EN    EN EN 
 
EN    EN  COMMISSION OF THE E UROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 15.10.2009 
SEC(2009) 1341 final 
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
EU led actions relevant for the integratio n of maritime surveillance activities 
  
Accompanying document to the  
  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSI ON TO THE COUNCIL, THE 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EU ROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMI TTEE OF THE REGIONS 
  
Towards the integration of  maritime surveillance: 
 
A common information sharing environm ent for the EU maritime domain 
{COM(2009) 538} 
 
EN 2   EN COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
EU led actions relevant for the integratio n of maritime surveillance activities 
The Commission’s Communication ''Towards the integration of maritime surveillance: A 
common information sharing environment for the EU maritime doma in'' of 14 October 20091 
sets out guiding principles  enabling the various sectoral maritime surveillance and monitoring 
initiatives to converge towa rds the establishment of a Common Information sharing 
Environment.  
The purpose of the present Commission Sta ff Working Document complementing the 
Communication is to provide the latest state of play and a brief description of Commission 
initiatives and projects suppor ted by the Commission which are  relevant for the integration of 
maritime surveillance 
Action Objective Timing 
Preparatory action - 
Automatic Identification System (AIS) from space Preparatory action to assess the effectiveness of 
space-based receivers in picking up AIS signals in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). December 2008 -
October 2010 
Implementation of Directive 2002/59 as amended by Directive 2009/17 VTMIS will regulate the national, regional, intra 
community and international provision of and cooperation between all authorities operational 
services and ot her entities responsible for or 
involved in maritime safety, port and maritime security, protection of the marine environment, the efficiency of maritime traffic and maritime transport and some customs requirements (T2M, the proof of Community status for products of sea-fishing and other product s taken from the sea by 
Community vessels). 
Developing the existing technical support system 
SafeSeaNet (SSN) is an important step in the VTMIS implementation process. 2009-2016 
E-maritime A broad and embracing initiative in the maritime 
transport sector aimed at  facilitating and supporting 
the development and take up of the latest enabling 
ICT technologies for the improvement of maritime 
transport services as part of the integrated EU transport system. 2009 - 2018 
                                                 
1 COM (2009) XXX final  
 
EN 3   EN Pilot Project on 
support for surveillance and protection measures for Community vessels sailing through areas where piracy is a threat Aims to develop and test measures that could 
contribute towards better maritime awareness and protection for Community  vessels in areas 
threatened by piracy. The Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden will be particularly targeted. Measures will be based on increased maritime awareness, communication, cooperation and threat analysis. 2010 - December 2011
Critical Maritime 
Routes programme (I) The overall objective is to c ontribute to the security 
and safety of navigation of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore and of the Gulf of Aden and Bab El Mandeb Straits. 2010 - 2012 
Global Monitoring 
for the Environment and Security (GMES) GMES is financing with ESA the development of 
satellites that could provi de data relevant to 
maritime aspects. Two GMES-Security working groups on border surveillance and EU external action were set up for which synergies between defence and civil applications are highly sought. The first satellites are 
expected for launch in 2011-12. Operational services are expected to be available from 2014. The results of working groups are expected to be available in 2009-10. 
European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) EUROSUR will provide a common technical 
framework to support Member States' authorities in reaching full situational awareness at the southern and eastern EU external borders and increase the reaction capability of their border control authorities. A decentralised  system of (existing) 
systems will be established gradually in three phases, which, in brief, consist of 
- Reinforcing the border surveillance capacity of 
Member States, and fostering cooperation between them; 
- Developing new tools and concepts at EU level 
to be put at the disposal of the Member States; and 
- Integrating the needs and tools of all aspects of 
maritime surveillance in one common information sharing environment along the lines set out in this Communication. Development and 
implementation phase 2008 - 2015 
 
EN 4   EN Draft Fisheries 
Control Regulation – COM (2008) 721 final Article 12 of the proposal aims at enabling VMS, 
AIS and VDS data collected in the framework of this Regulation to be transmitted to Commission agencies and other public authorities of the Member States engaged in surveillance operations for the purpose of maritime safety and security, border control, protec tion of the marine 
environment and general law enforcement. New Art 17g of the proposal aims at contributing to the implementation of the EU maritime policy enabling the CFCA to contribute to the integrated maritime policy. Expected timing of 
adoption: October 2009 
Pilot project on the exchange of radar–VTS information through SafeSeaNet Ongoing in the Western Medi terranean. It is led by 
EMSA with participation from Spain, France and Italy as well as in cooperation with Frontex and CFCA, aiming to exchange radar-VTS information through SafeSeaNet using SSN as a platform upon which AIS and RADAR data are merged, and to seek synergies between the fishing monitoring system (VMS) and SSN. Implementation 
expected to start 1st semester 2010  
Pilot project on 
"Monitoring and Information Systems for Reducing Oil Pollution in the Black Sea" The project should enable the coastal states to 
better prevent and respond to operational/accidental/illegal oil pollution. Within this long term policy approach, and in support of decision making towards reduction/elimination of oil pollution in the Black  Sea, the project will 
pursue the following objectives: 
- Improved information system for combating oil 
pollution, fostering oil-related information exchange 
- Enhanced monitoring system of operational and 
accidental pollution, 
- Capacity building for enhanced response 
capabilities, including risk management and 
emergency preparedness planning Objectives by the end 
2010 
 
