Context: This article is based on an Editorial “Modi and Netanyahu discuss Israel-Hamas conflict and maritime security” which was published in the Live Mint. Recently, India and Israel discussed the escalating threats to maritime safety & security in the Red Sea region following the actions of Houthi militants of Yemen.

Recently taken Actions for the Maritime Safety & Security

• Freedom of Navigation: India and Israel discussed the freedom of navigation for ships going through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which faced a threat from Houthi militants of Yemen.
  • The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean and is an important link for India’s trade with the Middle East, Africa and Europe. 
• Operation Prosperity Guardian: It is a multinational security initiative launched by the US to counter the growing number of attacks against Israel-bound international traffic. 
  • Coalition includes the U.K., Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Seychelles, apart from the U.S.

Continue Reading: PM Modi And Israeli PM Netanyahu Discuss Maritime Safety

India’s Maritime Safety & Security: Significance

• Long Coastline: Maritime security is important as it has a coastline of over 7,000 km. 
• Critical Infrastructure: Critical infrastructure in the maritime domain facilitates the continuous delivery of basic services such as energy and communication, particularly the Internet.
• Maritime Trade: Securing Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) is important for maritime trade.
• Geopolitical and Geostrategic Consideration: As China is strengthening its presence in the Indian Ocean region with its String of Pearl theory such as the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): India enjoys an EEZ of around 2.37 million sq. km.
• Blue Crime: This includes piracy in regions such as the Gulf of Guinea and Strait of Malacca, smuggling of illicit goods and people, such as narcotic trade in the Mediterranean region.
• Unconventional Issues: Other concerns include robbery, illegal trafficking of goods and people, illegal fishing and pollution and environmental issues like fishing and marine pollution.
• Environmental Issues: Unrestricted fishing methods, shipping pollution, and waste disposal at sea have deteriorated marine ecosystems and reduced fisheries. 

India’s Maritime Safety & Security: Mechanism

• Patrolling of IMBL: The Indian Navy patrols the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is mandated to patrol and surveillance up to 200 nautical miles. 
• Patrolling in Shallow Coastal Areas: The State Coastal/Marine Police (SC/MP) performs boat patrolling in shallow coastal areas.
• Patrolling of Creek Areas:  The Border Security Force (BSF) is deployed in the creek areas of Gujarat and Sundarbans in West Bengal.

India’s Maritime Safety & Security: Challenges 

• Overlapping Jurisdictions: The patrolling and surveillance duties are overlapping of duties of law and order (State List) with maritime border guarding (Union List).
• Less Coordination between Navy and ICG: As the Navy is under the Department of Military Affairs and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was placed under the Ministry of Defence.
• Security of Maritime Borders is not ICG’s Primary Duty: As ICG was set up primarily for policing and general superintendence of maritime areas.
• Threats to the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs): It is due to piracy, drug trafficking, human smuggling, pollution, accidents, mines, closure of choke points, inter-state conflicts. etc..
• Infrastructure Constraints: There are various infrastructure constraints too.

India’s Maritime Safety & Security: Initiatives

• SAGAR Vision (Security and Growth for all in the Region) for safeguarding maritime interests.
• Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative to ensure security and stability of the regional maritime domain.
• The Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region is a regional maritime security center. 
• Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness initiative to enhance maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) program for information exchange with other maritime forces.
• Colombo Security Conclave that includes India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and the Maldives for ensuring the security and stability of the Indian Ocean region.

Way Forward to the Maritime Safety & Security

• Need for Separate Maritime Guarding Force under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Need for UN Structure for Maritime Security to regulate issues related to maritime security.
• Issue Specific Grouping can help in better reforming the current coordination issues.
• Innovative Techniques for Maritime Security such as satellite and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Conclusion:

Addressing the challenges and enhancing initiatives in maritime safety & security is crucial for India, as seen in discussions with Israel, and requires a multi-faceted approach involving regional cooperation, organizational restructuring, and technological innovation.                                                                                                

Must Read: India-Israel Bilateral Relations