ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre
Source : PIB
GS III : Internal Security

What is discussed under ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre?

1. Details of the Program
2. Security Mechanism in India
3. How Indian Maritime Security System Works?
4. Crimes in Maritime Region

Why in News ?

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted a one-week Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) operations & Search and Rescue (SAR) course in Mumbai.

Key Facts

• The course was conducted under the aegis of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) for officers and sailors of

  

  Maritime Security Agencies from six friendly countries – Bangladesh, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Myanmar and Maldives.

• A total of 22 trainees (10 officers & 12 sailors) participated in the specialised training.

Details of the Program

• The course is modelled created in accordance with the best international practises like
  • Legal background domain of Maritime Search and Rescue
  • Planning and Coordination, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
  • Lectures on Harmonisation of Aeronautical and Maritime SAR
  • Satellite-aided SAR operations
  • Case studies on maritime SAR incidents amongst others.
• Visitors from the Indian National Mission Control Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Airports Authority of India, Indian Centre for Ocean Information Services, and subject matter experts from the ICG also gave lectures throughout the programme.

Maritime Security and Challenges in India

Security Mechanism

• Since the Mumbai assault, the maritime security system has concentrated on monitoring, acquiring intelligence, and exchanging information with the many partners.
• Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) vested the overall responsibility of maritime security with the Indian Navy (IN) including coastal security and offshore security.
• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was assigned the duty of general coordination between the state and the central agencies as well as the responsibility for coastal security in territorial seas, including areas to be patrolled by the Coastal Police.
• To improve the security framework and police capacities in coastal states, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has put in place a thorough Coastal Security Scheme.
• Coastal security is also reviewed periodically with all involved authority by National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS), constituted under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary.

How Indian Maritime Security System Works?

• Coastal security of India is governed by a three-tiered structure.
• It is structured as below
  1. Indian Navy patrols the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL)
  2. ICG is mandated to do patrolling and surveillance up to 200 nautical miles, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
  3. Simultaneously, the State Coastal/Marine Police (SC/MP) performs boat patrolling in shallow coastal areas.
• Jurisdiction 
  1. The SCP have jurisdiction up to 12 nautical miles from the coast;
  2. ICG and the IN have jurisdiction over the entire maritime zone (up to 200 nautical miles), including the territorial waters (with the SMP).
  3. The Border Security Force (BSF) is deployed in the creek areas of Gujarat and Sundarbans in West Bengal.

Crimes in Maritime Region

• Usual crimes ranging from theft to murder.
• NCRB crime data includes Cyber Crimes, Environment Related Offences, Human Trafficking, Seizures under Arms Act, Seizure of Explosives and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) Seizure.
• It also includes crimes under
  1. Arms Act, Explosives Act
  2. Prohibition Act (State)
  3. Excise Act
  4. Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act
  5. Possession of drugs for Personal use/Consumption
  6. Forest Act Wildlife Protection Act
  7. Environmental (Protection) Act
• Another major issue is illegal cross-border infiltration and their interdiction by Indian security forces.

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