Yemen charts roadmap for national maritime information-sharing centre

The Republic of Yemen is advancing its maritime security and information-sharing capabilities through the development of a roadmap for its proposed National Maritime Information Sharing Centre (NMISC) and the strengthening of the Regional Maritime Information Sharing Centre (ReMISC) in Aden.

The roadmap was developed during a four-day national workshop held from 22 to 25 June 2026 under the European Union-funded Crisis Response Project for the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean (CRP-RedWIO). The workshop was hosted by the Ministry of Transport and facilitated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Twenty-three representatives from key maritime and security agencies* participated in discussions focused on strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), enhancing inter-agency coordination, and reinforcing Yemen's integration into the regional information-sharing architecture established under the Djibouti Code of Conduct and Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA).

Participants reviewed governance arrangements, operational concepts, staffing requirements, infrastructure needs, systems integration, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) required to support the NMISC. Through a series of structured planning exercises, they reflected on current capacity and resource constraints, identified institutional and operational gaps, and agreed on a phased implementation roadmap, with the NMISC initially operating on a daytime watch basis for two years.

The workshop agreed that the multi-agency National Maritime Information Sharing Centre (NMISC) will be hosted at the Yemen Coast Guard Headquarters in Aden, where it will also serve as Yemen's National Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Centre, consolidating information from multiple agencies into a single recognized maritime picture to support timely decision-making and coordinated responses to maritime security threats. Participants also reaffirmed that the Regional Maritime Information Sharing Centre (ReMISC) will continue to be hosted by the Yemen Maritime Affairs Authority (YMAA), ensuring close coordination between the national and regional information-sharing functions.

Additionally, the Ministry of Transport committed to formalizing the National Maritime Security Committee (NMSC) through a Government Decree, providing it with the legal mandate to coordinate Yemen's maritime security governance and oversee 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 Mr. Faheem Saif, Executive Chairman of the Maritime Affairs Authority.

Mr. 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 ensure interoperability with regional partners, participants endorsed the DCoC/JA Information Sharing Standard Operating Procedures (2023) as the basis for Yemen's national SOPs, while recommending their translation into Arabic to support implementation and wider national ownership.

Recognizing that effective information sharing must be matched by operational response capability, participants highlighted the need for continued investment in the operational readiness of the Yemen Coast Guard and Navy, including personnel, patrol assets, and supporting logistics.

It was agreed that strengthening both the NMISC and the ReMISC would significantly enhance Yemen's contribution to regional maritime security cooperation and improve collective responses to maritime threats in the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean.

*Representatives attending the workshop were drawn from the Ministry of Transport, Yemen Coast Guard, Yemen Navy, Yemen Maritime Affairs Authority, Yemen Flexible Funding Mechanism, Yemen Gulf of Aden Ports Corporation (YGAPC), Customs Authority, Yemen Ports Authority, Ministry of Fish Wealth, National Security, Aden Shipping Chamber, General Authority for Fisheries in the Gulf of Aden and other national stakeholders.

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