MARIT-D

Multi AI Realtime Intelligence Tool

About the project

The general objective of the project is to realise more effective, pan-EU Law Enforcement in the area of illegal trafficking. We will work on the Netherlands Police initiative to test and develop an intelligence-led and data-driven approach to gain a better grip on the transport component of maritime trafficking.

In this project we aim to:

Exchange cross-border police data and intelligence in order to jointly and structurally develop the tool further.

Strengthen the cooperation of Law Enforcement agencies to disrupt illegal shipping movements.

Increase awareness and build synergies amongst relevant stakeholders and EU Member States.

Increase the availability of the tool for Law Enforcement. The tool which monitors real-time deviant shipping movements of maritime trafficking will be owned by Law Enforcement authorities in the EU.

The Dutch National Police and several security partners have in recent years initiated and tested an intelligence-led and data-driven approach to gain a better grip on the transport component of maritime trafficking. This baseline tool has been refined and tested to reveal deviant and/or suspicious shipping movements that may be linked to maritime trafficking. The hot spots (clusters of frequently recurring locations) of these deviant shipping movements were exactly located at the border of Belgium and the Netherlands. That is why in the MARIT-D project the Dutch, Belgium, French, Portuguese and Spanish authorities have joined forces in aiming for more effective and seamless Law Enforcement in the area of trafficking at their borders, relying on the abovementioned tool as the linking pin. A critical bottleneck in the approach in the fight against trafficking is the lack of cross-border collaboration between EU-countries and Law Enforcement in particular. Fighting international organised crime groups is a vastly complex and difficult task with many of the individual member state’s authorities and agencies involved (police, border police, tax authorities, private security companies, etc.), each with their own tools, processes, and structures.

That is why the MARIT-D project – as a first decisive step toward closer pan-EU collaboration- is taking the necessary steps in disrupting illicit trafficking in Europe by working closely together and by further harnessing and extending this intelligence-led and data-driven approach. In this project we will further develop the method and technology of MARIT, addressing current and new modus operandi and using current and new sensors and data sources, over the next two years based on joint use cases and field pilots. Our resulting MARIT-D tool, expert findings and lessons learned will be disseminated and made available. EUROPOL’s Innovation Lab has agreed to make MARIT-D accessible to all EU Member States after the project, through the EUROPOL Tool Repository (ETR). And as discussed with the European Clearing Board (EuCB) we will explore if a new Core Group can be established parallel to the MARIT-D project that will function as an Advisory Board with interested LEAs from other Member States. In this way the project results will more effectively and easily find their way after the project life cycle to the Member States’ operational units in fighting maritime trafficking.

Objectives

We are dedicated to the collective creation and collection of intelligence across multiple EU Member States. Our focus lies on the modus operandi, transport, and risk indicators. Our work involves investigating, unlocking, combining and utilising diverse data sources, such as sensors and satellite images, to extend the capabilities of our tools.

How?

Pan-European collaboration

Project outcome

Increased Cross-Border Cooperation:

The initiative seeks to foster improved collaboration amongst countries. This cross-border cooperation is crucial for sharing intelligence, resources, and best practices to tackle common threats and challenges effectively.

The MARIT-D project aims to yield significant outcomes that will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) across the European Union. The project's goals are focussed on the following key areas:

Combat Trafficking:

One of the project's primary objectives is to combat and reduce maritime trafficking. By leveraging the resources and intelligence of multiple countries, the project aims to dismantle trafficking networks and minimise their operations.

Accessible Tool for all LEAs:

The project aims to develop a tool that all LEAs can use. This tool, the Enhanced Tactical Response (ETR), will provide a platform for real-time information sharing and collaboration, aiding in the fight against cross-border crime.

Extend Intelligence-Led Approach:

The project will extend the use of an intelligence-led approach, using data and information to guide operations and strategies. This approach aids in the prediction, prevention, and response to crimes more effectively and efficiently.

EU Network on Maritime Trafficking:

The project also seeks to establish a dedicated network focussing on maritime trafficking within the EU. This network will facilitate specialised information sharing and collaboration to counter maritime trafficking operations more effectively.

Increased Cross-Border Cooperation:

Activities

Description of MO’s

rescue Coast security guard motor boat ship sea patrol isolated

Execute pilots

Communication Strategy

Gap Analysis

Design/build MARIT-D

Assessment on Data Protection and Ethics

Work Packages

Management and Coordination of the Action

Maritime trafficking Insights and Intelligence

New MO’s and sensor/AI technology extension

Pilot testing and demonstrations

Legal and ethical underpinning

Exploitation, Community Engagement,

Dissemination and Communication

Key achievements

Exchange cross-border police data and intelligence in order to jointly and structurally develop the tool further

Strengthen the cooperation of Law Enforcement agencies to disrupt illegal shipping movements of

trafficking and operate at both sides of EU member state’s borders

Increase awareness and build synergies amongst relevant stakeholders / other Member States (by organising joint activities for MS and important partners such as MAOC,

Frontex and Europol).

Increase the availability of the tool for LEAs. The tool which monitors real-time deviant

shipping movements of trafficking will be owned by LEA authorities in the EU. In

this project this tool will therefore be demonstrated to other Member States.

Consortium

Partner's name	Short	Type	Country
National Police of the Netherlands	NPN	LEA	NL
Belgium Federal Police	BFP	LEA	BE
Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek	TNO	RTO	NL
Tilburg University/Jheronimus Academy of Data Science	TiU/JADS	UNI	NL
Dutch Institute for Safe & Secure Spaces	DISSS	NPO	NL
Ministerio del Interior	ESMIR	LEA	ES
Ministério da Justiça – Polícia Judiciária	PJ	LEA	PT
Direction Nationale de la Garde-Côtes des Douanes	DNGCD	GOV	FR

Deliverables

Title	Dissemination level
D1.1 Project Management Handbook	Public
D1.2 Risk Management and Quality Assurance	Public
D1.3 Mid-term progress report	Public
D1.4 Final report to be submitted to the EC	Public
D2.1 Report on the evaluation of existing modus operandi, concepts, techniques and tools	Sensitive
D2.2 State-of-the-Art report on modus operandi, concepts, techniques and tools against maritime trafficking.	Sensitive
D2.3 Report on the requirements and expectations of LEAs / border guards and relevant stakeholders	Sensitive
D2.4 MARIT-D reference Architecture and overall design	Sensitive
D3.1 MARIT-D 1st release	Sensitive
D3.2 MARIT-D 2nd release	Sensitive
D3.3 MARIT-D 3rd release	Sensitive
D3.4 MARIT-D final release	Sensitive
D4.1 Pilot scenarios	Sensitive
D4.2 Pilot planning and preparations	Sensitive
D4.3 Results of BE-FR pilot	Sensitive
D4.4 Results of FR-ES pilot	Sensitive
D4.5 Results of ES-PT pilot	Sensitive
D4.6 Results of NL-BE pilot	Sensitive
D5.1 Report on MARIT-D Data Management	Public
D5.2 Report on MARIT-D Policy recommendations	Public
D5.3 DPIA and EIA report final	Public
D6.1 Communication plan & Dissemination Roadmap	Public
D6.2 MARIT-D website	Public
D6.3 Dissemination materials	Public
D6.4 MARIT-D webinar	Public
D6.5 MARIT-D Final event	Public
D6.6 MARIT-D Community building	Public
D6.7 Exploitation plan	Sensitive
D6.8 MARIT-D Video	Public