Maritime Security Module - III
Security and Geo-Strategy
9
Note
MARITIME SECURITY
Water is the major source of life. Even though water occupies a major portion of
earth's surface, it is the geographical location and resources in it that makes them
important. We can categorise this water as oceans and seas. Ocean is a large water
body of saline water where as seas are large body of water which may or may not be
connected. Most of the seas are fully or partially enclosed by land.
Till date we have explored only five percentage of total area covered by oceans. And
today, the economic growth of countries depend on oceans because it is through these
large water bodies that trade is conducted and import and export of products, oil,
etc., are shipped.
Hence securing such activity is called maritime security. In view of its importance
nation states give lot of importance to securing the sea lanes of communication to
protect their economy, borders, protect trade routes and also to show their strength.
Objectives
After studying this lesson you will be able to:
• explain the different aspects of maritime security of our country;
• explain and assess the importance of maritime security to India and
• identify the various agencies associated with maritime security of India.
9.1 Maritime Security
Maritime security involves protecting the nation's sovereignty from threats arising from
the oceans and seas. It includes protecting coastal areas, safeguarding the available
ocean resources such as fish, offshore oil and gas wells, port facilities, etc. It also
means maintaining freedom at sea for movement of our ships and facilitating and
protecting trade. Following are the elements of maritime security:
• International and national peace and security
• Protection of sea lanes of communication
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• Sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence
• Protection from crime at sea
• Access and security to the resources at sea
• Security of seafarers and fishermen
• Environmental protection.
Note Just as we have threats on our land borders, we have threats in the oceans and seas.
These are:-
Maritime Threats
• Illegal maritime arrivals/terrorists.
• Illegal exploitation of natural resources.
• Illegal activity in protected areas.
• Marine pollution.
• Prohibited imports and exports (Smuggling).
• Compromise to biosecurity.
• Piracy, robbery or violence at sea.
• Maritime terrorism.
Intext Questions 9.1
1. Explain the meaning of maritime security.
2. Name any three maritime threats.
3. Name any three elements of maritime security.
9.1.1 Maritime Zones
States that have access to the sea are called coastal state. India is a peninsula because
it has huge water ways surrounding its land on three sides. Such states have sovereign
rights to use all its surrounding water ways for various purposes. Essentially the purposes
are:
• To explore, exploit, and manage its natural resource in the sea bed for economic
purposes.
• Establish rights over use of artificial islands and installations and structures for
marine scientific research.
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The maritime zone recognized under international law includes internal waters, territorial
sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf and the
high seas. Let us see them briefly here.
• Internal water: Internal waters are the waters on the landward side of the
baseline from which the distance of the territorial sea is measured. States have
full sovereignty over its internal waters. Internal waters are considered as a part Note
of land territory.
• Territorial Sea: States can claim twelve nautical miles from its baseline. The
coastal state has the authority over the territorial sea, the air space above it, and
the seabed and subsoil beneath it.
• Contiguous Zone: Each coastal state can claim a contiguous or adjacent zone.
It is beyond the territorial sea and extends seaward up to 24 nm (nautical miles)
from its baseline. In this zone coastal states can exercise customs, fiscal,
immigration or sanitary laws.
DO YOU KNOW
Nautical mile is a unit of measurement at sea or air. One Nautical Mile
is equal to 1852 metres or 1.852 km
• Exclusive Economic Zone: Coastal states can claim an Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea that extends up to 200nm
towards sea from its baseline or out to a maritime boundary with another coastal
state. You can find the graphical representation of maritime zone below.
• High Seas: The High Seas lie beyond 200 nautical miles from shore and are
open and freely available to all countries. On the High Seas, no state can act or
interfere with others using the seas. The law gives freedom of activity in six
areas: Navigation, over flight, laying of cables and pipelines, artificial islands and
installations, fishing, marine scientific research.
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Note
Fig 9.1 - Maritime Zones- Geographical Representation
Intext Questions 9.1
1. Explain the law of sea.
2. Explain the meaning of the maritime zones.
3. Describe the rights of a coastal state.
4. Explain the 'high seas'.
9.2 Importance of Maritime Security for India
Maritime trade occupies an important place in India's economy and energy security.
Most of India's trade and energy supply pass through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
It is estimated that most of the India's trade is done through the ocean. Hence securing
the maritime area is non-negotiable. Apart from this reason, the geography of India
also makes maritime security an important concern for Indian policy makers.
India has a coastline of 7,517 kms. Out of this 5,422 kms are with main land. Andaman
and Nicobar have a coastline of 1962 kms and Lakshadweep has 132 kms of coastline.
This vast coast line presents numerous security challenges like piracy, illegal landing of
arms and explosives, infiltration, use of sea and off shore islands for criminal activities,
drug and human trafficking and smuggling. Absence of physical barriers on the coast
and presence of vital industries like port and important defence installations like
RADARs and nuclear reactors enhances the risk and the need to protect its maritime
region.
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Besides, there is the need to protect the resources of the ocean in a sustainable
manner. The traded goods and services are brought to land through the use of ports
that are located in different parts of the country all along the coastline. Let us learn
about them.
9.2.1 Ports in India
Note
As mentioned above a big part of India's trade is conducted through oceans. India is
planning to build 14 coastal economic zones. At present there are 12 major ports and
200 minor and intermediate ports in India. The 12 major ports of India are spread
throughout the western and eastern coasts of India. These points are -
• Chennai
• Ennore
• JNPT
• Kochi
• Kolkata
• Mangaluru
• Mormugao
• Mumbai
• Paradip
• Tutucorin
• Vishakapattanam
ACTIVITY 9.1
Locate all the major parts mentioned in section 9.4 on a blank political map of India.
DO YOU KNOW
Sagar Mala
Sagaramala is an initiative by government of India to develop and modernize ports and
coastal economic zones. It also includes costal community developmental programmes
through skill development and livelyhood generation activities like fisheries development
and coastal tourism.
Below is the list of 200 more notified ports in different parts of India.
No. State Number of Ports
1. Maharastra 48
2. Gujarat 42
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3. Kerala 17
4. Tamilnadu 15
5. Karnataka 10
6. Odidsha 13
Note
7. Andra Pradesh 12
8. Goa 5
9. Lakshadweep 10
10. Daman and Diu 2
11. Pondichery 2
12. Andaman and Nicobar 23
Blue Economy
Oceans not only help us in transportation of goods and services but also enable us to
use the vast resources such as oil and natural gas and other minerals besides fisheries.
Around 38 million people in the world depend on the fisheries from the oceans.
Hence, oceans provide enormous economic opportunities for the people as well. Blue
economy is the sustainable use of resources of the oceans in a way to help the coastal
community people in their economic and social development.
Fig 9.2 - Diagramatic Representation
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Intext Questions 9.3
1. Why is maritime security important for India? Explain.
2. Explain the term 'blue economy'.
3. Name any five major ports in India.
Note
4. Explain the term Sagarmala.
9.2.2 Strategic Importance of Maritime Boundaries
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is of immense strategic importance to India. Most of
the country's oil and gas is imported through the sea. There is continuous increase in
trade with the countries that surround the Indian Ocean region. Besides, the sea lanes,
the Indian Ocean is considered as the most strategically important in the world because
more than 80 % of the world's seaborne oil trade goes through the Indian Ocean
choke points - 40 % passes through the Strait of Hormuz, 35 % through the Strait of
Malacca and 8 % through the Bab el-Mandab Strait.
DO YOU KNOW
A chokepoint refers to a point of natural congestion along two wider and important
navigable passages. Maritime choke points are naturally narrow channels of shipping
having high traffic because of their strategic locations and these can be blocked by the
navy.
More than half the world's armed conflicts are presently located in the Indian Ocean
region. Also, terrorism and piracy add to the tensions. Apart from these competition
between China and India to get supremacy in this region makes this region strategically
important.
Some of the major choke points in the Indian ocean region are -
• Strait of Horminz
• Malacca and Singapore Straits
• Sunda Strait
• Lombok Strait
• Cape of Good Hope
• Mozambique Channel
• Ombai and Wetar Straits
• Bab-el-Mandeb
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Intext Questions 9.4
1. What is a maritime chokepoint?
2. Name any two major choke points in the Indian ocean region.
Note 9.3 Agencies and Institutions of Maritime Security
In India, maritime security is not only responsibility of a single ministry or department.
It is a combined effort of several ministries departments and agencies. There are four
ministries in India which take care of the maritime issues. They are:
1. Ministry of Defence
2. Ministry of Home affairs
3. Ministry of Fisheries and
4. Ministry of Shipping
5. Other main stake holders are:
• Ministry of External Affairs
• Ministry of Communication and Information Technology
9.3.1 Forces for Sea Borders Protection
Forces responsible for protection of our sea borders are The Indian Coast Guard,
Border Security Force (Rann of Kutch is Protected by BSF) and Central Industrial
Security Force (CISF). CISF looks after the security of the major ports. State
governments including island territories of India which have coastal regions employ the
following agencies:
1) Forces
• State marine police
• State marine home guards (e.g. Tamil Nadu)
• State coastal security committees
• District coastal security committees
2) Intelligence agencies
• National Technical Research Organisation.
• Research and Analysis Wing
• Intelligence Bureau
• Narcotics control bureau
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• Directorate of revenue intelligence
• Defence intelligence agency
• Directorate of navy intelligence
3) Research and Development organizations
• Indian Space Research Organisation
Note
• Defence Research & Development Organisation
• National Centre of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security
(NCETIS), IIT Bombay
4) Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), Ministry of Home Affairs
5) Central Board of Excise & Customs, Ministry of Finance
6) National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security
(NCSMCS)
7) National Marine Police Training Institute (MPTI) (Planning)
8) Central Marine Police Force (Planning)
9.3.2 Indian Coast Guard
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is responsible for the security of coastal and territorial
waters. It was formally established on 18th of August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act,
1978. Do you remember Exclusive Economic Zone? The ICG is responsible for
maritime surveillance across India's 2 million sq.kms of Exclusive Economic Zone.
