ANTI-PIRACY MEASURES

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What is the issue?

There is an increase in incidence of attacks on shipping passing through the Gulf of Aden and this signifies a possibility of return to large scale Somali piracy and robbery at sea in the Indian Ocean.
Government of India has recently taken serious steps to deal with piracy at sea.

✒ What are the recent measures?

★An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMGO) has been set up by the Government under the Ministry of Shipping to deal with the hostage situation arising out of hijacking at sea.

★Government had also approved the Contingency Plan for dealing with piracy and hijacking of merchant ships.

★Committee of Secretaries on Anti-Piracy and Hijacking at sea (COSAPH) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary.

★Various guidelines that provide for elaborate anti-piracy measures (Best Management Practices) to be implemented on Indian Ships are issued.
Enhanced vigil by the Indian Navy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is instructed.

★Active participation of India in the security meetings of the International Maritime Organization, Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) and other international fora.

★Certain specific locations (including the Gulf of Aden and a region between Oman and Maldives) are mentioned for restricted movement of Indian vessels for security concerns.

Source: PIB