When a naval force is operating, it is important that civilian sea traffic is informed and has received the necessary guidance. Otherwise there is a risk that civilian ships can get into an inconvenient or even dangerous situation. It may also be that warships must help and protect civilian ships in areas where there is a threat against shipping, like for example in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the cost of Somalia.

In NATO these important tasks are handled under NCAGS which is an abbreviation for Naval Co-ordination And Guidance for Shipping. During DANEX 08 NCAGS is also in play in the form of Commander Finn Strøbæk. Together with a British colleague he is planning and controlling co-operation and guidance of civilian shipping during the exercise.

– In Denmark we see NCAGS as the Danish Navy’s interface with civilian shipping. The idea is to create a framework of security for everybody who has the sea as their workplace. With NCAGS we have a flexible tool that makes it possible to help and advise civilian ships and at the same time create a feeling of trust between the Danish Navy and the civilian sea traffic, Finn Strøbæk explains.

During DANEX 08 an NCAGS staff has been established in Frederikshavn which besides six Danes consist of one person from Poland, one from Great Britain and four from the Netherlands. The staff collects information about civilian ships and informs them about the exercise and about which areas are to be avoided at certain times.

– As a new thing on this exercise we co-operate with harbours: Aarhus, Aalborg, Frederikshavn and Grenaa – a co-operation that is running really well. We go to the harbours and inform the ships. In return we ask the ships if they would be willing to participate in the exercise by being available for the crews of the warships who must train boarding and examination of a civilian ship. About 95 percent of the ships, we’ve asked, have said yes, Finn Strøbæk says.

Also in a more global perspective Denmark has put a distinct fingerprint on NCAGS:

– In co¬-operation with the Danish Shipowners’ Association we have put forward a proposal about a corridor though the Gulf of Aden where NCAGS can support civilian shipping. The proposal has been well received and it’s great that we in this manner can contribute to meet the challenges which exist in this region, Finn Strøbæk ends.