Scholar’s Voice: A New Way of Thinking Centre for Defence Sciences

Vol. 2, No. 1, January-June 2011, 01-12 Research & Development

India’s Maritime Stakes and Challenges in

Indian Ocean
Dr. Hari Saran*
#
Dr. Harsh K. Sinha
Abstract
India is on the verge of becoming the fourth largest economy of the
world by 2025. All the major economies of the globe are also the major
maritime powers of the world. Without developing adequate maritime
strategy and power one cannot attain the desired status in the global
hierarchy. India is a conventional and maritime power. India’s regional
maritime identity has undergone a major change during the past two
decades. India now has become a regional maritime power. In this age
of globalization, cooperation and development, two major trends have
emerged in the domain of security. First, Economic growth and
maritime security have become inseparable and they are necessary for
prosperity and stability of a State. India is no exception, and Secondly,
the non-conventional threats have become more challenging to the
maritime security of a state than conventional threats. Terrorism and
piracy have attained central importance. The aim of this paper is to
evaluate India’s maritime developments and interests in this century in
general and to analyse regional challenges in particular.

India is a peninsular state. It has a land frontier of 15600 km and a long

th
coastline of 7516.6 km (15 largest in the world) of the mainland, Lakshadweep
and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It has 1197 islands with an area of more than
8249 sq. km. geographically, it has got the central position in the Indian Ocean. It
lies half way between Straits of Malacca and Hormuz the two most important
waterways of the world. It has seven maritime neighbours. India is a sea going
nation and very much dependant on maritime trade. Being a signatory of United
Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS Third ,November16, 1994 ) –
India exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction of the EEZ of about 2.02 million sq. km.
i.e. two third part of the total land area. It is set to increase by at least 50 percent
by the end of 2010. At that time Oman will be our eighth maritime neighbour.
The Indian Ocean has been the most ancient trading waterway of the world.
Geographically, it provides shorter and more economical routes for transportation
and communication between Europe and the East. It provides a connection
between Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. At least 40 percent of the world’s seaborne
* Professor & Head, Dept. of Defence & Strategic Studies, D.D.U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur.
#
Reader, Dept. of Defence & Strategic Studies, D.D.U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur.
ISSN 0974-6501
© 2011 Centre for Defence Sciences Research & Development
 2 Scholar’s Voice: A New Way of Thinking Dr. Hari Saran & Dr. Harsh K. Sinha

trade, 50 percent of its container traffic and 70 percent of the traffic in

Hydrocarbon products transit this ocean annually. Almost two-third of the known
1
reserves of the world’s strategic raw materials lies in the IOR. The developed
2
world has two interests in this region- natural resources and market. In this
century, the IOR is slowly taking centre stage on the global maritime map.
Independent-India was called by Admiral Katari in his book “A Sailor
Remembers” as a maritime nation without a mercantile marine or a navy. Since
then, the picture has changed drastically. India’s regional maritime identity has
undergone a major change during the past decades. In the context of changed
international scenario, India has re-casted her policies to be a major maritime
power by 2025. In the past two decades we have witnessed an impressive growth
in this field. Now, India has become a regional maritime power by all means.
Former Naval chief Admiral Arun Prakash has aptly said that –“The Indian Navy is
the largest and most capable resident navy in the Indian Ocean Region, and is
seen by most maritime powers as a stabilizing force. As India grows economically,
our stake in the seas around us will also grow, and our maritime power will also
3
increase commensurately.”
It is desirable to mention the following salient features of Indian maritime
achievements:
 India has seventh largest blue water-three dimensional naval force in the
world after US, Russia, China, UK, France and Japan. It has the largest
presence in the IOR. IN is one of the most modern and well respected in
the region. It has played a crucial role in increasing maritime security in
IOR in the past decades.
 The Indian Coast Guard is also the largest coastal security force in the
region.
 India has a modest but rapidly growing merchant shipping fleet of 756
ships (8.6 million gross registered tons, 15th largest in the world). The
largest shipping company is Shipping Corporation of India. There are also
between fifty to sixty private companies operating a total of 443 vessels
amounting to 6.3 million gross registered tons. Indian tonnage
represented 1.7 percent of the world total. Overall the share of Indian
4
vessels in total Indian trade is around 35 percent.
 India has 13 major and 185 notified minor and intermediate sea ports. In
order to gross weight tonnage conveyed annually, Bombay,
Vishakhapatnam, Madras and Marmagoa are the most important ports in
India.
 India has 7 shipyards (4 big and 3 medium) under the control of central
government, 2 shipyard controlled by state governments, 35 privately
owned shipyards and 18 dry docks for major ship repair needs . Now,
India has become self sufficient in the field of ship building and repair of
almost of all sizes. The Cochin Shipyard in Kochi, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd.
(HSL) in Vishakhapatnam and Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers in
India’s Maritime Stakes & Challenges In ……. Vol. 2, No. 1, Jan-June 2011 3

