015)

One of the main objectives of Multi-National Maritime Security Exercise, which was conducted between 21-27 October 2015, has been the development of cooperation between institutions to prevent proliferation of WMDs.

Critical Infrastructure Protection

i. Critical Infrastructure Protection from Terrorist Attacks Course

With the support and coordination of COE DAT, Critical Infrastructure Protection from Terrorist Attacks Course will be conducted between 21-25 May 2018. It is planned to give following courses;

1. Maritime Dimension of Energy Security,
2. Maritime Law in CIP,
3. Maritime Terrorism for Critical Infrastructure,
4. Cyber Terrorism/Maritime Dimension for Critical Infrastructure,
5. Maritime Cooperation and Guidance,
6. Energy Security Dimension of the Mediterranean Shield Operation.

ii. Multinational Maritime Security Exercise (EXER MARSEC-2015)

One of the main objectives of the Multinational Maritime Security Exercise conducted between 21-27 October 2015 has been the development of regional cooperation in the areas of critical infrastructure protection, energy security, sea transport lines and protection of node points.

Support Maritime Counter Terrorism

i. Maritime Counter Terrorism (MCT) Course

Maritime Counter Terrorism Course was conducted between 31 March and 4 April 2014. The purpose of the course was to educate participants about the fight against terrorism in the maritime environment, as it relates to their duties. During the course, following subjects were examined and studied on;

1. Terrorism, Its Motivations and Networks,
2. Maritime Environment and Risks,
3. Cyber Security,
4. Examination of all threats as principles, concepts and structure in the context of national security,
5. The current International Agreements and Initiatives within the scope of Maritime Counter Terrorism,
6. Maritime Operation Intervention Techniques against Maritime Terrorism,
7. Special Forces and Interpol.

ii. Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IEDs) at Sea Awareness Course

Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) Course was conducted between the dates of 17-21 June 2013. The aim of the course was to give basic information about improvised explosive devices at sea, to raise awareness about improvised explosive devices, and to examine the countering techniques against asymmetric threat in the maritime environment. Within the context of the mentioned course, the following courses were given to the participants;

1. Basic Information about Intelligence, and Intelligence Sources,
2. Intervention to Crime Ring,
3. Countering IEDs,
4. Force Generation.

iii. Multinational Maritime Security Exercise (EXER MARSEC-2015)

One of the aims of Multinational Maritime Security Exercise was conducted between the dates of 21-27 October 2015, is to improve coordination between the institutions on Maritime Counter Terrorism.

Contribute to Maritime Security Capacity Building

i. Mobile Training Team Trainings

1. Within the content of OBANGAME EXPRESS Operation;
   • Lagos/Nigeria (17 April 2014),
   • Pointe Noire/Congo (25 April 2014),
   • Luanda/Angola (28 April 2014),
   • Mombassa/Kenya (2 June 2014),
   • Djibouti/Djibouti Regional Trainning Center (DRTC) (7-11 December 2014): As participating to the trainings from six different countries, 20 participants in total were from Comor Islands, Djibouti, Somalia, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Yemen.
   • Idenau/Cameroon (17-29 March 2015),
   • Cabo Verde (19-27 April 2015).
2. SAHARAN EXPRESS-15 Operation was executed in;
   • Cape Verde Islands (Mindelo/Sao Vicente Island, Praia/Santiago Island), Colombo/Sri Lanka (26-27 April 2015),
   • Port Klang/Malaysia (3-4 May 2015).
3. In the content of SEA SHIELD-15 Operation; Constanza/Romania (17-18 July 2015)
4. In the content of SEA BREEZE-15 Operation; Ukraine (1-7 September 2015)
5. In the content of CUTLASS EXPRESS-16 Operation; Djibouti (30 January-4 February 2016): The number of the participants categorized as their natioanlities is as follows; 24 Djibouti, 11 Kenya, 10 Ruanda, 11 Sudan.
6. In the content of OBANGAME EXPRESS-17 Operation; The Ivory Coast (Abobo Doume/Abidjan) (17-24 March 2017)
7. In the content of EURASIA PARTNERSHIP MIO Operation; Odessa/Ukraine (3-7 April 2017): The numbers of the participants categorized as their nationalities is as follows; 1 Azerbaijan, 4 Bulgaria, 4 Geogria, 4 Romania, 25 Ukraine.
8. In the content of PHOENIX EXPRESS-17 Operation; Tunisia (1-18 May 2017): The numbers of the participants categorized as their nationalities is as follows; 1 Azerbaijan, 4 Bulgaria, 4 Georgia, 4 Romania, 25 Ukraine.
9. In the content of SEA BREEZE-17 Operation; Ukraine (10-22 July 2017): The numbers of the participants categorized as their nationalities is as follows; 10 USA, 7 Bulgaria, 3 Romania, 7 Ukraine.
10. In the content of BREEZE-17 Operation; Bulgaria (14-23 July 2017): 32 personnel from Bulgarian Naval Forces participated.
11. In the content of Turkey-Qatar Combined Operation; Trainings relating to Maritime Security were given between the dates of 1-8 August 2017. To these trainings, 20 personnel from Qatar Naval Forces participated.

The courses performed in the theoretical background;

• Piracy and armed robbery at sea,
• Organized crime and irregular migration,
• Proliferation of WMDs,
• Smuggling,
• Maritime terrorism,
• The legal dimension of maritime security operation, improvised explosive devices at sea,how to use Ship Security Team/Armed Private Security Personnel in state, agency, ship owner, security unit and ship personnel size, protecting and defending merchant ships against organized attacks, hijacking, and detaining in the context of piracy and armed robbery in the direction of possible needs expected to show up in the future within the scope of maritime security,
• Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) and Close Quarter Combat (CQB),
• Maritime Operation Center (MOC),
• ISPS (International Ship and Port) Code.