New Delhi: The global maritime security community is set to converge in Gurugram, India, as the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) hosts the third edition of its flagship event – Maritime Information Sharing Workshop (MISW 2025) from November 3-5, 2025.
Under the compelling theme, “Enhancing Real-Time Coordination and Information Sharing Across the Indian Ocean Region,” MISW 2025 is poised to be a pivotal international platform dedicated to fortifying the collaborative framework essential for safeguarding the world’s most vital sea lanes.
Anchoring Regional Collaboration through MISW
In line with India’s vision of ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR)’, IFC-IOR conducts a series of workshops and training programmes, of which the Maritime Information Sharing Workshop (MISW) is the flagship event. The inaugural edition of MISW was conducted in 2019. Since its inception in 2019, MISW has matured into a premier operational forum, convening working-level professionals from across the globe to exchange best practices, strengthen interoperability and foster trust-based information sharing.
More than a dialogue platform, MISW catalyses coordinated responses to transnational maritime threats such as piracy and armed robbery, drug smuggling, irregular human migration, and other incidents that disrupt global maritime commerce. By bridging operational expertise with strategic foresight, MISW reinforces the Indian Ocean Region’s collective resilience and advances a future of secure, stable, and sustainable seas.
From Dialogue to Action: MISW 2025 Charts a New Course
MISW 25, scheduled November 3-5, 2025, marks a significant stride in fostering engagement with partner nations and regional constructs. The workshop’s theme, “Enhancing Real-Time Coordination and Information Sharing Across the Indian Ocean Region,” encapsulates the shared vision of participating nations. MISW 25 moves beyond foundational dialogue to focus on the operational application of maritime security information and technology in countering evolving non-traditional threats. With tailored sessions for regional constructs and a culminating table top exercise at IFC-IOR, the workshop reinforces India’s commitment to MAHASAGAR and commitment towards shaping a secure, resilient, and cooperative maritime future.
The workshop will be inaugurated by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS), and will feature a keynote address by Sushil Mansing Khopde, IPS, Additional Director General of DG Shipping. This workshop will bring together maritime security practitioners from 30 countries of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), the Djibouti Code of Conduct / Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Setting the Course: Dialogue, Innovation, and Action
MISW 25 features thematic sessions tailored for BIMSTEC, IORA and DCoC/JA participants, with contributions from UNODC, ReCAAP ISC, RMIFC, IFC, Singapore, RCoC and leading shipping companies. Panel discussions will chart the roadmap for a resilient maritime information ecosystem, while India’s role in establishing National Maritime Information Sharing Centres (NMISCs) will be spotlighted. The workshop culminates in a high-fidelity Table Top Exercise (TTX), simulating real-world maritime threats and fostering syndicate-based contingency planning. Delegates will engage in collaborative response frameworks, reinforcing the value of shared situational awareness and coordinated action.
The Indian Ocean: A Global Economic Lifeline
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is the bedrock of global commerce, through which a majority of the world’s oil and container traffic flows. Its significance extends far beyond geographical boundaries, serving as a hub of economic activities, a bridge between continents and a stage for geopolitical dynamics. Maritime security is not merely crucial for economic stability but is vital for geopolitical equilibrium. Recognising this critical need, the IFC-IOR was inaugurated on December 22, 2018, with a mission to enhance maritime safety and security in the region. IFC-IOR, presently headed by Captain Sachin Kumar Singh, is a unique Centre which hosts ILOs from 15 countries and actively collaborates with 57 other maritime security constructs and 25 partner countries towards ensuring a peaceful, stable, and prosperous IOR.
MISW 2025 is a testament to the IFC-IOR’s commitment to building a cohesive, transparent, and resilient maritime information ecosystem. The outcomes of this workshop will play a significant role in charting the future roadmap for strengthening the IOR Maritime Information Ecosystem for a safer, peaceful, and more prosperous global ocean.
