Multipurpose Maritime Operation 2025 in La Manche and the Southern North Sea concludes with strengthened cooperation and concrete results

Photo credits: Benoît Granier/ Matignon

The 2025 edition of the Franco-Belgian Multipurpose Maritime Operation (MMO) officially concluded on 23 September with a high-level closing event at the premises of the Secrétariat Général de la Mer (SG Mer) in Paris. The event gathered key maritime stakeholders from both France and Belgium, including Xavier Ducept, Secrétaire Général de la Mer, and Nathalie Balcaen, CEO of the Maritime and Coastal Services Agency (MDK). Representatives from the participating authorities, EMSA as lead agency, EFCA and Frontex as observer also attended.

Running from 28 May to 23 September, the MMO MSNS 2025 focused on one of Europe’s busiest and most strategically significant maritime zones: La Manche and the Southern North Sea. It represented a tangible step forward in cross-border, cross-sector cooperation, bringing together efforts in maritime surveillance, pollution response, search and rescue, and fisheries control.

Participants expressed strong satisfaction with the operation, which built on the experience gained during MMO MSNS 2024 and the positive impact of lessons learned from that edition. In particular, they underlined the growing maturity of the MMO framework as a platform for operational cooperation, as well as the effectiveness of the coordinated activities carried out.

EMSA’s technical support

EMSA delivered a wide-ranging portfolio of maritime safety and surveillance services to support the operation and strengthen national capabilities:

• RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems): EMSA’s S-100 Camcopter RPAS operated from CROSS Gris-Nez, delivering more than 150 RPAS flights in support of joint aerial surveillance for ship emissions monitoring, maritime domain awareness and fisheries control. While flights over Belgian waters were slightly delayed due to a late issuance of flight permissions, once authorised, operations proceeded smoothly. Additional RPAS assets were deployed from EFCA’s Ocean Protector, providing further coverage.
• Underwater Operations (ROVs): ROVs deployed from EFCA’s platform supported wreck inspections, environmental monitoring, photogrammetry, and water sampling. Authorities in both countries expressed their interest in deploying more robust ROVs in future editions, capable of operating in strong tidal currents and challenging sea states – a need that will soon be addressed by EMSA’s upcoming new underwater service.
• CleanSeaNet Satellite Monitoring: EMSA delivered over 200 satellite images, including 150 near-real-time SAR products. A key moment was the delivery of a high-resolution optical image capturing the simulated spill during POLEX, allowing rapid environmental assessment.
• Integrated Maritime Services (IMS): A dedicated operational layer within EMSA’s IMS enabled real-time sharing of data such as vessel positions, behavioural anomalies, and incident reporting. Almost 600 operational events were logged and visualised via a new centralised dashboard, providing participants with an up-to-date situational picture.
• Training and Capacity Building: Comprehensive training was delivered to ensure that all operational teams were proficient with EMSA’s tools and services. Authorities welcomed the support and indicated a desire for more hands-on and real-scenario training during future operations.
• Communication and Reporting Support: EMSA provided real-time public communication tools, situation reports, and tailored briefings to enhance transparency, stakeholder engagement and operational awareness.

Exercise highlights

• Pollution Response Exercise (POLEX 2025): A simulated large-scale oil spill off the coast of Zeebrugge tested cross-border response capability. EMSA’s stand-by vessel Interballast III was deployed alongside the French Navy’s Argonaute and Belgian assets, supported by CleanSeaNet satellite imagery. The successful recovery and transfer of pollutant confirmed the operational readiness and coordination capacity of all actors.
• Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX 2025): Led by CROSS Gris-Nez, this mass rescue scenario tested multinational procedures. The exercise validated the benefits of joint planning, flexible coordination, and interoperability in emergency response.
• CISE Trial Exercise: In cooperation with EFCA and French authorities, EMSA organised a Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) trial to exchange data on Vessels of Interest. While the exercise faced technical challenges that limited its full execution, it still provided valuable insights for improving data sharing across systems and jurisdictions.

EFCA’s role in coordinated fisheries control

EFCA played a central role by deploying its Offshore Patrol Vessel Ocean Protector, a 62-metre multi-role emergency response vessel, for four patrols spanning 24 operational days. Multinational inspection teams conducted at-sea fisheries inspections, supported by RPAS, IMS and risk-based planning.

EFCA also facilitated coordination through daily calls and bi-weekly Technical Joint Deployment Group (TJDG) meetings, developed regional risk assessments, and supported data-sharing via the FISHNET platform. EFCA’s operational support helped ensure a consistent and harmonised approach to fisheries control throughout the MMO.

A platform for European solidarity and maritime governance

The Paris event served both as a symbolic closing and a working meeting. It brought together representatives from the Maritime Prefecture of La Manche and the North Sea (Premar), DGAMPA, CROSS Gris-Nez, the French Navy, the Belgian Ministry of Defence, the Directorate-General for Shipping, the Federal Services of the Governor of West Flanders, and the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Beyond celebrating the results of MMO 2025, the discussion focused on future improvements. Both France and Belgium proposed the deployment of additional RPAS and ROV assets and called for a stronger coordination mechanism for these systems across borders. There was broad agreement that the current prolonged crisis demands sustained European maritime cooperation.

Looking ahead: MMO 2026 and beyond

Both France and Belgium expressed strong interest in renewing their commitment for MMO 2026 Discussions also highlighted interest in exploring a more permanent MMO structure for the region, potentially involving the Netherlands and Frontex.

European collaboration in action

MMO MSNS 2025 is a concrete demonstration of how European agencies and Member States can effectively coordinate resources, share information, and respond jointly to maritime challenges. It also contributes to the implementation of the EU Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS) and the Ocean Pact – both of which call for scaling up MMOs in support of the EU’s maritime security priority.

From tackling pollution to enforcing fisheries rules and safeguarding lives at sea, MMO MSNS 2025 showed that coordination, capability and commitment are key to keeping Europe’s maritime domain safe, secure and resilient.