The Ghana Navy has officially joined the Virtual Regional Maritime Traffic Centre (V-RMTC) and Trans Regional Maritime Network (T-RMN) to enhance information sharing amongst international maritime stakeholders and also to improve upon maritime threats faced within the Mediterranean Region.
The official signing ceremony for the Note of Accession for Ghana’s entry into the V-RMTC took place on Tuesday, 8 November 2022 onboard Italian Navy Ship (ITS) NAVE BORSINI, which was berthed at Tema Harbour.
The V-RMTC and T-RMN Community is a virtual network connecting Maritime Operation Centres of member Navies, which was launched by the Italian Navy at the 5th Venice Regional Seapower Symposium Edition in 2004, recording the common will and urge to improve the situational awareness of the maritime domain and merchant traffic in the Mediterranean Region. The community currently has the strength of thirty seven (37) member Navies worldwide where Ghana Navy has become its newest member.
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu who signed the Note of Accession, emphasized that, the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) Region is faced with some maritime security challenges including piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking of drugs amongst other criminal activities at sea. He stressed that in a bid towards addressing these challenges, Ghana Navy's Agenda 2024 Maritime Security Strategy recognizes the need to collaborate with other Navies both at the Regional and International levels to improve maritime domain awareness.
He stated that Ghana's admission into the V-RMTC and T-RMN community was relevant and timely, since the system would not only enhance Ghana's maritime domain awareness, but had also bolster stakeholder confidence to effectively eliminate threat at sea.
The CNS acknowledged the efforts of international partners in contributing to the reduction of maritime related crimes in the GoG. With this, he commended the European Union's Coordinated Maritime Patrols which had reduced sea based crimes in the sub-region and assured of Ghana Navy’s continuous support in strengthening the cordial relationship that exist between Ghana and Italy.
He called for a more collaborative effort in joint training of personnel both at sea and ashore. “Ghana Navy looks forward to collaborating with all member navies and other security agencies to improve maritime security for the benefit of what is now referred to as the blue economy,” he added.
CNS expressed his profound gratitude to the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino and members of the V-RMTC and T-RMN community for making it possible for the Ghana Navy to join the network.
The Commander of the 3rd Naval Division, Rear Admiral Valentino Rinaldi, a representative of the Chief of the Italian Navy noted that the Italian Navy was prepared to collaborate with local Navies to strengthen maritime security, international cooperation and exchange operational information within the maritime domain.
He reiterated that the V-RMTC and T-RMN had proven to be an effective community that, while enhancing maritime situational awareness and security, it also strengthens mutual trust, builds confidence amongst stakeholders and allow creating synergies by sharing information and resources.
The Commanding Officer (CO) ITS Nave Borsini, Commander Carlo Corso toured the CNS and his team round the ship. CNS and Commander Carlo Corso in turn exchanged plaques and souvenirs to commemorate the day.
