About SLOC
- A SLOC is a route taken by a ship to transit from point A to B. In maritime terms, it should be short, economical and safe for transporting cargo
- The SLOCs are also referred to as the arteries of a region’s economy
- During times of peace, the SLOCs serve as commercial trade routes, but during war, these routes are considered strategic paths.
- The SLOCs vary in length depending on the geography in terms of landmass, choke points , reefs, foul ground and location of ports and harbours.
- The Indian Ocean is home to important SLOCs and maritime choke points.
- Threats to the SLOCs: Threats to the SLOCs can be identified as arising from several directions : piracy, drug trafficking, gun running, human smuggling, pollution, accidents, mines, closure of choke points, inter-state conflicts and territorial disputes. None is independent of the other and failure in one often leads to failure in others.
