India as a maritime nation is building up capacity, capability, skills and a maritime industrial enterprise that will not only shape modern India but also propel India to be the de facto Net Security Provider in the IOR. The nation’s strategic location in the IOR and its potential as a maritime nation is a blessing for both the security of the region and the economies of the littorals. The Honorable Prime Minister of India has outlined his vision for the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, in the concept of SAGAR, Security and Growth for all in the Region. The safety of marine and coastal population, security of the SLOCs for the unimpeded passage of resources, commodities and access to markets, sovereignty over owned seas and right of navigation and overflight over the oceanic commons and above all stability in the region without interference by external powers is a common objective of the IOR countries. Further, due recent geopolitical events, the global emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals and the disruptions in the global supply chain due to trade wars and the COVID19 pandemic, requires a very energetic rethink of how to further regional collaboration for the common benefit of all countries. As is well known. no one nation can address the diverse challenges of the maritime arena and avail all of its opportunities by itself. Hence, regional cooperation and collaboration becomes necessary to achieve the political, technological, social, economic, and maritime objectives of each country.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh said the Indian Navy was ready to work with like-minded nations based on common interests to ensure safe and secure seas and to promote a rules-based order. Speaking at the Shangri La Dialogue, in June 2018, the Honorable Prime Minister of India has spoken of the need for a common rules based international order for the global commons. Under the Government of India’s overall ambit of ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the Navy has undertaken Joint EEZ patrols of Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius as well as Coordinated Patrols (CORPATs) with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia. The Indian Navy has also enhanced the operational dimensions of cooperation, with Friendly Foreign Countries(FFCs) beginning from a conservative figure of eight exercises in 2015, we are now participating in close to 30 bilateral/multilateral exercises. These collaborations are pitched at a operational level. However the other dimensions of technological and industrial collaboration are equally important. This aspect of collaboration has not been adequately explored.
It also becomes incumbent on Indian industry to immediately start identifying projects that can be taken to fruition in the shortest possibl time. Refits and Repairs to align with the IMO requirements of ballast water management, Triple fule diesel engines, NOX and SOX suppresion systems are worth exploring as a US$ 5 billion opportunity. Designing security system architecture that trap IUU fishing using data analytics, satellite imagery, AI and BIG DATA is yet another opprtunity for the Navies to work together on to save revenues of their respective governments. Route optimisation that factors in wind and weather combined with the hueristics of the shipping companies can help entrepreneurs to develop applications to rate shipping companies for frieght forwarders.
From a Navy point of view working together on say a Regional OPV Platform (ROPVP) that would jointly develop a common hull form, propulsion systems, electrics and deck equipment and leave the weapon fit as the choice of each participating nation working on a modular build strategy can save costs, develop local supply chains, create jobs and be a wiin-win situation for all.
It’s time we deliberate on these issues and work towards how best to develop the maritime sector in the POST COVID scenario for the Global good.