LEHER - WAVE OF MARITIME UPDATES

On World Environment Day 2021, MHS Researcher Dennard D’souza illustrates that the oceans are at the centre of much global attention today. It is timely to curate collective thoughts not just on geopolitical foci but also on the vital call to a sustained, equitable and unhampered blue economy. Read More…

On World Oceans Day, 2021, MHS Researcher Krishna Kataria explores the concept of ‘Blue Economy’ which aims to promote the growth of ocean economies and marine socio-ecological systems emerging within national and international maritime policy.Read More…

In the Part 2, the article explains India’s policy approach in the Indian Ocean Region via Sagarmala Project, SAGAR policy and more such initiatives by the Government for Blue Economy. The protection of the Oceans is a global challenge and requires collaborative approach at macro level.Read More…

The Indian Navy on May 23, 2021 brought to India 340 metric tonnes of liquid oxygen, more than 3,700 oxygen cylinders and other medical supplies from abroad as the country continued to reel under a severe second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The supplies were brought by two warships from Singapore, Brunei and Qatar.Read More…

Maritime Association of Shipowners Shipmanagers and Agents has initiated a massive nationwide COVID vaccination drive in association with various maritime bodies to inoculate Indian seafarers free of cost in the months to come.Read More…

Submarines captured the imagination of security planners during the Battle of the Atlantic, when the German U-boat campaign raised the spectre of defeat for the allies. Commodore Lalit Kapur (Retd.) in this policy brief explains India’s submarine programme connecting the dots of contemporary events and history.Read More…

The article analyzes “Marine Protected Areas” or MPAs, which limit human influences and undertake conservation efforts in areas of high ecological importance in the Indian context. It assesses the efficacy of these MPAs and the challenges associated with their effective management in India’s maritime framework. Read More…

The article enunciates a roadmap for upgrading the Indian Ocean Observing System, a multinational ocean monitoring network, to keep tabs on changes in the Indian Ocean. The roadmap also calls for better-resolved upper ocean processes. Read More…

Alang, home to the world’s largest stretch of shipbreaking beaches in Bhavnagar district, was initially hit hard by the Covid-19. The article illustrates how the ship breaking and ship recycling industry at Alang is opting for sustainable ways. Read More…

Matsya 6000, will be India’s first manned submersible and the dive, if successful, will be akin to a giant leap, to paraphrase Neil Armstrong, for the country. The article delves deeper into the development and launch of Matsya 6000 as part of India’s ambitious Deep Ocean Mission. Read More…

Leanne Thothiyil and Ashwini Nawathe explore narratives of museology and document the triumphs and tragedies of various facets in Maritime History on the eve of International Museum Day.Read More…

Varuna 2021 witnessed the bilateral naval exercise between Indian and French navies. The exercises synergised the stated goal of upholding the rules-based order and promoting a stable maritime security order in the Indo-Pacific. Read More…

To raise world attention on the threats to shipping in the Gulf of Guinea and take the first steps to improve security, a task force of stakeholders from across the shipping industry launched the Gulf of Guinea Declaration on the Suppression of Piracy.Read More…

The Navy has intensified Operation Samudra Setu-2 to fetch more liquid oxygen and other medical supplies amid acute shortages. 9 warships from all three Naval Commands were deployed to bring the relief material from friendly foreign countries in Persian Gulf and South-East Asia.Read More…

Dhruv Jaishankar argues Despite last year’s quadrilateral Malabar exercises and the recent announcement of new working groups, Quad cooperation on naval interoperability, critical technologies, and Covid-19 had been manifest previously. Read More…

Noctiluca Scintillans, is a large dinoflagellate– a type of phytoplankton, whose sightings date back to 500 BC. In October 2020, bright blue sparkling waters were reported on the shores of the western Indian coasts, which were presented with excitement by residents of coastal cities and tourists.Read More…

Blue economy broadly refers to the use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs in a sustainable manner. The Niti Aayog has set up a high-level panel for better coordination and integration of initiatives in the sphere of India’s blue economy.Read More…

China is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to revise the global order to suit its interests. China’s ‘Maritime Police Law,’ which came into force on 1 February 2021, attempts to cast a veneer of legality over CCG activities, but experts on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) have already identified multiple areas in which China’s law contravenes international law. Read More…

Some of the Indian Navy’s advanced light helicopters (ALH) Mk-III will be equipped with an indigenous low-frequency dunking sonar, capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare as the Indian Navy has been looking for a new utility helicopter to replace its Sea King fleet. Read More…

The Covid-19 lockdown has produced the quietest year for the world’s oceans in recent memory, according to a group of scientists working on a global map of underwater soundscapes.Read More…

Cmde G. Prakash analyzes the looming threat of PLAN submarines in the IOR and India’s reaction to it, which will have to be more than mere Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) as China seems to be on a steady course to usurping USA’s position as the world’s most dominant power. Read More…

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh in his address explained how the Blue Economy holds out a promise and hope as a new frontier and engine of global growth amidst the gloom of the COVID-19 pandemic that has damaged the global economy. the vast resource pool of oceans has to be tapped to spur economic growth. Read More…

Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 323, the first unit of the indigenously built ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Mk III aircraft, was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik at INS Hansa in Goa.Read More…

As part of the country’s fight against the second wave of Covid-19, the Indian Navy has deployed ‘Oxygen Express’ to island territories. INS Sharda, based at Kochi, has undertaken transfer of essential medical supplies to Kavaratti, capital of Lakshadweep.Read More…

An Indonesian conventional submarine that went missing this week with 53 persons on board off the coast of Bali is a HDW Type 209 vessel built by Germany and is similar to what India operates, but with one major difference.Read More…

Maritime piracy or armed robbery incidents increased by 20 percent (195 incidents) over 2019 (162), according to a report by the International Maritime Bureau of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Chaitanya Mallapur takes a look at the data and explain why India and its seafarers should take these incidents of piracy seriously.Read More…

The term “submarine cable” has been widely used, including in international treaties such as the UNCLOS, but very little attempt appears to have been made to address the systems and networks associated with the term. The article aims to provide an overview of submarine communications cable systems in India, highlighting their criticality, their vulnerabilities, and the inadequate protection they receive under national and international law.Read More…

To view the shipbuilding industry solely in economic terms and as a generator of employment, this article seeks to draw attention to the strengths and infirmities of the legal framework that regulates the shipbreaking industry as it is an enterprise of substantial magnitude. Read More…

On March 7 2021, the Philippines observed a number of Chinese fishing boats tied together and anchored at the Whitsun Reef, number later increasing to 220. The South China Sea (SCS) is strategically vital for China, as a buffer region for its industrialised coast. The article analyses the latest action at Whitsun Reef prompts queries about its purpose.Read More…

Recently, the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) asserted navigational rights and freedoms approximately 130 nautical miles (nm) west of the Lakshadweep Islands, inside India’s exclusive economic zone, without requesting India’s prior consent, consistent with international law. The article attempts to understand the issue by historical interrelation of UNCLOS and the emergence of the Freedom of Navigation and later, brings its focus at effectively understanding India’s position on this occurrence. Read More…

While there is yet to be a consensus on what constitutes the “Indo-Pacific”, it is widely viewed as the region that covers the Asia-Pacific and India. The article analyses The concept of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” which is widely espoused across the world and the informal aggrupation of Japan, India, the United States and Australia, called ‘QUAD’. Read More…

This month, the Indian Navy participated for the first time in France’s La Pérouse naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal. Scheduled for 5–7 April, the exercise witnessed participation from India’s fellow Quad Navies. The article attempts to analyse the significance of France in the Indo – Pacific region, as the region is home to “its overseas territories and 93 percent of its Exclusive Economic Zone.”Read More…

On April 07, 2021 The USS John Paul Jones, a US Navy guided missile destroyer, undertook a Freedom of Navigation patrol west of India’s Lakshadweep islands. Commodore Anil Jai Singh explains the US naval fleet’s defiance of Indian Law. FONOPS assert that the oceans are ‘global commons’ and are also an expression of the importance being attributed by the ‘arc of maritime democracies’ but it is vital to maintain a rules-based international order.Read More…

While the French Navy is all set to lead ‘La Perouse’ Navy exercise where four nations – India, the US, Australia and Japan – are taking part, stressing that the Indo-Pacific is now a reality, the Rear Admiral Jacques Fayard has said that French Navy see Indian Navy as global security provider of Indo-Pacific region Read More…

During his virtual summit with Seychelles president Wavel Ramkalawan, prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Seychelles share a vital partnership in the Indian Ocean neighbourhood. Seychelles is central to India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). Read More…

India has been working closely with countries in the Indian Ocean, especially the Maldives and Seychelles, to bolster maritime security through the supply of aircraft and patrol vessels. The PS Zoroaster is the fourth made-in-India patrol boat to be gifted to Seychelles since 2005. Read More…

The closure of the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most critical water bodies, due to a large container vessel, the MV Ever Given, running aground on March 23 while in transit, has caused enormous disruption to global shipping. This aspect points to the fragility of global trade.Read More…

India’s strategic ally France is open to jointly design and develop nuke-powered submarines India, a partnership that will assume importance in their defense relations. Read More…

#Bridges of Friendship – In the PASSEX (PAssage Exercise) carried out in the Persian Gulf, The Indian Navy deployed its warship INS Talwar while the Saudi Arabian Navy was represented by the Royal Saudi Naval Force Ship HMS Khalid.Read More…

In a notable humanitarian assistance operation, the Indian Navy, on January 21, executed medical evacuation. The Navy’s Seaking helicopter from INS Shikra conducted the operation and rescued a Malaysian citizen. Read More…

Defence ministers of India and Singapore on January 20, held a dialogue virtually wherein the navies of the two countries signed an implementing agreement on submarine rescue support and cooperation. Read More…

A webinar on ‘A Missing Dimension in Maritime Co-operation in Indian Ocean Region: Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA)’, organised by The Maritime Research Centre (MRC), Pune focusing on how the maritime sector occupies a significant place in India, the country should actively pursue and promote its geopolitical, strategic and economic interests on the seas. Read More…

Since the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai, coastal security has assumed particular importance among India’s national security concerns. In cognizance, the national government and state governments have taken several steps to address potential capacity issues of various intelligence and security forces. One such step is the biennial coastal security exercise called “Sea Vigil.” Read More…

The United States has recently declassified one of its primary national security documents—the 2018 Indo-Pacific strategic framework, which was developed by the National Security Council. The document underscores India’s capability in terms of defending its northern borders from Chinese incursions and asserts that in South Asia, the country retains its role as the key preserver of security. Read More…

December 2020 witnessed Indian Naval Ship Kiltan reach across to Vietnam and to Cambodia to provide relief. Director MHS engenders how SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) builds an effective response mechanism to address crises and disaster relief intervention and has been continuing testament of India’s evolving Indian Ocean strategy. Read More…

Water scarcity is a long-standing issue among Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The issue is further magnified by climate change and is emerging as an existential threat to SIDS. If India were to offer LTTD technology to SIDS in the IPR, this can be a natural extension of its diplomatic outreach and humanitarian assistance. Read More…

Abhijit Singh asserts how going beyond monitoring Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean, initiatives by India in the region could help generate intraregional synergy. Read More…

Addressing the press conference on the eve of Navy day, