During a visit to Mauritius, November 11-12, 2008, Rear Admiral Philip H. Greene, Jr., commander of Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), met with representatives of the Mauritius Ports Authority to promote a commercial shipboard broadcast transponder for enhanced maritime security.

The Automatic Information System (AIS) operates in Very High Frequency (VHF) maritime band, allowing for the automatic exchange of shipboard information between one vessel and another and between a vessel and a shore station. The AIS is a part of the Maritime Safety and Security Information System, whose aim is to create a collaborative, global, maritime information sharing environment through a unity of effort across entities with maritime interests.

The system is a long-term loan by CJTF-HOA to the Mauritius Ports Authority to help them fight common maritime issues such as smuggling, fisheries violations, environmental degradation, drug trafficking, piracy, human trafficking, terrorism and oil theft.

CJTF-HOA will to install satellite dishes in three locations throughout Mauritius to provide for complete coverage of the island.