Sea Vigil 24 Culminates A Step Towards Coastal Resilience

The fourth edition of the Pan-India Coastal Defence Exercise, Sea Vigil 24, concluded successfully on 21st November 2024, showcasing India’s steadfast commitment to enhancing its maritime security and coastal defense. Conducted over a 36-hour tactical phase, the exercise covered India’s 11,098 km coastline and 2.4 million sq. km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It involved over 21 agencies across six ministries, strengthening the country’s readiness to counter evolving maritime threats.

Exercise Scope and Participation

• Spanned the entire Indian coastline and EEZ.

Participation from 21 agencies, including,

• Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard.
• Central agencies: Customs, BSF, CISF, Port Authorities, Fisheries Department, etc.
• State-level agencies like State Marine Police.
• Deployed over 550 surface assets and conducted 60 air sorties, totaling 200 flight hours.

Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE)

• Conducted for seven days prior to the tactical phase.
• Comprehensive audit of 950 critical coastal locations, including:
• Fishing Landing Centres, Lighthouses, Ports (Major/Non-Major), Coastal Police Stations, offshore assets, and Coastal Vulnerable Areas/Points (VA/VP).
• First-time participation by National Security Council Secretariat in Gujarat and West Bengal.

Focus and Objectives

Enhanced security of vital maritime assets

• Oil Rigs, Single Point Moorings (SPMs), Cable Landing Stations, and Nuclear installations.
• Indian Air Force deployed Air Defence Systems to secure offshore infrastructure.

Safety and security initiatives for merchant ships

• Simulated hijacking, re-routing of Indian merchant vessels, and Naval Cooperation and Guidance to Shipping (NCAGS).
• Active involvement of fishing communities in coastal security activities.

Community Outreach Program

Engaged youth and local communities, including,

• NCC cadets, Bharat Scouts and Guides, and students in coastal areas.
• Aimed to foster awareness of maritime security and build a security-conscious coastal ecosystem.

Inter-Agency Coordination

• Evaluated and enhanced inter-agency collaboration.
• Identified gaps in coastal security and strengthened coordination between agencies to counter emerging maritime threats.

Legacy and Vision

• Sea Vigil, initiated in 2018, serves as a cornerstone of India’s Coastal Defence Architecture.
• By simulating real-time scenarios, it provides critical insights into maritime defense capabilities and fosters a resilient coastal security framework.
• Lessons learned from each iteration help reinforce India’s coastal security infrastructure against emerging challenges.