The IFC welcomes the participation of Capt N. Padhi, Company Security Officer, MTM Ship Management in the 8th MARISX for the first time. However, they are no stranger to us as this marks the 5th collaboration that we conducted ship security drills together.
During the exercise, a simulated scenario involving illegal human migration was conducted to demonstrate how IFC's linkages With MTM Ship Management and various maritime security (MARSEC) agencies enabled the IFC to corroborate information from multiple sources, enhancing our situational awareness and ensuring real-time information flow.
The IFC was alerted by the IFC-IOR regarding a trawler suspected of carrying illegal migrants and we promptly issued a Voluntary Community Reporting (VCR) broadcast message, seeking assistance from transiting ships in the region to help look out for the trawler. We also shared this information with the France and UK International Liaison Officers (ILOs) who shared With their OPCENs, and other maritime security (MARSEC) agencies which included MICA Centre, RMIFC, and RCOC Seychelles.
As part of the scenario, Capt N. Padhi's vessel received a distress signal from a nearby fishing trawler in the waters off Seychelles and alerted IFC immediately while the ship altered its course and proceeded towards the location to provide assistance. we immediately corroborated all available information and shared the updates with the ILOs and the various MARSEC agencies, to provide the necessary responses to the vessel.
We would like to thank MTM Ship Management for their active involvement in the 8th MARISX and look forward to greater collaboration in future.