Event – Cabling Africa: Digital connectivity, subsea data cables and their protection

SafeSeas is co-hosting a public event in Cape Town, South Africa on the 23.9. 14.00-16.00. Chaired by Timothy Walker (Institute for Security Studies), the roundtable will feature presentations from key experts and stakeholders, including the Indian Ocean Commission, the African Union and the digital industry. Register here to attend and to receive further information Digital … Read more

New Commentary: the contact group in the Western Indian Ocean

In early 2022 a subtle, but substantial shift took place in the Western Indian Ocean’s security architecture: The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (known as CGPCS) closed shop. It was replaced by a new format. Yet, not much action followed. In a new commentary, Christian Bueger investigates the prospects of the … Read more

UK Publishes New National Strategy for Maritime Security

The UK published a new National Strategy for Maritime Security (NSMS) on 15 August 2022. The NSMS comes at a critical time for the UK maritime sector. Maritime security is key to delivering the UK’s ambitions in foreign, security and defence policy, as well as for blue economic growth and environmental sustainability. At the same … Read more

Time to make it count: implementing the UK’s new maritime security strategy

SafeSeas Director Tim Edmunds has produced a Policy Report based on the ideas discussed at the recent SafeSea’s event on Implementing the UK’s 2022 National Strategy for Maritime Security.  HMS Severn in London. Photo: Lee Blease. UK MOD © Crown copyright 2021 In 2022, the UK government will launch a new National Strategy for Maritime … Read more

Policy brief – Developing A Comprehensive National Integrated Maritime Strategy: The Case of Ghana

Ghana has made tremendous strides towards the adoption of a National Integrated Maritime Strategy (NIMS). This strategy will place the country alongside Togo and Côte d’Ivoire in the sub-region to have a robust maritime strategy that will outline a decisive vision with clear objectives, guiding principles and time-measured targets and deliverables to be achieved. The … Read more

Ideaslab on the new maritime security strategy of the UK

Following up on our work with the UK government on refreshing the maritime security strategy, SafeSeas organized a one day workshop discussing the challenges linked to implementing the strategy. The workshop was organized in partnership with the University of Bristol, the UK Department of Transport and Joint Maritime Security Centre. The event was held under … Read more

New article – how to improve the maritime security architecture in the Western Indian Ocean

Professor Christian Bueger and Dr. Jan Stockbruegger have conducted a review of the current security situation in the Western Indian Ocean. The study is published in African Security Review. They show which insecurities are on the rise and argue that the rise of geopolitical concerns increasingly produces a militarization dilemma: foreign naval forces are needed … Read more

Maritime Security in Ghana: The next steps

Tackling maritime insecurity in order to enhance the blue economy, restore ocean health, but also to strengthen blue justice, continues to be one of the major challenges for today’s governments. Much attention is being paid to these ocean challenges in countries across the African continent. For outside observers, Ghana has emerged as an African role … Read more