MARITIME SAFETY (MASE)
General objective
The main aim of the MASE start-up support project is to create a process in the ESA-IO region to ensure that regional organizations and state governments are prepared to implement the regional strategy for combating piracy and promoting maritime safety in the medium and long term.
Specific objectives
The MASE start-up support project aims to support the region in the start-up of the MASE program, and is dedicated to the most urgent actions required to ensure that the structures and systems to implement the regional anti-piracy strategy are in place. This requires better coordination and centralized, effective communication of actions, which are a prerequisite for the start-up and operation of the MASE program.
Program activities
UNODC and the United Nations Secretariat (UNPOS) are helping to implement this support project – Start-up MASE.
The IOC’s MASE Start-up support project enables regional organizations to develop the MASE(MAritime SEcurity) Program, in collaboration with the other regional organizations of WAHO-IO, COMESA, EAC and IGAD. The budget for the MASE program is 37.5 million euros, available under the 10th EDF. The MASE project has five components:
- An action plan for Somalia focused on the roots of the problem ;
- Strengthening national and regional capacities for the arrest, transfer, detention and prosecution of pirates;
- Strengthening regional capacities to combat illicit financial flows linked to piracy and address the economic impact of piracy in the region;
- Strengthening national and regional capacities for maritime safety ;
- Setting up an information exchange and coordination network.
Responsibility for implementing the MASE program
Responsibility for implementing the MASE program will be divided as follows:
- IGAD is the Regional Authorizing Officer and therefore responsible for the overall coordination of the Program, including the Action Plan for Somalia, which will focus on the roots of the problem specific to Somalia;
- theEAC is responsible for strengthening national and regional capacities for the arrest, transfer, detention and prosecution of pirates;
- COMESA is responsible for regional capacity building on the financing and economic impact of piracy in the region; and
- The IOC is responsible for strengthening national and regional capacities for maritime safety, and for setting up a network for the exchange and coordination of information.
