What is the issue?
- There is an increase in incidence of attacks on shipping passing through the Gulf of Aden and this signifies a possibility of return to large scale Somali piracy and robbery at sea in the Indian Ocean.
- Government of India has recently taken serious steps to deal with piracy at sea.
What are the recent measures?
- An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMGO) has been set up by the Government under the Ministry of Shipping to deal with the hostage situation arising out of hijacking at sea.
- Government had also approved the Contingency Plan for dealing with piracy and hijacking of merchant ships.
- Committee of Secretaries on Anti-Piracy and Hijacking at sea (COSAPH) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary.
- Various guidelines that provide for elaborate anti-piracy measures (Best Management Practices) to be implemented on Indian Ships are issued.
- Enhanced vigil by the Indian Navy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is instructed.
- Active participation of India in the security meetings of the International Maritime Organization, Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) and other international fora.
- Certain specific locations (including the Gulf of Aden and a region between Oman and Maldives) are mentioned for restricted movement of Indian vessels for security concerns.
Source: PIB