Calcutta are the most important shipbuilding enterprises in India. In

December 2009, the Central Government has transferred the HSL from
Ministry of shipping to the Ministry of Defence. Now, MOD will have four
dedicated shipyard – GSL, GRSE, MDL and HSL for submarine and other
5
shipbuilding activities.
 India has world class naval engineers and architects. Construction of
Aircraft carrier under project IAC – Indigenous Aircraft Carrier at Cochin
shipyard is in full swing. It will be ready by 2012 for trails and will be
6
inducted in to IN by 2015. There are only six other countries in the world,
which build such ships. Construction of Nuclear Submarine under project
th
ATV has crossed a major milestone on 26 July 09, when its first
submarine ‘INS Arihant’ became operational for trails. Russian consultancy
support to this project is widely acknowledged. The Navy designed and
built the hull. Larsen and Turbo contributed to its fabrication. The BARC
unit at Kalpakam designed the nuclear reactor while the enriched
uranium was contributed by the Rare Earth Material Project at Ratnahalli
near Mysore. Navy built other components of the power plant and the
propulsion system. DRDO developed the missile capable of being
launched even while the vessel remained submerged. This opens a new
chapter in the context of indigenous designing, development and
7
production of new generation of sophisticated platforms in India. The
6000 tonnes submarine will first be put on sea trials for two years before
being commissioned into full service. Only five countries in the world have
this capability. Having a nuclear submarine will add to great national and
international prestige also. By 2012-13, if all goes well, India may have
8
three nuclear submarines in operation.
 India is the only country in the IOR, to have an operational knowledge of
nuclear submarine.
 The proposal for the lease of two Akula class
Roughly 25 per
nuclear powered submarines is in the pipeline.
cent of India’s
About 200 Indian naval officers have also received
population lives
necessary training in Russia in October 2005. By in the coastal
9
2011-12, it will be in Indian navy. regions. It can be
 The Indian Navy’s ambitious project Seabird (Asia’s estimated that
biggest naval base) an integrated strategic naval about 250
base in Karwar has been commissioned on May 9, million people
2005 as’INS Kadamba. When fully completed, it are directly
would be perhaps the biggest naval base in the dependent on
Asia- Pacific region.
10 the sea for their
livelihood
 India’s first joint command Andaman Nicobar
Command (ANC) was formed in Oct. 2001, with its headquarter at Port
Blair. Earlier the ANC had a very limited asset at its disposal. However, the
11
force levels were progressively augmented in the past years.
4 Scholar’s Voice: A New Way of Thinking Dr. Hari Saran & Dr. Harsh K. Sinha

 India became the first developing country to be given by the UN, the
status of a ‘Pioneer Investor’, which provided it an area of 150,000 sq. km.
12
in the central Indian Ocean area for deep sea bed mining. India has
attained fourth position in the field of Oceanography in the world. Indian
naval personnel have provided hydrographic survey facilities to small
neighbouring countries also.
 India is now self- sufficient in making offshore infrastructure and oil
platforms. The offshore hydrocarbon platforms – Bombay- Hi and Krishna-
Godavari basin have become a vital asset of the country.
 India’s sea food production has increased manifold since independence
and is a major foreign exchange earning industry now. For fishing there
are nearly 34000 mechanized and 200000 non- mechanized boats.
Presently our fish production by marine capture is about 2.2 million
tonnes annually. Now, India ranks sixth in the list of fish producing
countries of the world. Export of marine products reached an all time high
in 2008-09. It touched Rs. 8607.94 crore in value terms and 602,835
13
tonnes in volume. The European Union remained the largest market for
Indian seafood. Roughly 25 per cent of India’s population lives in the
coastal regions. It can be estimated that about 250 million people are
14
directly dependent on the sea for their livelihood. In the last 60 years,
the marine fishing industry in India has developed considerably on
modern lines, but there have been great potential exists for expanding the
nation’s marine fishing industry in future.
 Tourism has become a major industry along the sea coast for recreation
and holiday making in the past years. One of the most common uses of
the sea all over the world is recreation. India has a large potential in this
sector. Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are growing as
popular destinations for foreign and Indian tourists, but marine tourism on
a large scale is yet to come up on these islands. The other regional
countries like Singapore, Thailand, Maldives and Mauritius have now
become the popular destinations for marine tourists. Here, tourism has
become a major revenue generating sector during the past decades.
Govt. of India has also decided to develop marine tourism in
Lakshadweep coral islands on the Maldivian pattern.
 India has developed close contacts with almost all the IOR countries in the
past two decades except Pakistan. In a major forward movement in
bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh, the later has finally granted
access to Mongla and Chittagong ports for movement of goods to and
from India Through road and rail. ( Assam Tribune, Jan. 12,2010)
 India’s naval policy has been changed completely in the post Cold War
era. To foster goodwill and eliminate suspicion amongst the littorals and
external powers and to develop a climate of mutual confidence and
understanding, Indian Navy (IN) has ended her age old policy of isolation
and increased her diplomatic role manifold in the field of joint naval
India’s Maritime Stakes & Challenges In ……. Vol. 2, No. 1, Jan-June 2011 5

exercises with regional as well as external powers, naval assistance,

disaster relief operations, material and training assistance in the IOR. The
first ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’ was organized by IN, in 2008, with
an objective to provide a forum for all the littoral nations of the Indian
Ocean to cooperate on mutually agreed areas for better security in the
15
region. The IN has created three important organizations – Directorate
of Indigenization, Directorate of Strategy, Concepts and Transformation
and Directorate of Foreign Cooperation and Transformation for policy
16
making. In addition, the Indian Maritime Foundation (IMF) was
established in December 1993 in Pune. The National Maritime
Foundation (NMF) has been set up in New Delhi in 2005. The IMF is a
non-profit making organization and has branches in Delhi and Mumbai.
The aim of IMF is to raise awareness of our seas and rekindle maritime
consciousness and pride in our people. The major maritime economy
sectors identified by IMF and NMF are as given below:
1. Maritime Transportation
2. Shipbuilding and repair
3. Salt and marine resources living and non- living
4. Marine tourism
rd
 IN has unveiled its first ever unclassified 148 page ‘Naval Doctrine’ on 23
June 2004. In this doctrine India clearly declared that it is now a regional
power and the arc from the Persian Gulf to the Straits of Malacca as a
legitimate area of political, economic and military interest. The doctrine
emphasized the need to increase naval power, sustainability and reach by
adopting the following measures-
US is the only
1. Modernization and new acquisition external power,
2. Submarine based nuclear deterrence which has
3. Land operation assistance capability maintained its
4. Net- work centric warfare capability naval and military
5. Surveillance and reconnaissance forces in the IOR.
6. Naval diplomacy during peace time It has maintained
To understand the future maritime challenges it is friendly relations
necessary to view the present strategic scenario of IOR with almost all
and India’s maritime security interests. Being the most the littoral
important and responsible state of IOR, it should be India’s
countries of this
region except Iran
policy to manage and increase its maritime power steadily,
and Myanmar.
so that no one can challenge its position in this region in
future. India has initiated several measures in this direction during the past years.
Now, it is necessary here to analyze the strategic scenario of the IOR in detail.
Major Powers in the Indian Ocean Region
U.S.A.
Throughout the Cold War period, Indian Ocean littorals have witnessed a
massive superpower naval rivalry in this region. The disintegration of the U.S.S.R in
 6 Scholar’s Voice: A New Way of Thinking Dr. Hari Saran & Dr. Harsh K. Sinha

1990-91, ended the Cold War and naval rivalry of this region, completely. Russia
withdrew its naval warships and bases from this region immediately. But the US
did not follow the Russian Initiative and continues to maintain its naval forces and
facilities in this region. During Operation Desert Strom (Gulf War-1991), the Indian
Ocean littorals have seen the biggest ever naval garrison of coalition forces in and
around Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf region.
At the beginning of operation Desert Storm in Jan. 1991, there were more
17.
than 175 warships of 17 major countries of the world, in the Indian Ocean After
this war, the security and stability of the weak and oil rich states of this region has
become the main objective of American Naval Doctrine. For the security of the
whole region, US has created ‘Fifth Fleet’ of the Navy in 1995, which has it’s
headquarter at Bahrain. In addition, the US has established its military bases in all
the Gulf States except Iraq and Iran. The two US military operations of this decade
– Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan War have seen the major naval
deployment of allied countries in this region. US has led a global war against
terrorism.
Presently, the IOR is dominated by US Navy. US is the only external power,
which has maintained its naval and military forces in the IOR. It has maintained
friendly relations with almost all the littoral countries of this region except Iran and
Myanmar. By engaging India, Australia and South Africa, it has made a ‘quadrille’
in the IOR. Due to economic and security imperatives, the US is not going to
withdrew its forces from the IOR in near future.
CHINA
China is the other major power of the world , who has re-cast its foreign policy
and skillfully employing economic , technical and military means to expand its
relations with almost all the IOR countries in the post Cold War era . Now, in this
century, China is the world’s fastest growing superpower. It has started a massive
expansion and modernization program for PLAN. The PLAN founded in 1950, is
the third largest navy in the world after the US and Russia. It is the only Asian Navy
18
with SLBM capacity. US Assistant Secretary of Defence for International Security
Affairs , Peter Rodman said that ,”China is beginning to develop the capability to
19
project power . This is worth noting.”
Pakistan and Myanmar are its main ally in the IOR. Pakistan’s Gwadar port is
being built by the Chinese financial and technical assistance. Myanmar’s Haingyi
naval base is reportedly designed to support Chinese nuclear submarines. It has
established a radar station, an airstrip and naval facilities at Myanmar’s Great Coco
20
islands. China sent its third flotilla to Gulf of Aden and waters of the Somali coast
to escort merchant vessels for providing them security from the pirates of this
region on July 16, 2009.Notably, 11 warships in four taskforces completed a
record of 10,000- odd navigation hours and a voyage of 100,000- odd nautical
21
miles. They escorted around 1000 merchant ships ensuing 100 per cent security.
China’s burgeoning economic, political and military (naval) relations with the
IOR countries in the past decades, clearly indicates that in future there will be a
Chinese naval presence in the IOR. Presently there is no Chinese naval presence in
India’s Maritime Stakes & Challenges In ……. Vol. 2, No. 1, Jan-June 2011 7

the IOR. Through Pakistan and Myanmar, its forces can reach the warm waters of
Indian Ocean in any emergency. It can also avail the naval facilities of several
littorals countries in any crisis period.
During the past years, China has increased the number of military cooperation
and exchange programmes with these countries. In this century, China is pursuing
an offensive economic policy to grab natural resources and market, wherever it
finds them. Hence for this reason, the whole IOR has become the Chinese area of
interest in this century. India is well aware of the fact that in future, after the US,
China will be the only country that could disturb the balance of power equation in
the IOR.
FRANCE
The only European power which maintains a standing naval fleet in the Indian
Ocean is France. The area of the interest of French Navy is primarily the South-
Western zone of the Indian Ocean, where it has five islands territory.
Presently, the IOR is completely free from superpower naval rivalry. Keeping in
view, the growing Chinese influence in the IOR, the US wants to protect the
region from any future Chinese naval expansion. The problem of international
terrorism is not going to end in near future. The US forces are trapped in
Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, US is actively involved against Iran due to her nuclear
weapon programme. To counter the Chinese intentions the US has maintained
friendly relations with almost all the littoral states including India and excluding
Iran and Myanmar. India has signed a Maritime Cooperation Framework (MCF)
with the US. Under the MCF India has decided to sign the Logistics Support
Agreement- implying that both countries can share respective assets and
infrastructure for safety and security of IOR and the Container Security Initiative
(CSI), which means that containers to and from Indian ports will be up for physical
22
scrutiny for any illegal wares.
India’s Maritime Security Interests Being the most
In the present scenario, India’s maritime security important and
interests are as follows – responsible state
of IOR, it should
1- Territory Protection --Islands territories hundreds
be India’s policy
of miles away from the mainland. to manage and
2- Boundary Definition -- Maritime boundary increase its
delineation and demarcation with Pakistan and maritime power
Bangladesh steadily, so that
3- Communication chock point protection -- For free no one can
trade, commerce and energy security. challenge its
position in this
4- Sea Food procurement -- Coastal and deep sea region in future.
fishing.
5- Marine Resource Excavation -- Mining of seabed resources like Alginates,
Calcium, Gypsum, oil and gas along with deep sea mining.
6- Offshore Infra- Installations -- Manmade offshore platforms.
 8 Scholar’s Voice: A New Way of Thinking Dr. Hari Saran & Dr. Harsh K. Sinha

7- Investment Protection -- Nationals and investments abroad.

