World Maritime Day 2026 Message

 

Regional Security System

Message for World Maritime Day 2026

“From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence”

Statement from Regional Maritime Officer, RSS, Lieutenant Commander Rolerick Sobers.

The Regional Security System Headquarters joins the international maritime community in celebrating World Maritime Day.

For us in the Caribbean, the maritime domain is not simply the space that surrounds our islands. It connects our nations, supports our economies and livelihoods while facilitating trade and tourism, and is fundamental to our collective security.

We recognise the importance of safe and secure seas and inland waterways, the highways of commercial and recreational maritime traffic in our cultural and historic spaces. At the same time, we continue to promote awareness for the health of the marine environment while embracing the adoption of the international conventions and rules of law, and industry best practices.

The vast area of the Caribbean Sea, the adjoining rivers and Atlantic Ocean and the connection to our many coastal and indigenous communities also presents significant challenges. Transnational organised crime and the myriad of the illicit flows (trafficking of drugs, firearms, people and wildlife) through our region, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, other maritime criminal activities and threats to the environment, require us to remain vigilant, adaptable, resilient and prepared.

This year’s theme, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” speaks directly to the work undertaken by Maritime Law Enforcement practitioners and Border Security Agencies across the regional space. People and Safety remain paramount as users of the marine space whether for commercial or recreational activities. There must be that sense of feeling safe while at sea, and the practical application to safe operations and use of the maritime space by both operators of marine craft and users of the resource as they ply their trade.

Effective maritime security cannot exist only within policies, maritime strategies and plans for conservation and sustainable use of the marine resource. This must also be demonstrated through action at sea, effective surveillance, timely information and intelligence sharing, coordinated operations, well-trained personnel and the appropriate use of technology.

At the Regional Security System, we continue to work with our Member States, regional and international partners to strengthen maritime domain awareness, enhance operational capabilities and improve coordination and interoperability among our maritime security forces.

The nature of our shared maritime space means that cooperation, collaboration and communication are not optional; but rather, are essential components to closing the gaps in our porous maritime borders.

Our ability to detect, deter and respond to maritime threats depends on how effectively we share information, combine our capabilities and translate our collective policies into coordinated action.

On this World Maritime Day, the Regional Security System recognise and commend the dedicated men and women serving across Maritime Administrations, Maritime Law Enforcement units, and in Ports who work tirelessly to safeguard our waters, protect our borders and contribute to the security of our communities.

As Regional Maritime Officer, I remain committed to supporting our Member States in strengthening their maritime capabilities and advancing a more coordinated, responsive and resilient regional maritime security framework.

Together, we must continue moving from policy to practice—turning strategy into action and powering maritime excellence across the regional space.