New strategy to highlight need for laws to tackle Russian shadow fleet 

British navy ship Iron Duke shadowing a Russian warship and a freighter through British seas last month. Picture: MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire

New EU legal measures to tackle the Russian shadow fleet and “stress testing” the security of critical sub-sea infrastructure are likely to form part of the forthcoming Maritime Security Strategy, it has emerged.

The Oireachtas Committee on Defence and National Security was told new cross-Government coordination mechanisms — allowing for the secure sharing of information, real-time analysis and better decision making — were also likely to form part of the strategy.

The Maritime Security Strategy is due to be submitted — in draft form – by officials in the Department of Defence to Tánaiste Simon Harris by the end of the year. Mr Harris holds two department briefs — Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Margaret Stanley, principal officer in the Department of Defence and head of the new Maritime Security Unit, appeared before the committee, along with colleagues Alan Neary and Eoghan Campion.

Ms Stanley said the strategy was focused on the “most urgent risks and threats” Ireland’s maritime faces from a national security and defence perspective.

During questions and answers, Ms Stanley indicated what was likely to form part of the forthcoming strategy:

• New legal measures, including at EU level, in how to tackle the Russian shadow fleet (set up by Russia to bypass EU oil sanctions and also suspected to be used to sever subsea cables and pipelines and, more recently, to operate drones from);
• These new measures to improve not just monitoring, but also a sanctions regime and international efforts to engage with countries providing flags to shadow vessels;
• Expanded, and more sophisticated, exercises on the security of critical sub-sea infrastructure — including the involvement of the private sector (which owns and operates the internet cables and some electricity interconnectors);
• New guidelines for the private sector in terms of improving security and “stress tests” of critical subsea cables to identify vulnerabilities and measures to mitigate them;
• New trusted networks, to allow for the sharing of information between Government and the private companies;
• New joint coordination mechanisms — across Government and relevant agencies — to allow for the sharing of information, real-time analysis and better decision making; 
• Identify the roles and responsibilities of each department and agency; 
• Need to increase sensors on sea bed and on the sea surface and in space — by utilising EU satellite technology; 
• Increased role for National Cyber Security Centre in maritime security in order to coordinate the physical and cyber security of critical infrastructure.

Ms Stanley pointed out Ireland has already started increasing its coordination with the UK and EU countries, including France, Netherlands, Finland and Norway.

She said this was improving awareness for the Naval Service and allowing for the sharing of information and coordination of activities.

The joint statement between the British and Irish governments last March highlighted measures to improve maritime security, she said, in particular critical infrastructure. She said this was of crucial importance for Ireland, given how the two gas pipelines from Scotland provide 75% of Ireland’s natural gas supplies.

Mr Neary said Ireland joined the EU Common Information Sharing Environment last April, which allows the Defence Forces to share information with EU partners, comprising 11 member states currently, not only on critical infrastructure but also drug-trafficking.

Members of the committee made reference to suspected Russian drone incursions into airspace of members states, most recently over critical infrastructure in Denmark, escalating tensions with Russia.