8- Vessel repair and Construction – Development in the field of vessels
building and associated repair industries.
9- Assisting UN Peace Keeping Operation – For regional peace, security and
development.
10- Participation in Disaster Relief Operation – National Tsunami Information
Centre, 2006, Hyderabad
11- Travel Destinations – Development of marine tourism and recreation
12- Sea- Life Protection – Controlling oil related sea pollution for the
protection of living resources.
13- Maintenance of Nuclear Deterrence – Development of nuclear
submarines and aircraft carriers.
14- Diplomacy for Cooperation – Naval diplomacy to promote regional
cooperation.
Non- Conventional Maritime Security Threats
Being the most important and responsible state of IOR, it should be India’s
policy to manage and increase its maritime power steadily, so that no one can
challenge its position in this region in future.
IOR has been badly affected by various non- conventional maritime security
threats during the past decades. Most of these threats are not new and has existed
ever since the inception of the nation state. These threats are great barriers in
achieving the goal of becoming a major power. The above mentioned security
interests can only be protected if the problem of non- conventional security
threats is handled with efficient measures. Brief accounts of such threats are given
below:
 Piracy / Hijacking
 Transfer of weapons of Mass Destruction
 Trafficking of Small Arms and Drugs
 Terrorism / Maritime Terrorism
 Maritime Insurgency
 Illegal Migration / Human smuggling
 Sea Pollution
Although, these are the low intensity maritime security threats but have direct
bearing to regional development and security. Piracy and terrorism has stalked the
IOR countries in this century.
Maritime Security Initiatives and India
The major maritime security initiatives of this century to control the non-
conventional threats are as follows—
UN – ISPSC Code -- The danger of maritime terrorism and sabotage via sea
became apparent and focused international attention in October 2000, by the
India’s Maritime Stakes & Challenges In ……. Vol. 2, No. 1, Jan-June 2011 9

incident of ‘USS Cole’ in Aden, Yemen and French oil tanker ‘MT Limburg’ offshore
Yemen’s Ash- Shihr oil terminal in October 2002.After that the maritime agency of
the UN – the International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) has laid down a new
regulations to counter the maritime terrorists named ‘ International Ship and Port
Facility Security Code ‘ ( ISPSC ). This code came in to force on July 1, 2004 to
23
counter terrorism, only within territorial waters. According to the provisions of
this code – the States would interdict suspected vessels when they enter their
territorial waters and not in the high seas.
The ISPSC code makes it mandatory that by July 04, each port facility, each
shipping company and each ship in the world involved in the international trade
must have” vetted and proved security plans and procedures to ensure confidence
that adequate and proportionate maritime security measures are in place”. In
effect, ports could deny entry to ships that do not meet their criteria. India was one
of the only two countries of the IOR that become fully compliant with the
provisions of this code by the stipulated deadline of 01 July 2004, the other being
24
Singapore. Malaysia and Indonesia were critical of Indian Navy’s role as part of
Operation Sagittarius for escorting US high value strategic ships through the
Malacca Straits in the aftermath of the 9/ 11 attacks. For the security of the
Malacca Straits, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Anti- Piracy in Asia
(ReCAAP) signed in November 2004. It involves the ten members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as Japan, China, South
Korea, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. ReCAAP’s centerpiece is an Information
Sharing Centre, established in Singapore in November 2006.
Regional Maritime Security Initiative (RMSI) - According to the 2003,
International Maritime Bureau report, the Indonesian waters were declared the
world’s most dangerous, followed by Bangladesh, Nigeria and India. The Malacca
sub- region has been infamous due to piracy since historic times. The US was the
major user of this waterway due to war on terror. In April 2004, the US came up
with the idea that a Regional Maritime Security Initiative
be implemented to safeguard the Straits of Malacca The entra as well
against any act of maritime terrorism, piracy and as extra- regional
25
sabotage. The aim of RMSI was to develop a partnership cooperation is
of willing friendly regional nations for patrolling this necessary to
water region. The plan was to deploy US special force on mitigate the non-
high speed vessels to counter any act of terror.
conventional
maritime security
The regional countries- Indonesia, Malaysia and threats. India has
Singapore rejected this plan and in July 2004, started all the vital
their own trilateral coordinated patrolling named ingredients of
26
‘MALSINDO’. At this time, India also reiterated her being a major
willingness to assist in the project and share its expertise maritime nation
27
in maritime security with regional countries. The Indian by 2025.
Govt. has signed two bilateral patrolling pacts with
28
Indonesia (2002) and Thailand (2005). The first India – Indonesia coordinated
29
patrolling was conducted in September 2002. The first joint patrol with the Royal
30
Thai Navy was held in September 2005.
 10 Scholar’s Voice: A New Way of Thinking Dr. Hari Saran & Dr. Harsh K. Sinha

