The Indian Navy is set to inaugurate the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The IFC-IOR will be an essential maritime hub for countries that have White Shipping Information Exchange agreements with India, with the main goal of fortifying maritime security in the region. This article explores the establishment, functions, and impacts of the IFC, the challenges faced by the IOR, and the role of information sharing platforms and networks in enhancing maritime security.
Understanding the Information Fusion Centre (IFC)
The Indian Navy’s Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC), located in Gurugram, Haryana, serve as the site of the established IFC. The function of the IFC is to create a single point center connecting all coastal radar chains, allowing a seamless real-time picture of the nearly 7,500-km coastline. Countries that have white shipping information exchange agreements with India can now place liaison officers at the IFC. Notably, the IFC-IOR operates as a separate platform, and all members of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) are anticipated to be part of it.
The Importance of Information Sharing
Maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean stands to improve significantly due to exchanged information on commercial shipping with regional countries. Combined efforts and shared knowledge about prevalent threats in the region will lead to strengthened collaboration and understanding. Moreover, the Trans-Regional Maritime Network (T-RMN), a multilateral agreement involving 30 countries (including India), further promotes information exchange about commercial traffic movement on high seas. These multilateral agreements enable the Indian Navy to oversee the entire Indian Ocean, a task which due to the sheer volume of traffic, cannot be accomplished single-handedly by any one nation.
T-RMN and Its Role in Identifying Ships
The Automatic Identification System (AIS), fitted on merchant ships as mandated by the International Maritime Organisation, is primarily used in collecting information under T-RMN. The AIS data include name, number, position, course, speed, last port visited, and destination of passenger and commercial ships in international waters.
A Glance at Some Key Facts
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| IFC Location | Indian Navy’s IMAC, Gurugram, Haryana |
| IFC’s Role | A maritime information hub for countries having White Shipping Information Exchange agreements with India |
| T-RMN’s Role | To facilitate information exchange on commercial traffic movement on the high seas |
| AIS Functionality | Used for identifying passenger and commercial ships in international waters |
Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) and the NC3IN
The nodal point for the National Command Control Communications and Intelligence Network (NC3IN) is the IMAC. The center plays a vital role in coastal surveillance and monitoring, linking together 51 stations including 20 naval and 31 Coast Guard monitoring stations. Providing a real-time picture of the nearly 7,500-km long coastline, the NC3IN has been established by the Indian Navy. The Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) is a collaborate initiative undertaken by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Bharat Electronics Ltd, functioning under the National Security Adviser (NSA).
