The Indian Navy will conduct the fourth edition of the all-India coastal defense exercise, ‘Sea Vigil-24’, on November 20-21, to test coastal security preparedness, and will see the participation of six ministries and 21 organizations. and agencies.

Since late October, naval officers in charge of all coastal states and Union Territories (including Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) have been conducting the Defense Readiness Assessment phase and Coastal Security Review (CDSRE) exercise, which involves an in-depth audit of coastal defense and security readiness. comprehensive coastal defense and security infrastructure.

This year, officials from the National Security Council Secretariat will also be part of the CDSRE teams led by the Indian Navy for the first time, along with personnel from the State Maritime Police, Coast Guard, Customs, fishing, etc.

The exercise will focus on enhancing the security of coastal assets such as ports, oil platforms, single point moorings, cable landing points and critical coastal infrastructure, including the coastal population. This year, the participation of other services (Indian Army and Indian Air Force) and the planned deployment of a large number of ships and aircraft have increased the pace of the exercise.

Initially conceptualized in 2018, Sea Vigil was designed to validate and improve measures to strengthen coastal defense following the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Covering the entire 11,098 km of coastline and the vast exclusive economic zone of 2.4 million km², this exercise will simultaneously mobilize all coastal security infrastructure and all maritime stakeholders, including the fishing community and the coastal population.

One of the objectives of the exercise is to create awareness among coastal communities about maritime security and ensure participation of fishing communities, coastal population and students of NCC and Bharat Scouts and Guides.

While coastal security exercises are conducted regularly by coastal states and maritime security agencies, the Sea Vigil exercise coordinated by the Indian Navy stands out as a national-level initiative that provides a comprehensive assessment of defense and security capabilities. maritime security of India.

Serving as a precursor to the Theater Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), conducted every two years by the Indian Navy, ‘Sea Vigil-24’ will serve as a critical measure to strengthen India’s commitment to safeguarding its maritime borders and to ensure coordinated efforts between all stakeholders. in coastal defense.

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