Projects to track small fishing vessels along India’s coast makes progress

Subject: Government Schemes

Context-

A delayed project to install transponders on small fishing vessels, under 20 metres in length, as part of coastal security measures instituted post 26/11 Mumbai attacks is now making progress, with a project underway in Tamil Nadu.

About the transponders-

There are close to three lakh registered fishing vessels of which around 2.5 lakh are under 20 metres.
Trials were conducted in association with the Indian Space Research Organisation on one of their communication satellites last year along the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
The process of installing transponders on sub-20 metre boats commenced with a pilot project in Tamil Nadu for 5,000 vessels is underway.
For vessels under 20 metres, the process has been delayed for several reasons.
The decision was taken by the National Committee on Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, set up to look into issues related to coastal security.
The Vehicle Management System (VMS) has advanced features and enables two-way communication.

Measures taken to enhance the security of coastal areas-

An Automatic Identification System (AIS) was made compulsory for all vessels above 20 metres after the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Verification and monitoring of a large number of fishing vessels in India has been greatly eased by the creation of the online ReALCraft (Registration and Licensing of Fishing Craft).
This information is available to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
Issuance of biometric identity cards to the majority of fishermen
Composite card readers to the maritime security agencies to enable biometric verification of the identity of fishing vessel crews at sea.
Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) on the high seas
- The Quad grouping, comprising of India, Australia, Japan and U.S., at the Tokyo summit (2022) announced an ambitious Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative to track “dark shipping” and build a “faster, wider, and more accurate maritime picture of near-real-time activities in partners’ waters” integrating three critical regions in the Indo-Pacific – the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- “Dark ships” are vessels with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) – a transponder system – switched off so as not to be detectable.

Other initiatives to increase coastal security in India-

Specialised marine police
Strengthening of the ICG
Creating fishermen watch groups
Installing vessel traffic management systems in major ports
Setting up Joint operation centres (JOCs)
Creating an apex body for the management of maritime affairs
National Investigation Agency, was set up in 2009 to deal with terrorist offences.
National Security Guard have been created to ensure rapid response to terror attacks.
The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has been constituted to create an appropriate database of security-related information.
A three-tier security grid was installed with the Indian Navy, the coast guard, and the marine police jointly patrolling India’s near-seas.
National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network (NC3I) has been launched to provide near gapless surveillance of the entire coastline and prevent the intrusion of undetected vessels, the coastal surveillance network project. It comprises:
- Coastal radar chain
- Automatic identification system (AIS)
- Vessel traffic management and information system (VTMS)

Ex-Sea Vigil-

The third edition of the ‘pan-India’ coastal defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-22’ is scheduled to be held on November 15 and 16.
The Exercise was conceptualised in 2018 to validate various measures that have been instituted towards enhancing maritime security since ‘26/11’.
The exercise will be undertaken along the entire 7,516 km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of India and will involve all the Coastal States and Union territories along with other maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities.
The exercise is a build up towards the major Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which the Indian Navy conducts every two years.
Sea Vigil and TROPEX together will cover the entire spectrum maritime security challenges.