India, Feb. 12 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
A significant share of India's trade depends on foreign shipping. To reduce this dependence and expand the indigenous fleet, the Government has introduced several reforms: -
The steps taken to enhance maritime awareness and safety of Indian ships at chokepoints includes round-the-clock monitoring through Mercantile Marine Domain Awareness Centre (MMDAC), real-time incident tracking and close coordination with the Indian Navy and other agencies. Periodic Maritime Security Advisories are issued to Indian-flagged vessels, prescribing risk-mitigation measures and compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Best Management Practices (BMPs). Regular meetings are held with Indian shipowners, shipmasters, port authorities, the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and other security agencies to enhance preparedness and response mechanisms.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
