The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) recently inaugurated a dedicated jetty at Vizhinjam Harbour in Kerala. The inauguration ceremony was headed by the ICG Director General (DG) Paramesh Sivamani, who unveiled the jetty, which is aimed at enhancing India’s coastal defense capabilities. The DG also underscored the jetty’s strategic relevance to India’s maritime security infrastructure and its role in achieving the goals of coastal patrols and environmental protection, particularly in projects such as a plastic-free ocean, as highlighted during World Environment Day.
The 76.7-metre-long jetty at the Vizhinjam Harbour is a state-of-the-art addition to the ICG, which will augment the force’s capabilities to launch a naval vessel. Thus, it will serve as a vital pillar for maritime logistics, allowing expedited berthing, turnaround, and deployment of vessels engaged in critical missions such as coastal surveillance, anti-smuggling operations, search and rescue (SAR) activities, and environmental protection. Its proximity to critical international shipping lanes, along with its adjacency to the Vizhinjam International Transshipment Deepwater Port, positions the jetty as a key node in India’s maritime domain awareness (MDA) framework.
Vizhinjam Jetty is a major step forward in coastal security architecture
The commissioning of this facility represents a proactive approach to India’s maritime operational readiness along its southwestern coast. The jetty’s capacity to facilitate immediate vessel deployment significantly reduces turnaround time during mission-critical operations, particularly in scenarios involving real-time threats to maritime assets or coastal populations.
DG Paramesh Sivamani, addressing the assembled dignitaries, emphasized that the facility would serve as a force multiplier for the Indian Coast Guard.
“This dedicated berth strengthens our operational posture in a geopolitically sensitive maritime zone. It enhances our ability to conduct constabulary functions, provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and maintain robust maritime law enforcement.” – ICG DG Paramesh Sivamani
The DG further highlighted the jetty’s integral role in the wider context of India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, aligning with national efforts to create a stable, secure, and cooperative maritime environment in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
High-Level Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration also saw the presence of several senior defense and civil officials, reflecting the collaborative nature of India’s coastal security apparatus. Among the dignitaries were Inspector General Bhisham Sharma, Commander of ICG Region (West), representatives from Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd, Kerala Maritime Board, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd., the State Police, and senior officers from the Indian Army and the Fisheries Department.
Calls For Inter-Agency Collaboration
The inauguration ceremony also underscored inter-agency collaboration, with representatives from both the military and civil bodies in attendance, underscoring the integrated approach adopted by national and state stakeholders in advancing India’s coastal and maritime governance. The ICG’s cooperation with civil port authorities and private stakeholders such as Adani Ports reflects a broader trend of public-private partnership (PPP) models in national defense infrastructure.
Enhancing Maritime Security Amidst Rising Regional Threats
The launch of the new jetty comes at a critical juncture for regional maritime security. With rising incidences of maritime piracy, contraband smuggling, and illegal fishing activities in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean Region, the new infrastructure serves as a strategic enabler for persistent surveillance and prompt interdiction missions.
Additionally, Vizhinjam’s strategic location, being close to international sea lanes of communication (SLOCs), makes it an ideal staging ground for multi-mission patrol vessels (MMPVs) and offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), enabling sustained maritime presence in high-threat zones.
The ICG has steadily increased its fleet strength, operational assets, and coastal stations over recent years, in line with its Coastal Security Scheme Phases I and II. The Vizhinjam jetty complements these efforts by adding critical shore-side support to a rapidly modernizing maritime force.
Vizhinjam Jetty Is A Milestone in India’s Blue Water Strategy
The launch of the new jetty is also in line with India’s transition toward a Blue Water Navy and a robust Coast Guard Force capable of operating across the expanse of the IOR. While the Indian Navy undertakes power projection and naval diplomacy, the Indian Coast Guard’s mission set continues to expand in domains such as maritime border management, anti-poaching operations, and marine environment protection.
The commissioning of the dedicated jetty at Vizhinjam thus signifies more than mere infrastructure enhancement. It marks a firm commitment to territorial integrity, economic security, and the sovereign assertion of maritime rights.
As India accelerates investments in coastal infrastructure and integrates next-generation surveillance technologies such as Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), facilities like the Vizhinjam ICG jetty will play a pivotal role in shaping a secure and resilient maritime future.
