Launched by the EU-funded CRIMARIO in 2018, the Indo-Pacific Information Sharing platform (IORIS) is a neutral, secure, and user-friendly digital environment designed to enhance maritime coordination and communication. It enables maritime centres, organisations, and agencies to share information, assess evolving situations, and coordinate operations across a wide expanse of maritime space, from the Western Indian Ocean through Asia and Southeast Asia to Latin America and the Pacific Ocean.
IORIS currently has more than 4,000 users across over 50 countries.
Demonstrating impact across the Indo-Pacific and beyond
Since its inception, IORIS has proven instrumental in facilitating successful maritime operations. Agencies from East Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America have used the platform for a wide range of activities, including counter-narcotics, search and rescue, counter-piracy, pollution response, and operations against illegal fishing.
A recent example from November 2024 to March 2025 illustrates this impact clearly: IORIS supported real-time coordination among Latin American agencies, resulting in the seizure of over 3,500 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value exceeding €216 million.
Moreover, IORIS has successfully contributed to maritime operational coordination, as exemplified in the following known cases:
- More than 130 vessels accompanied in the Red Sea
- 9 instances of illicit trafficking interdicted
- 8 search and rescue (SAR) operations, saving more than 60 lives
- 4 piracy incidents addressed
- 2 cases of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing
- 2 pollution incidents managed
- 1 immigration-related case handled
Engaging industry and strengthening maritime networks
Looking ahead, fostering closer collaboration between industry and government stakeholders will be essential to expanding the platform’s reach and relevance.
One of the most visible demonstrations of IORIS’s practical value is the ALALAYAN exercise, organised by CRIMARIO in collaboration with the Philippine National Maritime Centre. Since 2023, this live annual exercise has brought together more than 20 national agencies, using IORIS to coordinate their efforts in real-time. It is a powerful example of how the platform connects stakeholders at both national and regional levels.
Shaping the future of maritime cooperation
A major step forward is the launch of IORIS Version 4 on the 21st May 2025, offering a more robust, intuitive, and interoperable platform. This latest version reflects feedback from users and positions IORIS to remain a central hub for maritime coordination across the Indo-Pacific.
With strong momentum, a growing community of users, and an expanding geographic reach, IORIS stands as a cornerstone of regional maritime cooperation. Trusted by over 200 agencies, it has proven its value as a credible and effective tool for real-time coordination, secure communication, and joint decision-making.
As maritime security challenges evolve, IORIS is well-positioned to support the next phase of integrated, multilateral cooperation across the seas, ensuring safety, resilience, and mutual trust throughout the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
