From the end of May to September, the Belgian and French Coastguards will work together in a Multipurpose Maritime Operation (MMO). The MMO is a large-scale maritime operation in the North Sea, coordinated by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), with the support of the European Union. In this operation, member states work closely together on Coastguard tasks, such as maritime safety, environmental protection and border control. The Scientific Service MUMM of the Institute of Natural Sciences is also involved.
In 2024, a four-month MMO was also held in the North Sea, with Belgium and France as participating member states. In 2025, drones and underwater robots will again be deployed to test coastguard tasks, such as locating drowning people or small vessels, detecting marine pollution, checking ship emissions, monitoring fisheries regulations and mapping wrecks, measuring poles and seabed structures. In addition, the Coastguard will have the opportunity to work with the Ocean Protector, one of EFCA’s three ships, and to carry out tests with an emergency sea tug. There has also been a long-standing demand for this type of tug in Belgium.
What is new is that in 2025 a Search and Rescue exercise will also take place on the border between Belgium and France, in which rescue vessels and helicopters will be used to rescue around fifty drowning people, both dummies and real people, from the North Sea.
Nathalie Balcaen, administrator general of the Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services (MDK), is pleased that a new MMO is being launched. “Last year we learned a lot during the MMO and the cross-border cooperation with France. Geopolitically these are turbulent times with many threats. Together, much more is possible.”
The collaboration officially started on May 28 and will end on September 19, 2025. The starting shot was given on Wednesday May 28 in Zeebrugge, in the presence of all partners.
During the launch event, the guests were given a unique look behind the scenes. At the Naval Base, they were guided on board various vessels, including Sirius (MDK), Primula (Defense) and Abeille Normandie (Boluda). The functions of the ships and the cooperation between the partners were explained in detail. As a conclusion, the guests were able to attend an impressive Search And Rescue exercise with the Orinoco and the NH90 helicopter, during which the coordination between the services involved came into action live.
MUMM in the MMO
During this Multipurpose Maritime Operation, the Scientific Service MUMM (Management Unit of the Mathematical Model of the North Sea) of the Institute of Natural Sciences will work closely with Defence in the use of medium-sized drones (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System – RPAS) to perform additional environmental surveillance above the Belgian part of the North Sea. The drones will be deployed in support of the national programme for aerial surveillance above the North Sea.
Ronny Schallier of the MUMM aerial surveillance explains: “Although drones cannot replace a Coastguard aircraft that is fully equipped with sensors and manned, they are considered important additional surveillance platforms to support the various Coastguard functions. Through an intelligent combination of manned and unmanned aerial surveillance, the Coastguard hopes to significantly strengthen monitoring and enforcement at sea. The combination is expected to yield benefits, including for detecting pollution from ships, for verifying pollution reported via the European CleanSeaNet service (satellite detection service), and for monitoring navigation violations.”
Flemish and Federal partners in the MMO
Agency for Agriculture and Fisheries
Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services (MDK)
Federal Science Policy (Institute of Natural Sciences/MUMM)
FPS Mobility and Transport (DG Shipping)
FPS Health (DG Environment)
Ministry of Defence (Naval Component)
French partners
Secrétariat Général de la Mer
Préfecture maritime de la Manche et de la mer du Nord
La direction générale des affaires maritimes, de la pêche et de l’aquaculture (DGAMPA)
European partners
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA)