Indian Navy Deepens Watch, Ties Up With 21 Nation For Maritime Awareness

01 Dec 2020

Expanding the global outreach, the Indian Navy is to tie up with 21 countries and 22 multi-national agencies for quick sharing of information related to maritime activities in the Indian Ocean region. The Indian Navy at present is capable of monitoring close to 12,000 ships and 300 fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean Region. Apart from that, there are close to 3 lakh Indian fishing vessels operating in the seas and their activities too are observed by the force.

The Indian Ocean Region contibutinga higher share of 75 per cent of the world`s maritime trade and 50 percent of global consumption passes through it prompting security measures involving multiple countries. Now, with the help of Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy is able to get real time information. The force is associated with 21 countries including Australia, France, Italy, Japan, the Maldives, the US, New Zealand, Mauritius, Myanmar and Bangladesh, among others, along with 22 multi-national agencies for quick sharing of information in the Indian Ocean Region.

The International Fusion Centre is located at Gurugram, founded in December 2018 to facilitate maritime information to the member countries. France, Japan, and the US already have sent their liaison officers and few other countries are expected to deploy their liaison officers, once Covid-19 protocols are lifted. The agreement is to signed with 36 countries, of which 22 already done and 17 operationalised. This is a part of Security and Growth for All in the Region (Sagar) initiative which anchors India`s position as a dependable partner in Indian Ocean Region with Indian Navy as the principal maritime agency and first responder in the maritime domain.

Courtesy: Opera News/ newstracklive.com