PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                     30th Nov 2016

 

 Information sharing is key at the 39th SHADE Conference in Bahrain

 The conference centre at the British Club in Manama, Bahrain was packed full of delegates from around the world for the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction Conference (SHADE) on Wednesday 30 Nov.

 Representatives from NATO, EUNAVFOR, Combined Maritime Forces, US 5th Fleet, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization, Somalia, Oceans Beyond Piracy Organization, The World Food Programme, Merchant shipping industry and the Russian Federation and China discussed their joint efforts in response to the threats to the free flow of commerce in the region.

 The spillover of regional conflict in to the maritime environment is a threat that is clear and present in the Southern Red Sea and Bab al Mandeb Strait (BAM) seen in the recent attack on MV Swift. Another incident in that waterway, the attack on MV Galicia Spirit, has highlighted the fact that it is not always possible to determine the source or motive of an attack and therefore deduce how to react. What is certain is that none of the nations and organizations present can afford to ignore these threats and it is in the collective interest to work together to address them.

 Vice Admiral Kevin M Donegan USN Commander Combined Maritime Forces, encouraged the conference to take home the message that despite the reduction of successful piracy attacks since 2008, counter-piracy still requires their attention. He said, “The threats we knew in the past have been suppressed but not eliminated and new threats are emerging. Strong and effective communications will continue to help us synchronize regional military responses and coordinate both military and industry counter-piracy efforts.”

 

ENDS