The Western Indian Ocean Sustainable Ecosystem Alliance Cruise was conducted on the Algoa Voyage 197, 1 to 29 April, 2013. Long-term offshore ecosystem monitoring in the SWIO started with the establishment of a shallow (18m) UTR network by ACEP. The ASCLME project adopted the UTR network and together with NOAA, NIOZ, DEA and ACEP instituted an annual mooring cruise. A wide range of state-of-the-art in-situ instruments from various international programmes and initiatives were deployed during the ASCLME cruises. ASCLME's partnership with NOAA, NIOZ, DEA, BCRE, ACEP and IFREMER are helping to delpoy and maintain sophisticated long-term monitoring equipment through the region. These multi-national, multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary cruises further enhance regional capacity through joint training activities, access to data and information sharing.