Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS)

Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS), the NATO and allied doctrine governing voluntary cooperation between naval commanders and merchant shipping during crises, operations, and tensions short of war. Codified in NATO publications including ATP-2 and the STANAG that adopts it, NCAGS provides advice, routing, and threat information to civilian ships while keeping their movements voluntary, preserving the distinction from naval control of shipping in wartime. It is the framework navies use to liaise with merchant traffic in counter-piracy and other maritime security operations.