Page 4 - Maritime Security

Govt expects piracy attacks to rise in Red Sea, stretching navy resources

The attacks in the Arabian and Red Sea were the focus of discussions between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Indian counterpart Jaishankar at the recent Munich Security Conference

Indian Navy warship provides assistance to merchant vessel in Gulf of Aden

An Indian warship provided critical assistance to a merchant vessel after it caught fire following a suspected drone or missile attack in the Gulf of Aden, the latest in a series of such support missions in the region. Palau-flagged vessel MV Islander came under attack on Thursday and a crew member of the ship sustained injuries, Indian military officials said on Saturday. An explosive ordnance disposal team of the Navy embarked the vessel and sanitised it for any residual risk following which the vessel was cleared for onward transit, they said. The fresh incident comes amid growing global concerns over attacks on various commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi militants. A medical team of the Indian Navy also embarked MV Islander and provided medical assistance to the injured crew member, they said. In a swift response to a distress call from the vessel, the Indian warship arrived in the vicinity of the cargo ship within a few hours to provide critical support, an official .

India, France working closely in Indian Ocean, says French Navy Chief

The two sides affirmed the significant progress in bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations

India Inc shows signs of the Red Sea conflict in Q3FY24 performance

Capital goods and engineering companies - Bharat Electronics, TD Power Systems and KEC International, all have noted some operational strain owing to Red Sea woes

PMO likely to review Red Sea conflict impact on trade and logistics

Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen have been repeatedly attacking ships in the Red Sea, and this has forced commercial vessels to take a longer route to avoid the troubled region

Indian Coast Guard Day 2024: Theme, History, Importance & Other Details

On February 1, Indian Coast Guard Day is observed. The day aims to honour the commitment of the Coast Guard and is devoted to the officials and personnel who care for India's maritime security

Global trade being disrupted by Red Sea attacks, war in Ukraine, says UN

The UN trade body sounded an alarm on Thursday that global trade is being disrupted by attacks in the Red Sea, the war in Ukraine, and low water levels in the Panama Canal. Jan Hoffmann, a trade expert at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development known as UNCTAD, warned that shipping costs have already surged and energy and food costs are being affected, raising inflation risks. Since attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea began in November, he said, major players in the shipping industry have temporarily halted using Egypt's Suez Canal, a critical waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and a vital route for energy and cargo between Asia and Europe. The Suez Canal handled 12 per cent to 15 per cent of global trade in 2023, but UNCTAD estimates that the trade volume going through the waterway dropped by 42 per cent over the last two months, Hoffmann said. Since November, the Iranian-backed Houthis have launched at least 34 attacks on

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders bags Rs 1,070 crore worth contract from MoD

The patrol vessels will be equipped with multipurpose drones, artificial intelligence capability, and wirelessly controlled remote water rescue craft to boost Indian Coast Guard's capability

India, France, UAE conduct joint mega air exercise over Arabian Sea

India, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carried out a mega air exercise over the Arabian Sea against the backdrop of the rising global concerns over Houthi militants targeting several commercial vessels in the strategic waterways in the region. The exercise 'Desert Knight', conducted on Tuesday, featured several frontline aerial assets and combat jets of the air forces of the three countries, officials said. The Indian Air Force (IAF) component at the drills consisted of Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar fighter jets besides AWACS (airborne early warning and control aircraft, C-130-J transport plane and air-to-air refuelling aircraft. "The main focus of exercise 'Desert Knight' was on enhancing synergy and interoperability between the three air forces," the Indian Air Force said. The exercise took place in the Indian FIR (Flight Information Regions) and with IAF aircraft operated from several bases in India. All airspace worldwide is divided into FIRs and each of them is manag

Japan's ship Yashima arrives in Chennai for joint exercise with ICG

The Japan Coast Guard ship Yashima has arrived in Chennai to conduct a joint exercise with the Indian Coast Guard.Upon its arrival, the JCG Ship was given a traditional welcome with a ceremonial band, NCC cadets and students from local schools.The Indian Coast Guard on Thursday shared a post on X, stating, "Japan Coast Guard Ship Yashima arrived #Chennai for joint exercise with @IndiaCoastGuard. JCG Ship was given traditional welcome by delegation from Regional HQ (East) with ceremonial band, NCC cadets & students from local schools."Earlier on Wednesday, the Commanding Officer of JCG Ship Yashima, Captain Yuichi Motoyama, called on IG Donny Michael, Tamil Nadu, Commander Coast Guard Region (East) at Chennai.They further discussed avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation by sharing expertise as well as, best practices were discussed."Captain Yuichi Motoyama, Commanding Officer, Japan Coast Guard Ship Yashima called on IG Donny Michael, TM, Commander Coast Guard Region (East) .

INS Kabra docks in Colombo, move aimed at boosting maritime cooperation

Indian warship, INS Kabra, an indigenous fast attack craft, docked at the Colombo port on Monday, in a move aimed at fostering bilateral ties between the two countries.The warship was accorded a warm welcome by the Sri Lankan Navy as it arrived in the island nation, the Indian Navy said in an official press release.During the port call, the Commanding Officer, INS Kabra called on the Commander, Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral TSK Perera.The Navy informed through a statement, "In a presentation ceremony, essential spares and stores meant for the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force were handed over by the ship. The visit further strengthens the bilateral cooperation and camaraderie between the two Navies in keeping with the Prime Minister's vision of SAGAR."Taking to its official X handle, the Indian Navy posted, "#INSKabra, the indigenous Fast Attack Craft, arrived #Colombo, #08Jan 24 The ship was accorded warm welcome by @srilanka_navy Handed over essential spares for #SriLankaNavy & .

Ship robberies rise 19% in Southeast Asia, no piracy in Asian seas: Report

No report of piracy incidents occurred on the Asian high seas but 99 actual incidents and one attempted armed robbery against ships occurred in Southeast Asian waters in 2023, a Singapore based maritime organisation reported said on Tuesday. Though the 100 incidents in 2023 increased by 19 per cent over 2022, these were small-time robberies, with theft of items such as nominal value wires, brass ship products, engine spares and scraps, Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery (ReCAAP) executive director Krishnaswamy Natarajan said at the annual press conference. Such incidents were five in India in 2023, the same as those in 2022, while Bangladesh and Malaysia reported one incident each, compared to five and two incidents in 2022, respectively. Reviewing the year, Natarajan pointed out that the increase in incidents occurred in Indonesia, the Philippines, the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), Thailand and Vietnam. Of concern was the occurrence of

Navy intensifies maritime security ops in Arabian Sea following attacks

Notably, these measures are being taken in the wake of the attack by a suspected drone on merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto on December 23

India takes over as co-chair of IONS Working Groups on Maritime Security

India has taken over as co-chair of the IONS Working Groups on Maritime Security and HADR for the forthcoming cycle, officials said on Friday. The eighth Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs was conducted by the Royal Thai Navy in Bangkok from December 19-22, the defence ministry said in a statement. The chiefs of navies and senior delegates from 27 member and observer countries took part in the event, it said. Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar attended the event with a three-member naval delegation. During the conclave, Thailand assumed the duties of "chair of IONS and the work plan for the next two years was finalised", the statement added. "As a first, a flag designed by India was selected as the IONS flag. India also took over as the co-chair of IONS Working Groups on Maritime Security and HADR for the forthcoming cycle. Republic of Korea Navy was welcomed by the conclave as the latest 'observer', raising the collective strength of IONS to 34 (25 members

Resurgence of pirates in international waters puts Centre on alert

Geopolitical instability, rising sea robberies pose risks to maritime economy

Defence ministry seals deal to procure six patrol vessels for Coast Guard

The defence ministry on Wednesday signed a Rs 1,614 crore contract with Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders Ltd for procurement of six next generation offshore patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard. The acquisition of the platforms is aimed at boosting the Coast Guard's capability towards maritime security, the defence ministry said. "The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders Ltd on December 20 for the procurement of six next generation offshore patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)," the ministry said. It said the contract was made under the buy (Indian-IDDM) category at a total cost of Rs 1614.89 crore. Out of the six vessels being procured, four would replace the existing aging offshore patrol vessels and the other two would augment the Coast Guard's fleet. "The acquisition of these major ICG platforms is aimed to boost the ICG's capability and reinforces the increased focus of the Government towards maritime security," the ministry s

'Might is Right' has no place in maritime order: Rajnath takes dig at China

The approach of 'might is right' has no place in maritime order and fair rules of engagement are crucial for collaboration and ensuring that no country dominates others in a hegemonic manner, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday against the backdrop of China's muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific region. In an address at the Goa Maritime conclave, he said "narrow immediate" interests may tempt nations to flout or disregard the well-established international law, but doing so would lead to the breakdown of civilised maritime relations. Singh emphasised that common maritime priorities need to be addressed cooperatively by avoiding "selfish interests" that make the region less secure and less prosperous, adding that "adherence to international laws and agreements must be our lodestar." The defence minister, delving into challenges in the Indian Ocean region as well as in the Indo-Pacific, underlined the importance of respecting the international maritime laws as enunciated in th

India needs to overcome challenges to become a maritime power: Prez Murmu

India needs to overcome several challenges, including addressing infrastructural and operational challenges of the country's ports, before it can fully exploit the maritime potential, President Droupadi Murmu said on Friday. Though the conservative apprehensions about crossing the sea cost us dearly, India had to come out of the yoke of 200 years of colonial rule. It became more focused on continental development, forgetting that continental development and maritime development are mutually complementary, she said. "We, of course, also lacked the economic and industrial resources to fully establish a strong maritime presence," the President said while speaking at the 8th convocation of the Indian Maritime University (IMU), Chennai. Before the country could fully exploit the potential of this sector, India should overcome several challenges. "For example, a lot of container ship cargo is diverted to nearby foreign ports due to depth restrictions. In the merchant and civilian ship ...

Capabilities, legal systems needed for arbitration on maritime sector

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday called for developing capabilities and legal systems, so that the country can have an international arbitration centre for the maritime sector. Addressing the final day of the three-day global maritime summit here, the minister said, while there are many Indians working in international arbitration centres in London or Singapore or Dubai, they are all just helping the senior lawyers there and not leading a case. This needs to change and can change, she said. But there is a need to improve and strengthen our arbitration processes and laws so that they meet global standards, the minister said, adding that "when we have developed a system for this we can also have an arbitration centre". On the need to improve financing to the maritime sector, she admitted that despite having a strong balance sheet, banks are not very enthused about funding this sector, largely due to higher risks this sector is associated with. Sitharaman said she is i

Global maritime summit attracts investments worth Rs 2.37 trn on day-2

The Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS) has attracted investment proposals worth of Rs 2.37 lakh crore on second day of the three-day event with the signing of as many as 70 initial pacts, according to a release. These Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed in the areas of port development and modernisation, green hydrogen and ammonia, port-led development, business and commerce, shipbuilding, knowledge sharing and port connectivity in the presence of the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, and others. "The Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 has ushered a new age in sustainable development of the country with a record number of 70 MoUs with an investment of Rs 2.37 lakh crore. "The maritime sector is playing an instrumental role, as it has paved the way for India to set sail towards Green Sustainability Transportation," Sonowal said. Sonowal also held Ministerial level bilateral meetings with Ministers from Italy, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.