Patrol boat in regional exercise

The Cook Islands was a participant in “Operation TUI MOANA 2008” an intensive two week surveillance operation in the regions surrounding Samoa and the Cook Islands which ended on 7 July 2008. At the 38th Pacific Islands Forum last year, a very high importance was placed on the management, surveillance and enforcement of fishing activities in the region. Parties undertook to uphold and strengthen the existing regional and national arrangements, agreements and conservation. Operation TUI MOANA went some way in achieving these goals.
Samoa hosted Operation TUI MOANA 2008 with the Headquarters based out of the National Police Headquarter in Apia and commanded by the Samoan Police Force. According to Assistant Commissioner Lilomaiava this was the largest maritime operation that Samoa had ever hosted. He was pleased with the results with almost no illegal activities found.
Headquarters staff included personnel from Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. Two participants from each country manned the operations room throughout the operation. This group included Maritime Police personnel, Vessel Monitoring System Operators, Fisheries Officers and an Air Liaison Officer to ensure they could draw on all available expertise. Forum Fisheries Agency staff were also present to assist.
During the intelligence gathering and operational phase, near and or real time intelligence was passed to the National HQs to allow tasking of surveillance assets as they saw fit. The recognized maritime picture was continually maintained and communicated to the countries involved. The Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre, recently moved to Apia, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program was closely involved in the operation.
A range of aircraft and ships were used to monitor the exclusive economic zones of the participating countries.
For New Zealand, the operation saw their Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion employed in a range of tasks including reconnaissance and surveillance of the Cook Island, Samoan, Tongan, Tahiti Nui, Niuean and Kiribas Exclusive Economic Zones, aerial photography and assistance in two search and rescues.
In addition to New Zealand’s P- 3 aircraft, one United States Coast Guard C 130 aircraft and two P-3C aircraft from Australia also provided surveillance information in the region.
Work at sea was performed by three ships, the Samoan Patrol Boat NAFANUA, the Cook Islands Patrol Boat TE KUKUPA and the French Frigate LA RAILLEUSE.
There were a number of fishing vessels located inside the four main countries Exclusive Economic Zones by Maritime Surveillance Assets. All of the fishing activities were verified and were considered legal while some vessels were transiting through the zones. No illegal vessels were sighted. A total of 41 vessels were identified and monitored during the operation comprising of 28 fishing vessels, 5 yachts, 3 merchant ships and one ferry, many of these on a continuous basis.
A search and rescue was conducted when Operation TUI MOANA HQ provided support to the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in New Zealand. A French yacht departing from Tahiti Nui bound for Samoa had been overdue 10 days. The RNZAF P3 was tasked to find the vessel and the Cook Islands NHQs for patrol boat Te Kukupa placed on standby for her patrol mission. The operation was successful with the yacht being located at a remote atoll in the Cook Islands suffering minor damage but no casualties.
Another distress report was received of an emergency beacon activated inside the Kiribas EEZ moving SW towards Tokelau’s EEZ. The distress was monitored but later found to be an accidentally activated beacon from a fishing vessel transiting through Tokelau and Samoan EEZ’s.
Commander Powell, the Australian Maritime Surveillance Advisor in Samoa said that Operation TUI MOANA 2008 was a success meeting all objectives required. He said Australia continues to support these important maritime operations in the Pacific region. Australia contributed directly over quarter of a million Tala in fuel for the Pacific Island Patrol Boats and operational support. The success was attributed to good planning and coordination, a vast experience of knowledge assigned as watch keepers in the TM08 HQs arid the assistance and support provided by Forum Fisheries Agency and maritime surveillance assets providers, both aerial and surface.
The excellent coordination and cooperation between the Member countries that participated in this TM08 Operation activity indicates a strong relationship and robust cooperation to tackle illegal activities in their respective maritime zones.

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