Ready to combat challenges in maritime domain: Naval Chief

As the nation observes the seventh anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks, the Navy today said it has taken a "large number of measures" along with other agencies that operate in the maritime domain to deal with such threats from the sea route.
"As Navy, as maritime force, as lead agency which looks after all aspects of coastal, maritime security, we gear up ourselves for any kind of challenge or threat," Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R K Dhowan said.
He was talking to reporters after reviewing the Passing-out Parade of 330 cadets of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard and six cadets from friendly foreign countries at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, near here.

Navy, which has emerged as multi-dimensional network force, has taken "a large number of measures" along with all the other agencies that operate in the maritime domain to deal with such threats, Dhowan said, referring to the 26/11 attacks.
Seven years ago, 10 Pakistani terrorists had arrived in Mumbai by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores.
The Navy chief also spelt out the steps taken by the Navy to strengthen the maritime-coastal security.

"Today we have 87 automatic identification system (AIS stations) all along our coast. We have 46 coastal radar stations.

"The Navy has set up National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network with the Information Management Analysis Centre at Gurgaon, 51 nodes of the Navy and Coast Guard are integrated--- all to provide a comprehensive maritime domain awareness ... This is part of leveraging of technology," he said on the steps taken by the Navy to prevent Mumbai model terror attack.
Besides, he said the Navy and Coast Guard have taken all steps to see that India's 40 million strong fishermen community in nine coastal states is part of "our eyes and ears."
Noting that the registration of around 2.5 lakh fishing

boats are in progress in nine coastal states and bio metric ID cards are being issued to fishermen, Dhowan said, "The aim is to have all these people, firstly all the agencies, then all our fishermen, anybody who operate in the sea as part of the security."
"It is with these measures, we hope to have the seas around us safe and secure," he said, responding to queries on steps taken to prevent Mumbai model terror attack.