GMISS Overview

The Global Maritime Information Sharing Symposium (GMISS) is an annual event hosted by the National Maritime Domain Awareness Coordination Office (NMCO) to align U.S. Government outreach to the maritime industry and improve and increase industry-government maritime information sharing partnerships.

Maritime information sharing has been demonstrated as an effective means of improving security, safety and environmental protection, while increasing efficiency and reducing friction for legitimate commerce. The policies that govern the use and sharing of information by the U.S. federal government are being revised in order to permit and promote better information sharing. NMCO recognizes that it is crucial to consult the maritime industry while developing maritime information sharing policies so we can limit the negative impacts of maritime security efforts on the economy while optimizing the benefits of partnering with the people with the greatest visibility of the maritime domain. Therefore, GMISS brings together representatives of the shipping industry, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies to collaborate on a global system of maritime information sharing and gives the maritime industry an ongoing forum to help shape the development of maritime information sharing policies.

The symposium supports the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) in developing a coherent federal outreach and coordination effort. The U.S. sea services expressed the need to expand their relationships with industry in their joint strategy document, A Cooperative Strategy for a 21st Century Seapower. As government agencies have increasingly realized the benefits to be gained by partnering with the maritime industry however, there has been a flurry of "commercial outreach" and a deluge of information requests that are overwhelming industry and rapidly eroding its eagerness and ability to respond. The maritime community, both directly and through its various associations, has expressed frustration and confusion over the seemingly uncoordinated government efforts in support of maritime security and the resulting demands being placed on maritime trade.

GMISS was undertaken as an effort to harness this government energy for engagement and establish a means to coordinate a more cohesive dialogue between government and maritime industry representatives.

The long range (multi-year) objectives of the GMISS include:

• Coordinate the U.S. government's maritime commercial outreach
• Implement industry/government working groups to tackle key issues
• Highlight and learn from the most productive relationships
• Promote regional involvement
• Engage a more diverse range of stakeholders