A three-day Table Top Exercise (TTX) under the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) was conducted at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.
The exercise commenced on September 9 with an opening address by Rear Admiral Manoj Jha, Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Eastern Naval Command.
It focused on developing a coordinated response to illicit maritime activities in the Indian Ocean Region.
Delegations and maritime security experts from CSC member states and observer nations participated in the exercise.
The participants engaged in simulated operational scenarios for more than 72 hours.
Discussions covered several non-traditional maritime security challenges facing the region.
These included maritime terrorism, narcotics smuggling and human trafficking.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing was also addressed during the exercise.
Participants reviewed existing Standard Operating Procedures to improve coordination during maritime security situations.
Information-sharing mechanisms were also streamlined to strengthen collective Maritime Domain Awareness.
The exercise reaffirmed the participating nations’ commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region.
The initiative was also aligned with India’s MAHASAGAR vision of mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions.