Maritime Security

Implementation of the 2nd Capacity Building Executive Programme on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia

June 1, 2018

(1) The 2nd Capacity Building Executive Programme on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia was held in Tokyo Metropolis and Kanagawa Prefecture from May 19 to 25, in which senior officers including from maritime law enforcement agencies of all ReCAAP Contracting Parties (20 countries including Japan) and Indonesia and Malaysia participated.
(2) Through this Executive Programme, the participants attended lectures on such topics as maritime security by officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense and Japan Coast Guard, experts from the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the participants, while exchanging views with the Japanese Shipowners’ Association. They also attended Japan Coast Guard Sea Review and Comprehensive Drill, and visited Japan Coast Guard-related facilities, including the 3rd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, Yokohama Maritime Disaster Prevention Base, Tokyo-Wan Vessel Traffic Service Center in Yokohama city, Kanagawa Prefecture. On May 21, Mr. Kentaro Sonoura, Advisor to the Prime Minister, hosted the welcome reception.

(1) Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre, headed by its Executive Director Masafumi Kuroki, organized and implemented this Executive Programme in cooperation with the relevant ministries. The ReCAAP ISC, as a globally active international organization, implemented this capacity building programme more substantively compared to the 1st programme by inviting all ReCAAP Contracting Parties in Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States as well as Indonesia and Malaysia, which are not Contracting Parties, in order to strengthen coordination and cooperation beyond regions.
(2) This Executive Programme provided an opportunity for the participants to deepen their understanding on Japan’s efforts and views on such topics as the importance of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, safety of sea lanes, freedom of navigation, rule of law at sea, enhanced cooperation among maritime law enforcement agencies, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and counter piracy/armed robbery against ships operations by utilizing the ReCAAP framework.
(3) Through this Executive Programme, it is expected that each country’s maritime law enforcement capability will be strengthened and that regional coordination and cooperation will be further enhanced through continued practical cooperation and building human network in the years to come.