Navy to helm centre on maritime security

Navy to helm centre on maritime security

News:

The Navy to inaugurate the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Facts:

Need of such Agreements:

• Such multilateral agreements are necessitated due to the large traffic in the Indian Ocean which cannot be entirely monitored by any one nation.
• To contain growing influence of China in Indian ocean.

About IFC-IOR

• The IFC has been established at the Navy’s Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) in Gurugram
• A single point centre linking all the coastal radar chains to generate a seamless real-time picture of the nearly 7,500-km coastline.
• Through this Centre, information on “white shipping”, or commercial shipping, will be exchanged with countries in the region to improve maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean.
• Though the proposed fusion centre is independent of IONS, it will have members from IONS and Indian Ocean Littoral states
• With the launch of the IFC, involved nation now have the option of positioning liaison officers at the IFC.
• Due to lack of Infrastructure presently, information exchange at the Centre would be initially undertaken by virtual means, telephone calls, faxes, e-mails and video conferencing

Significance

• It will help in strengthening maritime security in the region and beyond and help India to overcome growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean
• IFR-IRO would ensure that the entire region is benefited by mutual collaboration and exchange of information and understanding the concerns and threats which are prevalent in the region.

Additional Facts:

• IONS – IONS is a multilateral platform launched in 2008, consisting of navies across the Indian Ocean rim, that deliberates on issues of security and humanitarian need with the intention of facilitating cooperation.
• NC3I Network – National Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence Network is a joint initiative of Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Bharat Electronics Ltd to improve coastal surveillance.
• Trans Regional Maritime Network (T-RMN) India has signed the ascension agreement to the T-RMN which facilitates information exchange on the movement of commercial traffic on the high seas. The multilateral agreement comprises of 30 countries and is steered by Italy.