The Indian Navy will conduct the largest coastal defence exercise. The two-day long exercise will start on Tuesday. The exercise named Sea Vigil will be held along the 7516.6 km long Indian coastline and the EEZ of India. It will involve 13 coastal states and Union Territories, stated a release issued by the Ministry of Defence on Monday.
“Indian Navy will coordinate the largest Coastal Defence Exercise off the Indian coast on 22-23 Jan 19, *Exercise Sea Vigil*. First of its kind, the exercise will be undertaken along the entire 7516.6 kms of coastline and EEZ of India and will involve all 13 coastal states and UT along with maritime stakeholders including fishing and coastal communities,” stated the release. It also referred to the fact that it has been 10 years since the terror attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, and the Navy has taken several measures to secure the country’s coastal areas.
According to the release the exercise will be “unprecedented” and it is intended as a preparatory measure for the tri-service exercise called TROPEX. The two exercises will cover all the aspects of maritime security including the transition from peace to conflict.
“The scale of the exercise is unprecedented and its a build up towards the major theatre level tri-service exercise TROPEX conducted by the Navy. Sea Vigil and TROPEX together will cover the entire spectrum of maritime security including the transition from peace to conflict,” stated the release.
The Exercise Sea Vigil is being facilitated by the Ministry of Defence, Home Affairs, Shipping, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Fisheries, Customs, state governments and other agencies of Centre and states.
“Exercise SEA VIGIL aims to comprehensively and holistically validate the efficacy of measures taken since 26/11. Seaward monitoring during exercise will entail patrolling off coast in Offshore Development Areas and off our islands by the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard supported by State Marine Police. Seaward and shore-based monitoring will be carried out by respective agencies concerned,” stated the release.