Participating in the simulation were the Navies of the South Atlantic Maritime Area countries
By First Lieutenant Paulo Yan Carloto de Souza – Brasília, DF
The Brazilian Navy (MB) participated in the Naval Control of Maritime Traffic Exercise (CNTM) COAMAS 2022. The simulation had as a proposal the qualification of the agencies that compose the system, called Naval Sea Traffic Control Organizations (ORGACONTRAM).
Members from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, countries that make up the South Atlantic Maritime Area (AMAS), participated in the exercise. In the context of the Brazilian Navy, the 1st (RJ), 3rd (RN), 4th (PA) and 5th (RS) Naval Districts and their Naval Area Command Centers are part of ORGACONTRAM, besides the Captaincies, Stations and Agencies, with their Maritime Authority Coordination and Control Centers.
Within the MB, the supervision and participation of the exercise was the responsibility of the Maritime Operations and Blue Amazon Protection Command (COMPAAz), through the Maritime Operations Center (CopMar). The COAMAS exercise takes place annually, directed by the Coordinator of the South Atlantic Maritime Area (CAMAS).
In the context of control of the maritime area, the MB is committed to the implementation and improvement of the Blue Amazon Management System (SisGAAz), in order to continuously monitor and protect the maritime areas of interest and inland waters, their resources, ports, vessels and infrastructure, in the face of threats, emergencies, environmental disasters, contributing to the security and defense of the Blue Amazon and to national development.
Activities that make up the exercise
The fictitious scenario developed for the execution of the exercise, which took place between October 17 and 28, allowed for the use of CNTM doctrine and measures. One of them was the creation of coastal and ocean convoys, formed by groups of ships sailing in an organized way, a defensive measure that aims to dissuade the action of adverse forces against maritime traffic of interest. Port evacuation was also simulated in order to save as many ships as possible in situations of great threat to the safety of merchant vessels. Another fictitious situation refers to the prevention of water pollution, consisting of the initial steps taken by the MB to attend maritime environmental incidents of great proportions. And, also, the recognition and classification of ships of interest was trained.
The training is part of the CAMAS exercise calendar, currently coordinated by the Argentine Navy, with the objective of disseminating the CNTM doctrine and its practical application. It also provides closer ties between the Navies that are part of AMAS, contributing to the development of Maritime Situational Awareness, which can be defined as the effective understanding of trends and relationships that develop temporally in the maritime environment, among various actors, which may impact the defense, security, economy and strategic environment of a country, since peacetime, in this important oceanopolitical space.
For the CNTM Advisor, Sea and War Captain Luiz Carlos Lemos Alves, it is important to conduct exercises like COAMAS 2022: “So that the whole structure that involves the monitoring of maritime traffic, not only in the Blue Amazon, but throughout the South Atlantic, can be improved, ensuring the good order of the sea and our sovereignty over the sources of resources that can generate wealth and prosperity for Brazilian society. Training and providing capacity to the Brazilian Navy to coordinate efforts of the Maritime Community in order to maintain and enhance cooperative efforts to be taken in crisis situations. COAMAS 2022 becomes an important tool in the consolidation of SisGAAz towards the fulfillment of its mission of monitoring and protecting the Blue Amazon”.
*** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team ***