Categories: BusinessPublished On: 04.08.2025485 words2.5 min read

Project CETO Keeping the Maritime sector safe

What is Project CETO?

Project CETO is a national engagement strategy between UK law enforcement, maritime organisations and the cruise industry. CETO is managed by Police Officers in the UK’s Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC).

The objective of Project CETO is to provide a hostile environment for criminals and terrorists seeking to compromise the safety of vessels, passengers and crew within UK waters, and to UK nationals on the high seas. Project CETO also facilitates the assessment and development of information relating to broader threats projected towards the UK and beyond.

The aims of Project CETO are:

  • Protecting National Security
  • Protecting passengers and crew
  • Prevention and detection of serious crime
  • Security of cruise ships
  • Security of the wider cruise ship community

Project CETO seeks to improve the flow of information through enhanced professional relationships between ship security managers and law enforcement officers, encouraging and developing the exchange of information to prevent and detect serious crime and terrorism.

Reporting of concerns from passengers, crew and port staff is welcomed through our anonymous reporting mechanism.

The Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) is the UK government’s centre of excellence for maritime security. Its mission is to increase awareness and understanding of maritime security threats and enable cross-government coordination to deliver a whole-system response to mitigate them.

The Joint Maritime Security Centre is the multi-agency organisation responsible for ensuring the UK maintains its understanding of the UK maritime domain and develops the cross-government coordination frameworks to respond to threats to security, law and order, and the marine environment.

The JMSC hosts representatives from a number of UK agencies who have a maritime safety or security remit. The agencies represented include:

  • Police
  • Border Force
  • National Crime Agency
  • HM Revenue and Customs
  • Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  • Department for Transport
  • Marine Management Organisation
  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
  • Royal Navy

Link to JMSC – https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-maritime-security-centre

Project CETO is underpinned by frontline staff from Police and Border Force visiting vessels to raise awareness of Project CETO and to encourage reporting of security concerns.

Information regarding these security concerns or suspicious and unusual behaviours can be communicated by e-mail and through direct face-to-face liaison with ship staff responsible for the security of vessels, passengers and crew whilst alongside in UK ports. Crew members and the public can also report concerns anonymously by contacting CETO via the online reporting form.

The timely assessment of reporting can then be undertaken by agencies within the JMSC, the resulting information is then disseminated and tasked for action as appropriate.

CETO is supported internationally by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and by the European maritime police organisation AQUAPOL. Within the UK, CETO is supported by Counter Terrorism Policing, National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), Department for Transport, Border Force and the Joint Maritime Security Centre.