I527-290 ESRIF Final Report (WEB).indd - European Commission

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The challenge of processing information, including the aspects of interoperability and situational awareness requires:
Integrating outputs from multiple devices in order to create effi cient data fusion
Automatic screening, fi ltering and interpretation
Combining human intervention with automatic processing
Interoperability of equipment in automated processes
Interoperability of information when using diff erent languages
Surveillance of Maritime External Borders
A more integrated approach to maritime surveillance would help in mitigating current shortcomings by ensuring interoperability
and information-sharing, an increased rate of detection, and identifi cation of small craft and anomalies at sea. By sharing
relevant information between the diff erent sectors at Member State and EU level, which has to be done in full compliance
with sovereign prerogatives of the Member States and information ownership requirements, a common information-sharing
environment could improve the situational awareness of activities in the EU maritime domain.
Current capabilities in regard to detection, identifi cation and tracking of small craft as well as detection of anomalies at sea
have the following shortfalls:
Intelligence
• Data mining on a limited number of data bases
Satellite Earth Observation (EO) services
• Their use is not widespread. They are not tuned for these types of services and they have limited revisit rates
Platforms
• Limited availability and high costs of manned airborne and seaborne patrols for permanent surveillance
• Surveillance networks and ship reporting systems could be better correlated to detect anomalies and identify threats
Information processing
• Databases
• Integrated communications
• Capability to access data bases
Maritime border surveillance is mainly characterised by:
Extensive maritime areas, largely unmonitored in EEZs and beyond;
A broad variety of adjacent activity sectors related to maritime surveillance (i.e. defence, transport, maritime safety, protection
of marine environment and resources, fi sheries control, customs, etc.) concerning both legitimate and unlawful activities.
A large number of involved stakeholders who range from national and regional authorities (civil and military) to European
and multinational agencies.
In this complex and multifaceted context there is a need to exchange information in order to benefi t from monitoring
capabilities of adjacent sectors (see above listed sectors) and meet the security challenges. This calls for developing a technical
framework leading to a common information-sharing environment for the EU maritime domain, which allows authorities
involved in border surveillance activities to considerably improve their situational awareness and increase their reaction
capability both at national and EU levels.
This could be seen in context with:
Pooling and sharing maritime surveillance assets currently available and expected to be available in the mid and long term
(UAVs, new technology radars, wide swath satellites, etc.).
Maintain situational awareness of activities (legitimate and unlawful) developing on the high seas, coastal waters and ports;
Deliver operational security services (e.g. broadband satellite communications, tracking of ships, satellites, AIS service
providing, e-services (e-customs) etc.).
Future solutions to address the challenges of interoperability are specifi c to each of the following areas:
• Communications
• At sea, broadband internet-like access gained from space and ground networks
ESRIF FINAL REPORT - PART 2 • Working Group: Border Security