The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) manages the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP), which focuses on countering maritime crime in areas such as piracy and illicit substance trafficking. In West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, UNODC collaborates with regional partners to strengthen their capacity in combating maritime crime

International cooperation in maritime surveillance brings significant benefits by enabling the sharing of costs, resources, and expertise among actors. Bilateral or multilateral approaches, coordinated through specialized organizations or programs, allow for collaborative and focused efforts to address common challenges. The Comprehensive Maritime

The La Réunion Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) conducted a search and rescue operation for the fishing vessel Ming Maan Shyang 18, which had caught fire with 17 crew members on board. After rescuing 15 crew members, it was discovered that two crew members were trapped in the engine room and unable to escape. The MRCC activated the

Maritime safety and security operations, including accident prevention, search and rescue, vessel traffic routing, and port security, are supported by the Comprehensive Maritime Surveillance (CMS) service. CMS helps ensure the safe transit of vessels, people, and goods in European waters and on European flagged vessels globally. Satellites are

The Joint Arctic Command (JACO) of the Danish Defence Command, in collaboration with the Comprehensive Maritime Surveillance (CMS) system and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), monitors the seas around Greenland to detect pollution. Since January 2018, CMS has been providing pollution detection services, capturing images to identify

Oil spills from vessels, offshore platforms, and pipelines can significantly harm marine and coastal habitats, impacting both the environment and economy. Quick detection and early warning of these spills are crucial for authorities to catch illegal discharges and respond to accidental spills. Satellite-based synthetic aperture radars (SAR) are

The Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC(N)) is an international platform that combats drug trafficking in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. In May 2017, they suspected a vessel in the Suez Bay was involved in a heroin transhipment. Using optical imagery from the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), they confirmed the

Maritime law enforcement involves combating various illegal activities such as trafficking, smuggling, piracy, armed robbery, and environmental crimes. These activities often occur in remote areas and involve vessels that don't send position alerts or have turned off their reporting systems. Law enforcement officials use satellite-based vessel

Fishing activities and access to fishing grounds are heavily regulated at both the EU and international levels. Monitoring these vast and often remote areas is not always feasible or cost-effective through traditional sea surface and aerial surveillance. In such cases, CMS services can provide crucial support by combining SAR satellite imagery

Drugs from South America are often smuggled into Europe via the Atlantic Ocean or through West Africa, with Spain and Portugal being major entry points. The Spanish Directorate of Customs Surveillance frequently requests monitoring services from CMS, sometimes on short notice based on intelligence. In May 2017, a joint operation involving Spanish,

Customs authorities strive to facilitate the free flow of legitimate trade while curbing trafficking, smuggling, and the importation of illegal or hazardous goods. They focus on scrutinizing key aspects of the goods supply chain, such as their transportation and entry into the European Union (EU). The volume of goods entering the EU is enormous,

On 17 September 2019, the AI4Copernicus Day took place in Namur, Belgium.

The Copernicus Security Service is an integral part of the Copernicus Programme, dedicated to supporting European Union policies by providing valuable information to address security challenges. With a focus on crisis prevention, preparedness, and response capacities, the service operates in key areas such as EU External and Security Actions,

The Copernicus Land Monitoring Service plays a crucial role in providing valuable geographical information on land cover, land use, vegetation state, and the water cycle. By integrating this information, applications can support various sectors including spatial planning, forest management, water management, agriculture, food security, and

The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) plays a crucial role in providing warnings, risk assessments, and geospatial information derived from satellite images to support crisis managers, civil protection authorities, and humanitarian aid actors in dealing with natural and man-made disasters worldwide. Managed directly by the European

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is an essential component of the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme, providing authoritative and consistent information about climate change to support adaptation and mitigation policies in Europe and worldwide. Implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), C3S offers

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service is part of the Copernicus Programme, which is an EU Programme managed by the European Commission (EC) and implemented in partnership with the Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for