JRC testing anti-piracy software

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) is testing a new anti-piracy software in two maritime operational centres in Kenya and the Seychelles. The software known as the Piracy,

Maritime Awareness and Risks (PMAR) system provides a live picture of ship traffic activity, indicating current ship positions on a digital map. By combining data from a number of different vessel reporting and earth observation systems, it creates a single maritime picture of the entire western Indian Ocean. This region-wide picture complements the smaller scale coastal one used by individual countries, and can be used also to combat illegal fishing or immigration.

The tool furthermore allows producing maps showing past piracy events or historic ship traffic density. The PMAR system is the result of a three-year study carried out by JRC researchers into technologies intended to build up maritime awareness for authorities in regions affected by piracy. The study was originally initiated following a request of the European Parliament.

The first phase led to an invitation from the piracy-affected states for a continuation. This one year trial will help to improve the maritime surveillance capabilities in this area, taking into account existing infrastructures as well as considering the specific needs of the concerned countries and with their full collaboration.