GHANA NAVY
Ghana has joined an international network of navies that share select unclassified information related to merchant shipping.
On November 8, 2022, the Ghana Navy signed onto the Virtual-Regional Maritime Traffic Centre and the Trans-Regional Maritime Network in a ceremony aboard the Italian Navy Ship ITS Nave Borsini. The information-sharing system is based on commercial hardware and software developed by the Italian Navy.
In a speech before the signing, Rear Adm. Issah Adam Yakubu, Ghana’s chief of Naval Staff, said the Gulf of Guinea faces security challenges, and navies must know what is happening and build capacity through at sea and onshore joint training. He called Ghana’s joining the network “relevant and timely.”
“In our quest to curb these challenges, countries ought to recognize the need for stronger collaborations at all levels to aid the development of sustainable strategies and commitments to deal with these challenges,” Yakubu said.
Launched by the Italian Navy in 2004, the program includes 37 navies. Its software allows for real-time, virtual sharing of information about merchant shipping. It also is capable of data analysis and anomaly detection, which makes the work of operation centers easier, the Italian Navy said on its website. Each year, more than 2 million tracks are exchanged on the system among member navies.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, commander of the 3rd Naval Division, Rear Adm. Valentino Rinaldi, a representative of the chief of the Italian Navy, said the traffic center and network enhance maritime situational awareness and security while also strengthening trust among members, building confidence, and creating synergies by sharing information and resources.
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