CSSM was founded as a bi-national organization, residing under the German-Netherlands Naval Ship Cooperation MoU. The initiative was taken by both WTD71 and the Netherlands Defense Materiel Organization (DMO), based upon a series of successful cooperative activities.

CSSM was official founded at July 30th 2008. By signing the Technical Arrangement, which provides the basis for the CSSM organization, it’s mission and organizational structure.

The CSSM Technical Agreement was signed by RADM Visser (DMO) and VPRÄS Stein (BWB) in Eckernfoerde on July 30th 2008.

In 2011 three nations have joined CSSM as an ‘observer’: Belgium, Canada and Norway.

In 2019 the Multinational Signature Projects MoU (MSPC MoU) has been signed among the CSSM partners, the observers and Australia and Great Britain. It is a legal framework for cooperative projects and information exchange.

In order to adjust CSSM objectives and get a homogenious organization, in 2022 Canada, Germany, The Netherlands and Norway signed a self-contained new agreement, the CSSM MoU.