Charting a Course for Security: EUCAP Somalia and Puntland Maritime Police Force Forged Maritime Excellence in 2025

The maritime domain is vital to Somalia and securing it requires highly trained professionals. EUCAP Somalia, through its commitment to capacity building, recently concluded a highly successful one-year training partnership with the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), demonstrating a robust and resilient approach to enhancing maritime security capabilities in the region.

⚓ A Year of Ambitious Training

The collaboration kicked off with an ambitious agreement: a one-year plan comprising 11 intensive seminars. These sessions were designed in collaboration with the PPMF to cover a wide spectrum of essential maritime knowledge, aiming to transform theoretical understanding into practical, operational expertise. All 15 participating PMPF Commanders officially graduated from both the final seminar and the entire course today, during a closing ceremony at the Mission's Field Office Puntland, in Bossaso.

The comprehensive curriculum included critical subjects such as:

• Navigation and Seamanship: Chart reading, route planning, tidal calculations, and basic maritime skills.

• Safety at Sea (SAS) and Search and Rescue (SAR): Crucial skills for saving lives and managing emergencies.

• International Regulations: Detailed training on Collision Regulations and Rules of the Road (COLREG) and Marine Pollution (MARPOL).

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in radio communication and navigational aids (RADAR, AIS, Plotter).

• Legal and Institutional Frameworks: Maritime law, Coast Guard functions (legal aspect), and an understanding of the International Maritime Organization.

• Professional Development: Leadership and human rights, English training, and a dedicated Training of Trainers program.
  

The initial seminars focused on building a strong baseline in Navigation, basic Seamanship, and Safety at Sea, with subjects intentionally interconnected to build a holistic understanding of the complex maritime environment.

Focus on Practical Application and Legal Expertise

As the year progressed, the seminars shifted focus to more specific and complex topics like conventions, legal aspects, and advanced radio communication. The final sessions concentrated heavily on legal aspects from a Coast Guard perspective, including a significant SAR exercise conducted with support from Mogadishu-based Mission colleagues.

Lastly, the Training of Trainers sessions focus on long-term sustainability, with the goal of transitioning participants into active trainers, strengthening internal PMPF training capacity, and ensuring continuity beyond the programme.

Practical exercises conducted both on and near the sea were vital for linking theoretical knowledge of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and Marine Pollution to real-case scenarios, such as safety drills and pollution response.

✅ Measurable Impact: Commanders Report Significant Gains

A final evaluation and interview with PMPF Commanders provided concrete evidence of the training's impact, underscoring its operational relevance:

Key Improvements:

1. Operational Performance

• Better operational planning and execution

• Increased efficiency and confidence in daily tasks

• Stronger understanding of maritime zones, laws, and enforcement powers

2. Search and Rescue (SAR)

• Ability to plan and conduct SAR operations

• Successfully applied skills in a real case to locate a missing person alive

3. Navigation and Maritime Domain Awareness

• Improved chart reading, route planning, and overall navigation skills

• Increased understanding of maritime domain awareness

4. Radio Communication

• Clear communication using standard maritime terminology

• Improved coordination during operations

5. Legal and Regulatory Knowledge

• Understanding international and national legal frameworks (e.g., MARPOL, fisheries laws, human rights law)

• Able to enforce laws appropriately during maritime operations

6. Pollution Response and Reporting

• Ability to identify pollution incidents

• Accurate reporting using legal frameworks and structured formats

7. Report Writing and Briefing

• Improved use of the five-paragraph report/brief format

• Stronger communication with chain of command

8. Training of Trainers

• Confidence to teach and mentor others

• Active involvement in revising and training students

The PMPF Commanders noted that the training significantly enhanced their abilities in SAR planning, navigational skills, maritime domain awareness, and report writing.

" This milestone marks a crucial contribution to sustainable capacity development within the PMPF, strengthening maritime security. We look forward to continuing this fruitful cooperation next year. " - Kęstutis Lancinskas, EUCAP Somalia Head of Mission

Looking Ahead

The successful completion of the seminar series this year confirms the commitment of both the PMPF and EUCAP Somalia and paves the way for a second edition in 2026, with another group of PMPF Commanders to participate.

As EUCAP Somalia's Head of Mission, Kęstutis Lancinskas, concludes: "This milestone marks a crucial contribution to sustainable capacity development within the PMPF, strengthening maritime security. We look forward to continuing this fruitful cooperation next year."