 
EN 5   EN Glossary and abbreviations in the context of Integrated Maritime Surveillance 
AIS Automatic Identification System. A ship  borne mechanism that automatically 
provides for the exchange of inform ation between ships as well as the 
provision of such data to coastal stati ons. Information includes identification, 
position, speed course and certain other items about the ship and its cargo. 
BSBC Black Sea Border Cooperation. Agreement on cooperation between the 
Border and Coast Guard authorities of the Black Sea littoral States. 
BSRBCC Baltic Sea Region Border Control Cooperation. A regional tool for daily 
inter-agency (Police, Customs and Border  authorities) interaction to combat 
cross-border crime and environmental protection of the maritime areas.  
CeCLAD-M Centre de Coordination pour la Lutte  Anti-Drogue en Méditerranée. This 
anti-narcotics law enforcement initia tive to curb drug smuggling in the 
Western Mediterranean Sea was launche d under the French Presidency in 
2008. CeCLAD-M, which is opened to all EU Member States and North African countries in the region, opted for bilateral intelligence sharing to 
combat narcotics trafficking. 
CleanSeaNet A satellite based monitoring system for marine oil spill detection and 
surveillance in European waters provi ded by the European Maritime Safety 
Agency. 
COP Common operational picture 
EDA European Defense Agency  
EEA European Environment Agency  
EMSA European Maritime Safety Agency 
ESA European Space Agency  
EUROSUR 
 European Border Surveillance System. It will be built as a "system of 
(existing) systems", aiming to assist Member States achieve full awareness of the situation at their external borders, especially at the southern and eastern 
EU external borders, and enhancing the reaction capability of their law 
enforcement services. 
FRONTEX European Agency for the Management  of Operational Cooperation at the 
External Borders of the Member States of the European Union  
GMES Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security. GMES will be the 
European programme implementing an Earth observation service system with satellites, sensors on the ground, floating in th e water or flying through 
the air to monitor our planet's enviro nment and to support the security of 
citizens. 
 
EN 6   EN LRIT Long Range Identification and Tracki ng (of Ships). Long range vessel 
monitoring system introdu ced by the International Ma ritime Organisation in 
2006, requiring the periodic transmission of the identity and position of 
vessels. Transmissions are via satellite to LRIT Data Centres. Only the flag state, plus the contracting (port) state of the ship's destination and the coastal state within a distance no t exceeding 1000 n.m. of its coast have access to the 
data. 
MAOC-N Maritime Analysis and Operations Ce ntre – Narcotics. Law enforcement 
supported military intelligence-led platform, based in Lisbon, which 
coordinates anti-narcotics operations in  the eastern Atlantic Ocean from 
Iceland to the Cape of Good Hope. Law enforcement agencies from 7 
Member States have set up this volunt ary information exchange system in 
order to get an intelligen ce picture targeting vessels  involved in narcotics 
trafficking 
MSSIS Maritime Safety and Security Information System (NATO). Based around 
the acquisition and analysis of AIS data , gathered from the AIS systems of 
NATO Member States. From the MSSIS the data is fed into NATO's Maritime Command and Control Information System (MCCIS), which is classified and includes also intellig ence and classified surveillance data. 
PT MARSUR European Defence Agency's "Project  Team Maritime Surveillance". The 
basic objective is to expl ore the needs and requireme nt for a European Naval 
Surveillance System. 
Recognised 
Maritime Picture Terminology used by the defence community, equivalent to Maritime 
situational awareness. 
SafeSeaNet Community maritime information and ex change system. SafeSeaNet shall 
enable the receipt, storage, retrieval and exchange of information for the purpose of maritime safety, port and ma ritime security, marine environment 
protection and the efficiency of maritime traffic and maritime transport. 
SUCBAS Sea Surveillance Cooperation Baltic Sea. Sea surveillance information 
exchange and co-operation platform within the Baltic Sea area and its approaches. In March 2009 meeting in Helsinki, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, 
Germany, Lithuania and Sweden signed the SUCBAS agreement. Latvia and Poland have asked for membership. 
T2M (Customs) document certifying the Community status of fisheries products. 
VDS Vessel Detection System. Council Regulation 1966/2006 foresees operational 
use of satellites in contexts where cost effectiveness can be proven, starting in 
January 2009. The Vessel Detection System relies on polar orbiting satellites 
carrying Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments which can detect vessels 
at sea under most conditions – day and night and through cloud.  
VMS Vessel Monitoring System. In connec tion to the implementation of the 
Common Fisheries Policy, EC legislati on provides for the establishment and 
operation of a satellite-based VMS by each Member State, in order to 
 
EN 7   EN monitor the position and movement of fishing vessels. 
VR-MTC Virtual Maritime Traffic Centre. Run by the Italian Navy, it is a virtual 
network connecting naval operational ce ntres located in the Mediterranean 
and the Black Sea. It is based on a specific Operational Agreement and 
provides EU and non-EU Navies with un classified inform ation about vessel 
movement in the area. 
VTM (IS) Vessel Traffic Monitoring (Information System). Established by Directive 
2002/59/EC, as amended by Directive 2009/17/EC, on the establishment of a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system. 
VTS Vessel Traffic Services. Shore based sy stems which range from the provision 
of information messages to the extensive management of maritime traffic.