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over-utilised and prevent the agency from possibly reforming itself.

ORGANIGRAM OF MNG

 

    

!

12 Salles des Operations des

   

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Border Management Programme for Maghreb (Ref: T05-EUTF-NOA-

REG-07 / T05.519)
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and implemented by the Italian Ministry of Interior and ICMPD

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4. Principles of integrated maritime
surveillance system

The Border Management programme for the Maghreb region is supporting
the Maritime National Guard, coast guarding authority of Tunisia, in the
strengthening and further development of its Integrated
maritime/coastal surveillance system, passing from a pilot, but essential
stage to the implementation of a state-of-the-art solution, notably thanks to
the acquisition of adequate equipment and thereto-relevant skills.

The set-up of such a system for the MNG lies in the vital need for this
agency in particular, and the Republic of Tunisia more generally, to be in a
capacity to COLLECT and EXPLOIT all relevant information related to the
maritime situation in its area of responsibility (territorial waters, but also
SAR zone). Only this can enable the MNG to ANTICIPATE or at least REACT
in an appropriate manner with the adequate means to any incident for which
its intervention is needed.

From generic point of view, any integrated coastal surveillance system
respects the following principles!:

1. Information is key to any decision-making;

2. It is meant to process all information needed for coast guard service
to actually fulfil its missions of monitoring and securing the national
maritime domain;

3. More specifically, this allows the services to:

o Have an adequate (and in nearly real-time) knowledge of the
maritime situation;

o Be in a position to react rapidly and in optimal manner, even
with external support;

o Know when and how to react;

o Take corrective measures and mitigate risks.

Efficiency of an information system relies on the availability of data, which
shall be collected appropriately by adequate equipment (images, videos,
messaging, geographical coordinates, metadata,...), integrated, possibly
! On principles of information system, please read also Franck Bazzolli’s Master 2 essay

“Vers un systeme europeen de surveillance maritime” (Institut Francais de la Mer, Revue
Maritime Nr. 501, February 2015), pages 45-46.

Border Management Programme for Maghreb (Ref: T05-EUTF-NOA-
REG-07 / T05.519)
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compiled / synchronised and displayed in way that favours operator/user to
have accurate vision of the situation he/she monitors. In the context of a
maritime surveillance information system, integration of sensors such as
coastal surveillance radars into the network is a prerequisite, as they are the
only reliable means to actually “see” what is going on in the area of
responsibility.

The set-up of an integrated coastal / maritime surveillance
system is directly implied from the various obligations
resulting from the international conventions, where coastal
States must put in place all the necessary means, including
relevant equipment, and ensure due safety and security for
navigation in maritime areas under its responsibility and
sovereignty.

 

CONCLUSION OF PARTI.

The Border Management Programme for the Maghreb region’s project on
Integrated Maritime Surveillance System in Tunisia has actually the
means to support the MNG the most appropriate way, i.e. in fulfilling its
international obligations and achieving its missions that are of civilian
nature.

MNG’s requests for equipment and trainings in that framework are totally in
line with the prerequisite for any coast guarding agency in Europe and the
rest ofthe World.

All recommendations and axis for work identified and selected for
the BMP Maghreb project within the Tunisian Component are deeply
rooted in the long-term cooperation that EU programmes and ICMPD
have established with the Tunisian authorities. The recommendations above
are also in line with the ones drawn from bilateral cooperation between
Tunisian Maritime National Guard / Mol and different Member States,
starting with Italy, Germany, France, but also the UK, the US, etc.

ö Border Management Programme for Maghreb (Ref: T05-EUTF-NOA-
; REG-07 / T05.519)
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3] ( e DELLINTERNO A project funded by the European Union 20

and implemented by the Italian Ministry of Interior and ICMPD

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PART II.

CONSTRUCTION
OF THE SOLUTION

PURPOSE OF THE PRESENT PART

In the light of the previous part that details the exact situation of the
Maritime National Guard, shows the obligations of Tunisia resulting from its
international obligations, the present part provides details about the various
steps of work done since EU-funded projects started cooperating with the
Tunisian Maritime National Guard.

Part Il. demonstrates that the project under BMP Maghreb is the result
of a long process composed of numerous exchanges, assessments and
consultations that were carried out and validated since April 2013, when the
first EU-funded border management peer review mission, coordinated by
ICMPD, took place in Tunisia.

The present part also entails:

- Lists the various options that were proposed / offered to the
MNG;

- Gives insight on selected options;

- Provides rationale behind the choices of the Tunisian
counterparts.

