The CRFIM is a maritime information fusion center for the East, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region hosted within the Malagasy National Maritime Information Fusion Center (CFIM) following the headquarters agreement signed between the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Malagasy Government on February 18, 2016.

The CRFIM is a Public Administrative Establishment (EPA) whose headquarters are located in Antananarivo, Madagascar. It was created following the initiative to establish a regional mechanism for the coordination and exchange of maritime information decided in the Djibouti Declaration in its outcome 5.

The CRFIM process consists of working in collaboration with the 11 countries of the AfOA-OI region represented by the Regional Liaison Officers sent by their countries.

At the national level, the CFIM, which is the hosting center of the CRFIM, works in collaboration with national government departments and centralizes its data with the Regional Liaison Officer of Madagascar. The CRFIM reports to the Indian Ocean Commission, which was designated to coordinate the Maritime Security project in accordance with the terms of the Djibouti Declaration.

The CRFIM gathers and merges data acquired from partner States and organizations to ensure the best possible understanding of the maritime situation and to facilitate the anticipation of measures in the face of potential emergencies and crises.

The CRFIM also provides capacity building support to elements of national departments in collaboration with agencies delegated by the IOC.