« A bridge between the maritime Industry and the French Navy » The Maritime Information Cooperation and Awareness Center (MICA Center) encompasses all domains of maritime cooperation between the French Navy and the shipping Industry worldwide. Centre of expertise dedicated to maritime security, it hosts four different cells contributing to Maritime Situational Awareness, maritime Information sharing and reporting: - The Voluntary Naval Cooperation centre (VNC) - The Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade - Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) - The Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSC-HoA) EUNAVFOR ATALANTA - The Naval Control / NCAGS Cell These cells enable it to maintain a permanent watch worldwide to process and disseminate information that may affect maritime security in real time. Although it does not coordinate military response, the centre promotes and facilitates close cooperation between navies, information fusion centres and commercial shipping to improve seafarers’ security. Based on the French Navy expertise and according to BMPs, it builds international, trustworthy and confidential partnerships to increase and consolidate the information disseminated. VNC - Information sharing process founded on a voluntarily negotiated protocol; - Monitors traffic worldwide; - Maritime Domain Awareness to its trusted partners; - Win-win agreement between both the Navy and partners; - Provides 24/7/365 alert. MDAT-GoG - For maritime Industry in support of the Yaoundé Architecture; - UK-FR voluntary maritime cooperation mechanism for all merchant vessels sailing in the Gulf of Guinea; - 24/7/365 Twin cells in Brest and Portsmouth; - Safety of the sailors of all nationalities and the ships of all flags; - Broadcast alerts, advisories and warnings in a timely manner. MSC- HoA - EU operation ATALANTA fighting against maritime piracy; - Key link between ships and the military command of the operation; - EU personnel 24/7/365; - Protects transit of merchant vessels.