Container Security Initiative (CSI) and Proliferations Security Initiative (PSI) - To

control the problem of WMD proliferation and terrorism, the US unilaterally
proposed these two initiatives.
CSI – About 90 per cent of world trade passes through containers due to
goods safety and handling facility. Terrorists can use them to carry WMD to US
mainland. CSI was launched in Jan. 2002, wherein, shipping containers are
examined at foreign ports by US custom officials in concert with their host- nation
31
counterparts, before being shipping to US ports. More than 40 ports worldwide
participated in CSI programme. Only Singapore and Colombo are joined the CSI.
India is taking steps to join CSI and has identified the Nhava Sheva Port
32
(commercial port of Mumbai) for purposes of executing this initiative. India
would become safe to join it.
PSI – The US has initiated the PSI in May 2003, seeking involvement of key
states for interdiction of suspect ships at sea. It is a global effort to contain
proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems. It involves a ‘Vessel Board Search
and Seizure’ (VBSS) operations, which is backed by intelligence sharing. Only
Australia and Singapore from IOR have signed PSI. India is not yet a member of PSI
and there have been doubt about its consonance with international maritime law.
Conclusion
Geographically, India’s overall security perspectives and Indian Ocean Region
are intertwined with each other. During the post Cold War period, the economic
and strategic importance of IOR has increased manifold. The IOR accounts for the
world’s largest energy resources on which depends the prosperity, not only of the
Asian continent but also of the rest of the world. Home to over one- third of the
population, the regional countries are very rich in natural resources. India is
among the top in littoral countries in terms of population, technology (nuclear,
missile and space) GDP, military power and stability. Presently, IOR is completely
free from superpower naval rivalry. In future, there is a possibility that China may
pose a plausible danger to India’s security and interests in IOR. India is now a
regional maritime power by all means and need of the hour is to realize and
enhance this potential in a very aggressive manner in coming years. Indian Navy is
fully aware of its growing importance and role. The entra as well as extra- regional
cooperation is necessary to mitigate the non- conventional maritime security
threats. India has all the vital ingredients of being a major maritime nation by
2025. The only thing which is needed at this juncture is that national policy and
decision makers should have a strong and clear maritime outlook and approach.
Keeping in view the whole picture of India’s maritime stakes and security
challenges, following suggestions can be made-
 To expand and modernize ports, marine infrastructure and informatics to
compete with the Asian powers in the coming years. Cargo handling is
projected to grow at 7.7 percent until 2013-14. Some 60 percent of India’s
container traffic is handled by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai.
It has just 9 berths compared to 40 in the main port of Singapore. It takes
India’s Maritime Stakes & Challenges In ……. Vol. 2, No. 1, Jan-June 2011 11

