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Sea Falcon '08 Brings Together Regional Partners

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080611-13
Release Date: 6/11/2008 1:10:00 PM

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Sea Falcon '08, a maritime security awareness conference held in Bahrain June 8–11, brought together over 50 maritime law enforcement officials from around the region.

Sponsored by the Secretary of the Navy and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the conference provided a forum for regional officials to discuss potential obstacles and opportunities to achieve maritime security awareness and improve the ability of regional and Coalition partners to collect, assess and understand different types of maritime-related information.

"Maritime security is the essential condition for regional stability," said Rear Adm. Scott Swift, deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

"Globally, stability is essential to local prosperity, to attract investment, to bring a sense of confidence required to compete equally in the global economy. Equally important is the understanding that regional issues should have regional solutions. Sea Falcon is an opportunity share potential solutions to regional issues that can be applied by local governments," said Swift.

The conference featured three discussions from notable regional and international experts on maritime law enforcement issues such as Coast Guard interoperability, regional maritime cooperation, and approaches to maritime security as well as information sharing.

Conference attendees also participated in a table top exercise involving a series of law enforcement scenarios that dealt with infrastructure protection, smuggling, piracy, fishing and narcotics violations as well as other forms of criminal activity.

Attendees participated in the table top exercise as members of their own simulated National Operations Centers or as part of the Law Enforcement Information Fusion Center (LEIFC). The LEIFC serves as a mechanism and structure for participating nations and organizations to pool their knowledge and improve their ability to track criminal activities across one or more maritime borders.

"In order to build the right capabilities to enhance both maritime security awareness and Maritime Security Operations, there must be careful consideration of technical, commercial and intergovernmental matters that affect the maritime environment," said Swift. "These issues can only be addressed in an atmosphere where security and law enforcement agencies collaborate and share information."

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.