The global maritime security community is set to converge in Gurugram, India, for the third edition of the Maritime Information Sharing Workshop (MISW 2025), hosted by the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) from November 3 to 5, 2025. Under the theme “Enhancing Real-Time Coordination and Information Sharing Across the Indian Ocean Region,” MISW 2025 promises to be a crucial platform for strengthening collaboration and safeguarding vital sea lanes.
Anchoring Regional Collaboration
MISW, launched in 2019, has evolved into a premier operational forum that brings together working-level professionals worldwide to exchange best practices, boost interoperability, and foster trust-based information sharing. Beyond dialogue, MISW catalyzes coordinated responses to maritime threats such as piracy, drug smuggling, armed robbery, and irregular human migration which disrupt global maritime commerce. The event reinforces the collective resilience of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), supporting a stable, secure, and sustainable maritime future aligned with India’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
Moving from Dialogue to Action
MISW 2025 will emphasize the operational application of maritime security information and technology in countering evolving non-traditional threats. The workshop features tailored thematic sessions for regional frameworks including BIMSTEC, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA). Participants include maritime security practitioners from 30 countries alongside contributions from UNODC, ReCAAP ISC, RMIFC, Singapore’s IFC, RCoC, and leading shipping companies.
The workshop’s high point will be a realistic Table Top Exercise (TTX) hosted at IFC-IOR, simulating maritime threats such as piracy and human trafficking, fostering coordinated contingency planning among delegates to strengthen shared situational awareness and response mechanisms.
The Indian Ocean – A Critical Economic Lifeline
The IOR forms the bedrock of global commerce, facilitating the majority of the world’s oil and container traffic. It serves as an economic hub, continental bridge, and a stage for geopolitical dynamics. Maritime security is thus pivotal not only for economic stability but also for geopolitical equilibrium.
Established on December 22, 2018, IFC-IOR, currently led by Captain Sachin Kumar Singh, hosts International Liaison Officers (ILOs) from 15 countries and collaborates with 57 maritime security constructs and 25 partner nations to ensure a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean.
Conclusion
MISW 2025 stands as a testament to IFC-IOR’s commitment to a cohesive, transparent, and resilient information ecosystem. The workshop’s outcomes will play a defining role in shaping the future roadmap for strengthening the informational landscape in the Indian Ocean, contributing significantly to safer seas and enhanced regional cooperation.
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Source: PIB