an average 21 days to clear import cargo here as compared to just 3 days

in Singapore. This should be increased at the earliest.
 To provide heavy incentives to ocean activities like ship building and
repair, marine tourism, marine technology development and fishing like
Japan and South Korea. Our islands have a great potential for marine
tourism development activities. This would also accelerate the process of
economic growth .We have a huge domestic market for the consumption
of sea food also. There is an urgent need to expand the Nation’s fishing
activities on a large scale. By the development of these maritime activities,
we will also be able to generate employment and foreign currency.
 To increase naval budget, so that IN can change her old and outdated
platforms as early as possible.
 To improve maritime surveillance capability especially through space –
borne platforms.
 To frame and announce new policies and incentives for merchant
shipping – Overall the share of Indian vessels in total Indian trade is about
35 percent (1.7 percent of the world total). In this area, we have grown
only marginally in the last thirty years, from seven million tons to eight
th
million tons. It is also necessary for our energy security. India, at present 5
on the energy consumption ladder, is expected to overtake Japan and
rd
Russia to reach the 3 spot by 2025.
 To implement coastal security programs. Sagar Prahari Bal should be
created as soon as possible.
 To enhance naval diplomacy.
 To attain true blue water capability as early as possible with a fleet
comprising of modern sophisticated vessels, 4 nuclear submarine and
three aircraft carrier and space base surveillance platforms.
 Govt. should promote and increase the activities and efforts of IMF, NMF
and other such organization, if any.
 It is our observation, that maritime development and tourism will be the
key driver of economic growth for India in the next decade.
By adopting these measures, by 2025 India will be a major maritime power of
this part of the globe, and this will certainly induce the development process of
the country. This aim can only be realized by taking a holistic approach.

Notes and References

1. Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd), The Indian Ocean- A Zone of Conflict. In Lt. Col. Harjeet Singh
(Retd.) , Ed. South Asia Defence and Strategic Year Book2009, Pentagon Press, New Delhi. P
44
2. Kohli K.K., Maritime Power in Peace and War: A Indian View, African Security Review, 1996,
5(2)
3. Force , November 2005, p.40
4. http://www.indianchild.com/ports-in india,htm
12 Scholar’s Voice: A New Way of Thinking Dr. Hari Saran & Dr. Harsh K. Sinha

5. Government of India, Cabinet,’ Transfer of Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Vishakhapatanam to

Ministry of Defence and setting of a new shipyard of international standards by ministry of
shipping’, Press Release, December 24,2009
6. http: //blog taragana.com/n/nuke-sub-aircraft-carrierin-kalams-vision-2020-for-andaman-1-9-
8-2009
7. ‘From Hush Hush to Hurry Launching of INS Arihant’ Prof. K.R.Singh, Defence Watch, New
Delhi, Vol. 9, No 1, September2009, p. 29
8. Ibid p. 28
9. Bakshi, Jyotsna, India-Russia Defence Cooperation, Strategic Analysis, April-
June,2006,30(2)p. 458.
10. Sharma Ravi,’ Seabird on Course’ Frontline, Jan. 2,2004
11. Andaman & Nicobar Command at http:// www. bharat-rakshak. com/ Navy/ ANC. html
12. Qasim, S.Z. Janiye Hind Mahasagar Ko, 2007, Prabhat Prakashan, New Delhi, p.35.
13. The Hindu, Kochi, August 01, 2009
14. Journal of Indian Ocean Studies, New Delhi, Vol. 6, No.3, July 1999, p. 296.
15. The Times of India, Lucknow, June 8, 2006
16. The new Directorate of Foreign Cooperation and Transformation at Naval Head Quarter to
interact with the Minister of Defence and External Affairs to clear Naval matters with friendly
nations.
17. Mohan, Anand,’ Growing Importance of the Indian Ocean in Post Cold War Era and its
Implication for India’, No. 9, Oct.- Dec.2002, p.551.
18. No. 10, July 16, 2004, p. 48.
19. Jane’s Defence Weekly, May 21, 2006
20. No. 19, July 16,2004
21. PLA Navy Contributes to International Maritime Security Cooperation, PLA Daily,
December25, 2009
22. The Indian Express, April 25, 2006
23. USI Journal Oct.-Dec. 2005, p. 578.
24. http:// meaindia. nic. In / speech / 2007 The Admiral A k Chatterjee Memorial Lecture by the
Hon’ble External Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee, June 30, 2007
25. No. 13, New Delhi, October 20, 2004
26. Khurana, Gurpreet S., Global Maritime Security Initiatives. Seminar on Securing the Oceans:
An Indian Ocean Perspective, New Delhi, 2005, National Maritime foundation, New Delhi.
2005. p. 50.
27. Menon, Shiv Shanker, Maritime Imperatives of Indian Foreign Policy, Maritime Affairs, winter
2009, 5(2), p. 19.
28. No. 3 , January 2006,p. 44.
29. No. 3, November 2005, p. 51.
30. No. 19, p. 45.
31. R.K.Raghavan, ‘Container Insecurity’ No.10 , June 16, 2006
32. Strategic Digest, IDSA, New Delhi, August 2006, p. 995.
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“A ship without Marines is like a garment without buttons.”

-Admiral David D. Porter