The Obangame Express 2024 exercise, a significant maritime security operation in West and Central Africa, has been instrumental in promoting the Yaoundé Code of Conduct. A pivotal element in this exercise is SeaVision, a maritime situational awareness tool that has been enhancing the operational capabilities of the participating nations.
SeaVision, developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center in collaboration with U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF), is an unclassified, web-based platform. It facilitates the sharing of maritime information and intelligence across the five zones of the Yaoundé Code, which is essential for regional maritime security and stability. The tool’s ability to provide a clear maritime picture across national and regional boundaries has made it indispensable in exercises like Obangame Express.
Alvin Yu, a Maritime Intelligence System professional at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific, explains that SeaVision enables Maritime Operations Centers (MOC) to communicate and share files effectively, fostering national and regional collaboration. The tool’s accessibility and ease of use have contributed to its widespread adoption, now being utilized by over 100 countries worldwide.
“SeaVision is the U.S. Navy’s unclassified, web-based maritime situational awareness tool that enables African partners to view and share maritime information to improve operations, increase security, and build partnerships within the maritime community,” said Alvin Yu, a Maritime Intelligence System professional at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific. “It allows for MOC [Maritime Operations Center] to MOC chat and file sharing and enables national and regional communication.”
“Obangame Express exercises African partners on effectively using SeaVision to address illicit maritime activities in their exclusive economic zones. For this exercise, success for SeaVision is enhancing that MOC communication and information sharing in a variety of unique and challenging scenarios,” Yu concluded.
One of the key features of SeaVision is its real-time visualization of vessel movements, which is crucial for monitoring commercial vessels through the automated identification system (AIS) and satellite imagery. This capability enhances maritime domain awareness (MDA) by allowing users to not only track vessels but also analyze movements and generate actionable intelligence.
The Obangame Express 2024 has seen a concerted effort to transition partners from mere operators of SeaVision to skilled analysts. This shift empowers them to delve deeper into the data, moving beyond identifying vessels as dots on a map to understanding the broader implications of their movements. The integration of satellite electro-imagery has further advanced the tool’s capabilities, enabling the detection of “dark” vessels that do not transmit on AIS.
The success of SeaVision during the exercise is measured by the enhanced communication and information sharing it facilitates among the MOCs. This shared understanding is critical for addressing illicit maritime activities and ensuring the safety and security of the region’s exclusive economic zones.
As the exercise progresses, partner and ally surface units contribute their sensor data to SeaVision, enriching the collective maritime picture of Western Africa’s waterways. This collaborative approach not only strengthens the region’s response to maritime threats but also underscores the importance of interoperability and shared analysis.
Overall, Obangame Express 2024 involves units and personnel from Angola, Benin, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Republic of the Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia,and the United States (32 total nations), as well as representatives from various facilities involved in the implementation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct; UNODC; and INTERPOL.