About United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO):
- It is a British Royal Navy-sponsored organisation that was formed in 2001 with an office in Dubai to handle distress calls during maritime security threats.
- In 2014, it was moved to Portsmouth in the K.
- It is the primary point of contact for commercial vessels with military forces in the region.
- The UKMTO works in West Asia and the Indian Ocean Region through an information framework agreement and operates a “Voluntary Reporting Scheme (VRS) within the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA)” outlined in a maritime security chart.
- UKMTO issues several categories of communication to the maritime community. These are in the form of Warnings, Advisories, Reports, and Records of Maritime Information Exchange Meetings.
- The UKMTO hosts all warnings on its website as well as hosting notices from partner organisations.
