Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) & Maritime Liaison Units (MARLUs) edit
The Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) Bahrain and Maritime Liaison Units (MARLUs) Latin America, the Far East, and Europe-Africa, comprise a global network of liaisons who serve as links between the United States Navy and commercial maritime interests worldwide.
MARLO/U liaison officers travel regularly throughout their respective Fleet Commander regions to foster communication, stay apprised of changes in local port infrastructure and management, and to proactively address concerns and questions. MARLO remains, first and foremost, an active advocate for commercial mariners.
MARLO Bahrain edit
SERVICE TO U.S. NAVY FLEET COMMANDER: The MARLO facilitates the exchange of information between the United States Navy, 25-Nation Combined Maritime Forces, and the commercial maritime community in the Middle East, throughout the U.S. Central Command's (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility. MARLO is part of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and supports the commercial maritime community in the region and worldwide to provide current information on navigational safety, threats to shipping, assistance on search and rescue and medical evacuations, updates to marine regulations, and other items of interest. MARLO's area of interest includes about 2.5 million square miles of water and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of teh Indian Ocean. THis expanse, comprised of 20 countries, includes three critical choke points at the Straits of Hormuz, the Sue Canal, and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
OUTREACH: MARLO Bahrain distributes a weekly Piracy and Threat Summary (PATS) newsletter, bi-monthly MARLO NEWS, maritime advisories (for breaking news), and sponsors events which include an annual Maritime Conference-Seminar and regional forums throughout the year. At these events, commercial mariners and industry representatives from the Gulf, East Africa and Europe are invited to meet with and share their concerns with senior leadership of the Combined Maritime Forces and members of other regional maritime community.
MARLU Latin America (LATAM) edit
SERVICE TO U.S. NAVY FLEET COMMANDER: MARLU LATAM is part of the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and a link to the maritime community throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Key engagements include: (1) the Joint Interagency Task Force--South (JIATF-S) Counter-Illicit Trafficking (CIT) Operations; (2) Fuerzas Aliadas/Panamax - Enhancing operational readiness, interoperability and security cooperation between U.S. and partner nations focused on defense of the Panama Canal; (3) UNITAS Atlantic (LANT) and Pacific (PAC) - An annual exercise series where forces train together in a realistic scenario-driven training environment that addresses the spectrum pf maritmie operations; (4) Partnership of the Americas - Theater security cooperation and engagement; (5) Southern Partnership Station (SPS) - An annual deployment consisting of information sharing with navies, coast guards and civilian services throughout the region; and (6) Continuing Promise - Civil and military operations including humanitarian assistance, civic assistance, medical/dental/engineering support and disaster relief.
MARLU Europe-Africa (NAVAF-NAVEUR) edit
SERVICE TO U.S. NAVY FLEET COMMANDER: MARLU NAVEUR-NAVAF is part of the U.S. Naval Forces-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF). The MARLU's ares of interest covers roughly half of the Atlantic Ocean, from the North Pole to Antartica, as well as the Adriatic, Baltic, Barents, Black, Caspian, Mediterranean and North Seas.
OUTREACH: Through direct representation and a command sponsored Web site, MARLU provides information about the U.S. Navy and regional security partner initiatives, programs, and operations to increase awareness within the commercial shipping industry.
MARLU Pacific (PAC) edit
SERVICE TO U.S. NAVY FLEET COMMANDER: MARLU PAC is part of the U.S. Naval Forces-Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. However, the primary MARLU Pacific Office is in Yokohama, Japan. In 2011, a satellite office was established in the international shipping hub of Singapore. Since the establishment of MARLU Pacific, the unit’s liaison officers have worked closely with the shipping community to address piracy issues and to facilitate disaster and humanitarian relief efforts in response to the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami. MARLU' PAC’s responsibility to support the commercial maritime community spans 36 nations that encompasses 100 million square miles of ocean, more than half the Earth's surface, from the West Coast of the United States into the Indian Ocean.
Historical Background edit
MARLO Bahrain was established in 1987 during the Iran-Iraq "Tanker Wars." At the time, petroleum and cargo vessels of neutral nations were being indiscriminately attacked in the Arabian Gulf. The U.S. Navy initiated a convoy system with escorts in order to avert further loss of life and property, and created MARLO as a mechanism to communicate with and assist the commercial community.
Founded in 1987, MARLO Bahrain is the Flagship--the first of the MARLO/U enterprise--and celebrating it's 25th Silver Anniversary in 2012. In 2007, sister offices known as Maritime Liaison Units (MARLUs) were opened in the U.S., Europe-Africa and the Far East to serve other regions. Collectively, the Flagship MARLO and sister unit MARLUs provide global reach to the interconnected maritime community.
Operational Successes edit
On 25 September 2007, the Tanzanian-flagged passenger ferry Spice Islander I was off the coast of Somalia when she experienced engine problems due to contaminated fuel. After the alarm had been raised via Kenya, the guided-missile destroyer Stout, operating with Combined Task Force 150, was dispatched to her aid.[51]
References edit
^ "M/V Spice Islander, Marlo Success Story". 2007 MARLO Conference. Maritime Liaison Office. December 2007. Retrieved 2012-06-01.