All choices made by the Tunisian partners to ensure optimal use of the
resources provided through the BMP Maghreb programme are based on
international experts’ recommendations and in line with norms and

A project funded by the European Union

Border Management Programme for Maghreb (Ref: T05-EUTF-NOA-
3] h engasn REG-07 / T05.519) 21
MM DELL'INTERNO
and implemented by the Italian Ministry of Interior and ICMPD

&>ICMPD \ CH

International Centre for
Migration Policy Development

 

Border Management Programme for Maghreb (Ref: T0O5-EUTF-NOA-
REG-07 / T05.519)
3] h i DELL’INTERNO A project funded by the European Union 22

and implemented by the Italian Ministry of Interior and ICMPD

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International Centre for
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5: Timeline of cooperation with MNG &
recommendations

The BMP Maghreb-supported project on maritime surveillance is not the
first one to provide support to the Tunisian Maritime National Guard.
However, it is the very first project, since 2013 when this EU-Tunisia
cooperation started, that can actually have significant impact on the
agency and allow it to make the rightful changes, align its practices to the
international standards and norms, and ensures that Tunisia fulfils its
international obligations as Coastal State.

The present section summarises the different steps of EU assistance to the
MNG and the progression, in terms of assessments and knowledge of MNG'’s
gaps and needs that led to the present BMP Maghreb project. The priorities
set for the latter result directly from the various (and numerous) exchanges
that took place during the past 6 years. Some (not to say most) of these
were already identified by Tunisian counterparts at an earlier stage.

The table below briefly describes each main step where knowledge and
recommendations of interest to BMP Maghreb were gathered. It provides:
1. The relevant periods when assessment/activity took place;
2. A short description for each of these steps;
3. Synthesis of main recommendations (recommendations taken into
account by BMP Maghreb are highlighted in RED) and needs;
4. Indicates whether recommendation is currently covered by other
partner/project of the MNG (E = Entirely, P = partly, O = Not
covered) or by BMP Maghreb (marked with X)

All reports from which the information has been extracted can be found in
Annex A.

Period Description Recommendations / | Cover
Needs ed

 

April Overall Border | 12 main
2013 Assessment Report | recommendations:
produced within the |- Provision of vehicles

E33 ( j Border Management Programme for Maghreb (Ref: T05-EUTF-NOA-

; REG-07 / T05.519)
\ISTERO
DELLINTERNO A project funded by the European Union 23
and implemented by the Italian Ministry of Interior and ICMPD

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Septemb
er-
October
2015

Description

framework of 1°‘ gaps and
needs assessment on
border management
(jointly by EU, UNHCR,
IOM and ICMPD,
coordinated by ICMPD
within the Europe-Tunisia
Migration Cooperation
Agenda - ETMA project
(ENI/2011/279-717)

Study visit to France
(activity 3.1.1, within
Support Programme to
the Tunisian Government
in the field of Integrated
Border Management - IBM
Tunisia (ENI/2015/362-
394)) - Presentation of
various command and
control mechanisms used
by French border
agencies, visit to Customs
Regional Coast Guard
Command (North).

Recommendations /
Needs

Point

Radio-communication /
data-transmission
Repair of vessels
Surveillance by night
(thermal cameras)
Improvement of radar
stations (with ARPA)
Equipment onboard
vessels (incl. AIS, GPS,
ARPA radar....)
Re-organisation of units
Refurbishing of
equipment and
infrastructure along
coastline (incl. IT
network, Ops rooms,...)
Improvement of SOP
Personal equipment
Clothing

Training

of interest

expressed:

Functioning of
operational rooms (from
global point of view)

Improvement of
management system of
patrols / units / crews at
sea (engagement,
maintenance, etc.);

Integrated coastal
surveillance system
(incl. programming
module of missions,
control and monitoring,
messaging, file / data
management, etc.);

Visit to other countries
for getting acquainted
with existing solutions
(SIVE in Spain, etc.)

 

Cover
ed

 

Border Management Programme for Maghreb (Ref: T05-EUTF-NOA-

MINISTERO REG-07 / T05.519)

DELL’INTERNO

A project funded by the European Union

and implemented by the Italian Ministry of Interior and ICMPD

24

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Period Description Recommendations / | Cover
Needs ed

Novemb
er 2015

January
2016

Workshop (activity 3.1.2.
- IBM Tunisia) and
drafting of Module 3 ToR -
Activity related to
management and
exchange of information
within and among
services. This is where it
was further agreed to
explore and assess
precisely the capacities of
the Mol’s border agencies
in terms of operational
command and control.
ToR were
further
the Mol

Specific
developed for

support to
(including on Maritime
Surveillance part),
specific needs identified /
confirmed re.
communication and
detection means.
Feasibility Mission
(activities 3.2.1 & 3.3.2 -
IBM Tunisia) on
Information Management
and Coordination; it was a
joint mission with German
Bundespolizei on
operational coordination
needs and determination
of pilot zones for future
pilot Ops rooms; ISMariS
pilot was proposed by
Tunisian counterparts
subsequently.

