The Indian Navy is all set to commence the 4th Coastal Defense Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-24 from 20th November onwards. The exercise will last two days and is supposed to be the most expensive edition to date. Sea Vigil-24 is set to cover an extensive geographical area and will see a huge number of participants, with over 6 ministries and 21 agencies set to collaborate in coordinating a fortified approach to India’s coastal defense.
Expanded Participation and Preparatory Activities
The Coastal Defense And Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE) phase of the future exercise has already been underway since October. This saw the participation of the Indian Navy’s Naval Officer-in-Charges across all coastal states and union territories, and the concurrent audits of the various coastal defense infrastructures. The future installment of the Sea Vigil will also introduce officials from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) into the CDSRE teams as they will work alongside the State Marine Police, the Coast Guards, Customs, Fisheries, and several key defense agencies to ensure a well-rounded approach to national maritime security.
Focus on Coastal Security Assets
The Sea Vigil will prioritize security exercises to emphasize joint operational readiness along critical coastal assets, like ports, oil rings, Single Point Moorings, and cable landing points. Other infrastructures are also included, such as critical facilities along the coastline and surrounding regions. This is done to prepare the various agencies to create a cohesive approach to national defense, in line with the Adaptive Defence strategy that was introduced by the Raksha Mantri during the DDD 24.
The coastal defense exercise will see substantial deployment from the Indian Army and the Air Force, accompanied by a large fleet of ships and aircraft, to showcase the preparedness and willingness of the nation to combat maritime threats around its coastal regions.
Evolution of Sea Vigil Over The Years
The first coastal defense exercise was launched back in 2018, in response to the devastating 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Over the years, the exercise has helped the nation in evaluating and strengthening the coastline. India has an extensive coastline that reaches up to 11,098 km. Furthermore, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) alone spans 2.4 million square kilometers, necessitating a comprehensive coastal defense. Thus, the Sea Vigil ensures the nation’s readiness to combat any threats emerging from this complex landscape.
The comprehensive defense exercise also involves India’s total maritime security infrastructure and actively encourages the participation of local communities, including the fishing populace along the coastline. This is done to raise awareness regarding maritime and coastal security.
Strategic Importance and Objectives of Sea Vigil-24
The Sea Vigil is a cornerstone of India’s coastal defense strategy and provides a national platform for the subsequent evaluation and evolution of joint operations between the various maritime agencies of the country. This also helps the armed forces take note of the gaps, if any, in the defense strategy, and identifies accurately the various strengths of the machinery involved in the process.
This serves to create and implement better policies and corrective actions that can serve the nation’s defense framework. The Sea Vigil-24 is not a mere exercise but a pivotal assessment of the involved personnel that informs and precedes the Threat Level Readiness Operational Exercise, held biennially by the Indian Navy. The coastal defense exercise is integral to inter-agency cooperation and thus reinforces India’s commitment to a secure and stable maritime domain.
4th edition of Pan-India Coastal Defence Exercise #SeaVigil scheduled on 20 & 21 Nov 24. Involving 06 Ministries & 21 Organisations/ agencies, & across all coastal states & union territories, #SeaVigil2024 will span an unprecedented scale.
The Exercise focuses on strengthening… pic.twitter.com/3ApQpig6N6— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) November 13, 2024
Engagement with Communities
The Sea Vigil also actively encourages engagement with local coastal communities to foster security awareness. The current edition of the coastal defense exercise will see the participation of several fishing communities, coastal residents, and the youth from the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
