CRIMSON: Critical Maritime Routes

In collaboration with the European Union, RUSI Europe’s CRIMSON project aimed to promote regional and trans-regional cooperation to overcome the fragmented approach that arises from different levels of capacity and interest among littoral states; contributing to creating trans-regional synergies and increase maritime security and safety of critical maritime routes. The project focused on two main regions (the Wider Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea).

In addition to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, CRIMSON works to enhance the visibility of Critical Maritime Routes (CMR) components, highlighting their impact on the ground. To achieve this goal, CRIMSON has developed a range of products, including a new CMR website, a CMR video, short animated films and a CMR dashboard.

The project also had an ‘expert analysis’ role and provides analytical inputs to the CMR programme. As such, CRIMSON produced briefs and analysis on emerging trends, threats and policy shifts in key areas along the critical maritime routes.

Project phases

• CRIMSON I (2011-2014) was implemented by the Défense Conseil International (DCI).
• (CRIMSON II, 2015-2019) was managed by RUSI Europe.
• RUSI Europe is also currently implementing the third phase of CRIMSON that will last until January 2024.