VISAKHAPATNAM: Maritime nations need to cooperate and collaborate with each other to counter the threats of terrorism and piracy, opined Chief of Naval Staff admiral RK Dhowan.
He stated that all the nations in the Indian Ocean region were working together for achieving a regional level framework to deal with these threats.
Addressing the media conference organised as part of the ongoing International Fleet Review 2016 (IFR-16) here on Friday, Dhowan admitted that the threat of maritime terrorism and piracy on the seas has increased.
“The challenges in the maritime domain are wide and various, but we are confident to deal with them in collaboration with fellow maritime nations,” he said.
The maritime nations have suggested for forming three working groups in three specific areas of anti-piracy, information exchange and interoperability, and also humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The recently held Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and Conclave of Naval Chiefs took stock of the situation and suggested for a tangible framework to take it forward by including other challenges like piracy.
Dhowan felt that security, stability and safety of the global waters is a collective responsibility of the navies around the world and no single navy is robust enough to ensure safety and security of global commons on its own. Therefore, the maritime nations need wide cooperation and it is the responsibility of the Men in White to come up with cooperative mechanisms.
“The presence of over 50 nations at IFR emphasises the significance for such events which provide a platform for working towards this direction,” he added.
The admiral said that the Indian Navy has also drawn up a plan for indigenisation and self-reliance.
“We are ceaselessly working towards achieving the objective, in partnership with both the public sector and private sector in the country. Our endeavour is to increase indigenous content in the fleet,” he added.
India is keen on indigenisation as part of which around 46 ships and submarines are under construction in India.
Further, the Indian Navy will be showcasing its clean and green efforts by looking for alternate fuels like the US which is far ahead in this regard.
For the first time, the Indian Navy would be showcasing its warship which runs completely on bio-fuel. He felt that this would lead to larger combatants operating in ecologically sensitive zones by switching to the green fuel.
Nearly 100 ships including 71 Indian naval ships and submarines and 24 foreign naval ships besides merchant naval ships, survey ships and Coast Guard are participating in the Fleet Review to be held on Saturday off Visakhapatnam beach. About 60 aircraft are also part of the IFR.
Prez to Review Naval Fleet Today
Visakhapatnam: President Pranab Mukherjee will review the naval fleet of nearly 100 ships and submarines including 24 foreign ships off the Visakhapatnam coast here on Saturday, as part of the ongoing International Fleet Review-2016 (IFR-16). The President will be accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries. It may be noted that this is the eleventh Fleet Review post India’s independence and the second one being conducted in India. The first IFR was conducted off Mumbai coast in 2001. A Fleet Review is a ceremonial and stately inspection of Naval warships by the President of a country. As the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, Pranab Mukherjee will receive a 21-gun salute and a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival at the Naval Dockyard on Saturday morning. He will embark on the Presidential Yacht INS Sumitra which would sail through 70 ships at an anchorage off Visakhapatnam.