The second rendition of the biennial pan-India coastal defense exercise, known as ‘Sea Vigil-21’, recently commenced. This effort is recognized as India’s largest coastal defense drill. The inaugural edition of this exercise was conducted in January 2019.
Launch and Objective of Sea Vigil-21
‘Sea Vigil-21’, launched after its successful inaugural edition in 2019, aims to assess the efficiency of measures initiated to patch the gaps in coastal security since the Mumbai terror attack of 2008. Several initiatives have been rolled out ever since, among them the National Committee for Coastal and Maritime Security (NCSMCS), creation of Joint Operations Centres (JOC) at various locations, instigation of Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB), setting up of the Harbour Defence Surveillance System, and the establishment of the National Command Control Communication and Intelligence (NC3I) Network.
Area of Operation
The 2021 exercise is being conducted along the entire 7516 km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of India, defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as generally extending 200 nautical miles from shore. The coastal state reserves the right to explore and exploit resources, both living and non-living, within this zone, and also bears the responsibility of their conservation and management.
Involvement of States and Agencies
The exercise involves all 13 coastal States and Union Territories along with other maritime stakeholders including fishing and coastal communities. The states and territories participating include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Daman & Diu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep Islands. Assets of maritime agencies like the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Customs, as well as the Indian Air Force, National Security Guard, the Border Security Force, oil handling agencies, and airports are all a part of the exercise.
Coordinating Force
The Indian Navy is the force that coordinates the entire operation of ‘Sea Vigil-21’.
Significance of the Exercise
‘Sea Vigil-21’ serves as a stepping stone toward the major Theatre-level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which is conducted biennially by the Indian Navy. Both Sea Vigil and TROPEX cover the entire spectrum of maritime security challenges, including the transition from peace to conflict. Although smaller scale exercises take place regularly in coastal states, sometimes even combined exercises among adjoining states, the conduct of a national-level security exercise, such as ‘Sea Vigil-21’, aims to serve a larger purpose. It provides an opportunity at the apex level, to evaluate India’s readiness in the domain of maritime security and coastal defense.
Source: PIB
Last Modified: February 10, 2024