VICTORIA, Seychelles — A four-day maritime security training session opened yesterday at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort, bringing together high-level officers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and local representatives to share best practices in maritime security and search and rescue. The training is organised by the International Organisation for Migration in collaboration with the Regional Maritime Security Architecture.
Speaking at the opening, deputy Chief of Defence Forces Brigadier General Jean Attala said the training presents a unique opportunity for participants from Saudi Arabia and the wider region to share challenges and best practices when addressing maritime security threats. “Their safety must remain at the forefront of our maritime policies. It is here that Search and Rescue mechanisms play a critical role. Through the International Maritime Organisation and its Global SAR plan, a cooperative framework has been established to ensure timely and coordinated responses to emergencies at sea,” he stated.
The IOM representative to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ashraf El Nour, said the training is expected to be the start of long-term collaboration between GCC states and the region. “We want this to be the start of long-term collaboration between GCC states and this region. We hope that this is only the beginning,” he added, noting that the course aims to build operational capacity in maritime and border security through hands-on skills exchange. Ibrahim Allaam, Advisor from Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, also delivered remarks on regional threats.
