Skip to main content

Cooperation and Coordination Mechanisms

International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)

Source: IALAAISM website

IALA is a non-profit, international technical association. Established in 1957, it gathers marine aids to navigation authorities, manufacturers, consultants, and, scientific and training institutes from all parts of the world to exchange and compare their experiences and achievements. IALA members work together to harmonise aids to navigation worldwide and to ensure that the movements of vessels are safe, expeditious and cost effective. A number of technical committees were established to bring together experts from around the world to work in specific areas e.g. needs of mariners, developments in technology, etc.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management

Mediterranean Coast Guard Functions Forum (MCGFF)

Source: Secretariat General for the Sea - CGF Ops Center

The Mediterranean Coast Guard Functions Forum (MCGFF) is a non-binding, voluntary, independent and non-political forum bringing together representatives from institutions and agencies with related competencies in coast guard functions in the Mediterranean. The aim is to facilitate multilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues such as maritime safety, security and environmental protection activities as well as creating partnerships to share experience and best practices on common problems.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic (MOSPA)

Cooperation on Marine Pollution Preparedness and Response in the  Arctic.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Countries involved

Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Programme (AIDCP) (sister organisation to IATTC)

Source: IATTC Website

The objective of the agreement is to implement a multilateral programme for the protection of dolphins; to progressively reduce incidental dolphin mortalities in tuna fishery and, to this end, seek ecologically sound means of catching tuna while sparing dolphins; to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks and marine resources in the relevant areas. These objectives are pursued through the IATTC, which has the coordinating role under the Agreement. The contracting parties are Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, the US, Vanuatu, and Venezuela.

Coast Guard Functions
Fisheries Inspection & Control
EU

AQUAPOL - International Police Cooperation on the Water

Source: AQUAPOL Website

AQUAPOL’s vision is for a more safe, secure and environmental-friendly waterborne transport in Europe by enhancement of law-enforcement through cross-border cooperation. The AQUAPOL organisation acts as a platform for learning and for a permanent exchange of good practice for law-enforcement in the domain of waterborne transport in Europe. Its main activities are focussed on exchange of intelligence, exchange of operational information and experience, and cross border cooperation in day-to-day law-enforcement work. AQUAPOL works closely together with a number of external stakeholders at operational, policy, and legislative level.

Coast Guard Functions
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Arctic and North Atlantic Security and Emergency Preparedness Network (ARCSAR)

Source: ARCSAR

The ARCSAR network addresses the Arctic and North-Atlantic (ANA) region, preparing to cope with the Security and safety threats that will result from increased commercial activity in the region including traffic through the Northern passages, cruise traffic, and offshore oil and gas activity. It aims to establish and support a new Arctic and North Atlantic Security and Emergency Preparedness Network for those involved in front-line security and emergency response, directly involving practitioners, existing networks, university stakeholders, research centres, industry, and those involved in governance, and policy-making.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF)

Source: ACGF Website

The Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF) is an independent, informal, operationally driven organization, not bound by treaty, to foster safe, secure, and environmentally responsible maritime activity in the Arctic. All Arctic countries, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States are members of the forum. The ‘Chair’ duties of the ACGF rotate every two years in concert with the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Iceland is the chair for the Forum in 2019 - 2021. The work of the ACGF is headed by the ACGF Chair and supported by the Secretariat and Working Groups. The Secretariat is responsible for implementing strategic direction and the operation of the ACGF and its Working Groups.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Arctic Council

Source: Artic Council Website

The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic. The Council Member States are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the US. In addition, six organisations representing Arctic indigenous peoples have status as Permanent Participants. The Council operates a number of different Task Forces on issues such as Marine Cooperation, Search and Rescue, Oil Pollution Prevention, Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response etc.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Arctic Regional Hydrographic Commission (ARHC)

Source: Union of International Associations Website

The ARHC aims to promote technical cooperation in the domain of hydrographic surveying, marine cartography and nautical information as well as examining the implications in the Arctic Ocean Region of matters of general interest. It also aims to stimulate the widening of hydrographic activity in the Arctic Ocean Region and encourage seeking technical advice and assistance in establishing and strengthening hydrographic capabilities. It helps to define the needs for new hydrographic products and services, facilitates information exchange, and aids in the planning and organization of hydrographic activities. The following are member countries of the ARHC: Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, United States of America, and Iceland.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Countries involved

Arctic SAR agreement

The objective of this agreement is to strengthen aeronautical and maritime search and rescue cooperation and coordination in the Arctic.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Countries involved

custom css code