Comprehensive maritime domain awareness : an idea whose time has come

Abstract

The pelagic commons and littoral waterways that make up the global maritime domain are an over-exposed realm where international commerce remains vulnerable to threats to maritime safety and security. In an era where there is technological wherewithal and pressing security impetus to address the multifarious threats that emanate from the maritime domain, states can do more to work with international maritime organizations and captains of the maritime industry to develop and leverage upon the strategic locale of maritime hubs to develop regional maritime information sharing networks with potential global reach to safeguard the seas. The impetus for developing a comoprehensive maritime domain awareness and information-sharing network is clear, and the tack to take would be to get buy-in on a building block regional approach.