Navy launches Nationwide Coastal Defence Exercise To Prevent 26/11 Type Attacks
The fifth edition of the exercise, which will continue until November 19: Reports
NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy on Wednesday launched a nine-day nationwide coastal defence exercise, Sea Vigil-26, to assess the country's preparedness against maritime security threats and prevent attacks similar to the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.
The fifth edition of the exercise, which will continue until November 19, will cover India's entire coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), involving all coastal states and Union Territories, along with fishing and coastal communities.
The exercise, coordinated by the Navy, will bring together personnel and assets from the Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Security Police, Customs and other maritime agencies.
It will be conducted in two phases. The Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE) phase will run from November 11 to 17, followed by the Sea Phase on November 18 and 19.
The exercise is being facilitated by the ministries of defence, home affairs, ports, shipping and waterways, petroleum and natural gas, and fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying, along with other Central and state agencies.
Sea Vigil was conceptualised in 2018 to evaluate the coastal security measures introduced following the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks, in which terrorists entered the city by sea.
The exercise also serves as a precursor to the Navy's biennial Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX). Together, the two exercises assess maritime security preparedness, from coastal defence to operations on the high seas.
The defence ministry said Sea Vigil-26 would provide a realistic assessment of the country's coastal defence capabilities, inter-agency coordination and overall maritime security preparedness.
