International Cooperation For Space-Based Global Maritime Awareness – The Next Step

Issue / Abstract This paper aims to put forward for discussion a number of possible ways to promote international cooperation for global maritime awareness, in particular using spacebased assets. Maritime awareness concerns the knowledge of human activities going on at sea, so for a large part equates to ship traffic detection and monitoring for safety, security and protection of resources and the environment. The essential benefits and challenges for cooperation, and related sharing of information, are recounted. Three concrete options for global cooperation that should be viable also in view of the challenges are proposed. A public discussion with global stakeholders should follow, leading to convergence on a mechanism that should be subsequently implemented.