The safety and security of the maritime domain underpins the resilience of global
economy and thus international stability. With over 80% of global trade by volume
and 70% by value transported by sea, and nearly 40% of this traffic transiting Indian
Ocean Region, the stakes are immense. Threats such as piracy, terrorism, drug
trafficking and cyber threats continue to challenge operational safety; while
maritime incidents of fre/ flooding, collisions, Groundings and inadequately surveyed
waters highlight enduring vulnerabilities in navigational safety as also environmental
concerns. These diverse challenges cannot be managed in isolation and demand
cooperative multinational response frameworks.
This paper examines how multinational collaboration anchored in shared
intelligence, joint operations, and harmonised regulatory lrameworks - can address
various maritime security and navigational safety challenges effectively in the Indian
Ocean Region (IOR). The paper draws lessons from study of multinational initiatives
viz. deployment of Combined Task Forces, establishment of International Fusion
Centres at India and Singapore, Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting
Piracy and Armed Robbery (ReCAAP), Joint exercises etc. and also dwells upon the
Prime Minister's MAHASAGAR vision and IN's contributions towards realising this
vision by way of IOS Sagar and other engagements in the IOR. The study highlights
how these efforts aid to integrate Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), improve
regional incident response times, deter non-traditional threats and harmonise trafiic
schemes thereby strengthening operational safety and navigational reliability thus
contributing to maritime safety.
The paper also outlines persistent challenges like capability gaps, capacity
constraints, legal divergences and technological disparities. It , proposes solutions
involving integration of AI and technology in MDA networks, regulatory
harmonisation and multi-agency coordination mechanisms towards a safe and
secure IOR.
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