ICG is also responsible for the overall coordination between central and state agencies
in the matters relating to coastal security.
According to the 1976 Indian Maritime Zone Act the maritime zones of India are
divided into 5 coastal regions which have their headquarters as follows:.
No: Regions Headquarters
1 North West Gandhinagar
2 West Mumbai
3 East Chennai
4 North East Kolkata
5 Andaman and Nicobar Port Blair
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These regions are further divided into 12 coast guard districts - one each in the nine
coastal states, two in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and one in Kavaratti in
Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands.
9.3.3 Indian Navy
Another main agency which is looking after the maritime security is the Indian Navy.
Note
The new maritime strategy of Indian navy is based on the concept of ensuring secure
sea lanes of communication. Indian Maritime Security Strategy follows two key aspects.
First, the rise in sources, types and intensity of threats. Second, in order to provide
'freedom to use the seas' for India's national interests, it is necessary to ensure that the
seas remain secure.
9.3.4 International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS)
The international ship and port facility security code (ISPS) is a comprehensive set of
guidelines and regulations established for the security of ships and port facilities.
International maritime Organisation
IMO is the specialized agency of UN. It is responsible for setting up global standard
for security, safety and environmental performance of international shipping.
It is developed by International Maritime Organisation. Post 9/11 they brought strict
regulations in the area of maritime security and safety. The code is constituted in the
International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). There are 148 signatories.
The purpose of this code is to establish a standardised frame work across international
ports and ships. This then allows governments to efficiently evaluate risks and offset
threats to security level and undertake the security measure prescribed by the code.
India implemented this code in 2004 and 10 minor ports are working under this code.
Intext Questions 9.5
1. What is IMO and ISPS?
2. Name the ministries and agencies working for the maritime security in India.
3. Write a brief description of the India Coast Guard.
What You Have Learnt
• Maritime is very important for a country like India, which is surrounded by
water on three sides.
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• From a strategic point of view India witnessed two major terrorist attacks - the
Mumbai blast and the Mumbai terror attack through sea routes.
• Besides, India is also facing challenges from China through its increasing naval
activity in the Indian Ocean and establishment of naval basis at awadar in Pakistan
etc.
• Piracy, terrorism and drug-trafficking are other major threats that arise from the Note
seas.
• Economically, the Indian Ocean is of immense strategic value as a large portion
of India's trade is conducted through the Indian Ocean. Hence it is vital to secure
the sea lanes of communication and protect the coastal regions, ports, industries
and other facilities.
• For this purpose, India has established institutions and agencies such as Coast
Guard, Indian Navy and other military agencies that provide constant support
and security.
Terminal Exercises
1. Why is maritime security important? Explain.
2. Highlight the importance of blue economy.
3. Describe the role of Coast Guard and Indian Navy in maritime security.
Answers to Intext Questions
9.1
1. Maritime security involves protecting the nation's sovereignty from threats arising
from the oceans and seas
2. Illegal maritime arrivals; Illegal exploitation of natural resources; Illegal activity in
protected areas and Marine pollution.
3. International and national peace and security
• Protection of sea lanes of communication
• Sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence
• Protection from crime at sea
• What are the elements of maritime security? Name any three.
9.2
1. Laws that regulate the use of sea for transshipment and other purposes by
countries of the world.
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2. Includes internal waters, territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive
economic zone, the continental shelf and the high seas.
3. Sovereign rights to use all its surrounding water ways for various purposes for
the purpose of exploring and exploiting its natural resource in the sea bed for
economic purposes and to establish rights over use of artificial islands and
installations and structures for marine scientific research.
Note
4. The High Seas lie beyond 200 nautical miles from shore and are open and freely
available to all countries. On the High Seas, no state can act or interfere with
others using the seas.
9.3
1. Because an estimated 95 % of India's trade is conducted through oceans and
hence securing the maritime is important for India.Why is maritime security
important for India?
2. Blue economy is sustainable use of resources of the oceans in a way to help the
coastal community people in their economic and social development.
3. There are 12 major ports in India. Some of them are: Kolkata, Paradip,
Vishakapattanam, Ennore, Chennai, Tutucorin.
4. Sagaramala is an initiative by government of India to develop and modernize
ports and coastal economic zones. It also includes costal community
developmental programmes through skill development and lively hood generation
activities like fisheries development and coastal tourism.
9.4
1. A chokepoint refers to a point of natural congestion along two wider and
important navigable passages. Maritime choke points are naturally narrow
channels of shipping having high traffic because of their strategic locations
2. Straits of Malacca and Strait of Hormuz.
9.5
1. International Maritime Organization and International Ship and Port Facility
Security Code.
2. Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home affairs, Ministry of Fisheries and Ministry
of Shipping. Agencies are as follows: National Technical Research Organisation,
Research and Analysis Wing, Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics control bureau,
Directorate of revenue intelligence
3. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is responsible for the security of coastal and territorial
waters. It was formally established on 18th of August 1978 by the Coast Guard
Act, 1978.
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