Border Management Programme for Maghreb (Ref: T05-EUTF-NOA-

MINISTERO REG-07 / T05.519)

DELL’INTERNO

- EEE: au major
events sea
ie br central
Ops room of Mol / NG)

Main recommendations
from Head of Maritime
Service of the Spanish
Guardia Civil were
integrated into ToR for the
implementation of the

Module 3 of the IBM

Tunisia project

(ENI/2015/362-394).

Basically it confirmed the

above with specific priority

to be given to:

- Radio-communication
and ICT network;
Implementation of
integration solution
(integrated system for
maritime surveillance)
Proposal for visit to
Spain to see SIVE
system

Main recommendations for

maritime part related to:

- Set-up of command and
control rooms for each
border agency, incl.:
Use of IT technology;
Centralised ICT and
radio-communication
networks including
integration of radar;
Pilot Sector Operational
room for MNG - La
Goulette;
Radio-communication /

A project funded by the European Union

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zu Description Recommendations / | Cover
Needs ed

Februar
y 2016

Al Ops Rooms were

based on the assessment
carried out here, although

fine-tuning
took place

additional
discussions
later on.

Study Visit to Spanish
Guardia Civil’s Maritime
Service (activity 3.3.1 -
IBM Tunisia) allowed the
Tunisian counterparts to
further identify
requirements for the
establishment of an
integrated maritime
surveillance system and
specifically get
acquainted with benefits
and constraints linked to
the Spanish SIVE system.

Tunisian Participants from
MoD and Mol were also
acquainted with many
other systems (ITA, US,
FR, UK).

Site visit for 1ISMariS
tender launch (for pre-
selected tenderers) within
the framework of the
ISMariS pilot project
tender process. This was
a preliminary site visit
organised by the MNG
and ICMPD to the possible
tenderers so that they
could prepare relevant
offers for solutions of
integration (ISMariS) and
radio-communication (IBM
Tunisia project)

 

data-transmission

AIS station;

Operator hardware;
Video wall for Sector
Ops room.

Point of interest

expressed:

- Acquaintance with
Spanish SIVE system;
Integrated coastal
surveillance system;
Integration and use of
coastal surveillance
radars (fixed and
mobile);
Use
cameras;
Functioning costs linked
to such a system and
the need to find locally
developed one - this led
to the conclusion that
ISMariS pilot should be
launched within IBM
Tunisia project.

Focus of the visit and the

future pilot was for:

- Development of an
integration software
solution (collecting data
from radars, radio, AIS,
and any sensor
available);

Equipment of Ops room
and ISMariS-specific
hardware;

Implementation
radio- and data-
transmission solution
for communication

of thermal

of

 

 

Border Management Programme for Maghreb (Ref: T05-EUTF-NOA-
REG-07 / T05.519)

A project funded by the European Union

and implemented by the Italian Ministry of Interior and ICMPD

MINISTERO
DELL’INTERNO

26

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Period Description Recommendations / | Cover
Needs ed

Decemb
er 2017
January
2019

Radio-communication
could not be
implemented due to
procedural reasons.
Implementation of
ISMariS pilot project with
the TST company in the
Northern District, more
specifically in the Gulf of
Tunis.

The pilot resulted in the
development of the core
system of the ISMariS
system, the installation of
specific hardware
allowing for use of the
system in a limited
number of coastal
stations and naval units
(IBM Tunisia project)

As a result of multiple
meetings together with
representatives of
Tunisian Mol, the EU,
Italian Mol and ICMPD, a
joint technical mission
was organised with ICMPD
support to make an
update of priority needs
of the Tunisian authorities
and update Italian
proposal for integrated
maritime surveillance
project - used for BMP
Maghreb (IBM Tunisia
project)

among coastal and
naval units (hardware)

Recommendations from

MNG and partners:

- Further implement
Integrated coastal
surveillance system
ISMariS;

Further develop
terrestrial network
among coastal stations;
Acquire and implement
radio-communication
solution

Acquire adequate
sensors such as radars,
thermal cameras,
sonars, ROV, drones.

Further
Integrated
surveillance
ISMariS;
Further develop
terrestrial network
among coastal stations;
Acquire and implement
radio-communication
solution

Acquire adequate
sensors such as radars,
thermal cameras,
sonars, ROV, drones
Identify best locations
for placing 2 mobile
coastal surveillance
stations to be donated
by Italian Mol.

implement
coastal
system

 

 

 

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REG-07 / T05.519) 27
A project funded by the European Union

and implemented by the Italian Ministry of Interior and ICMPD

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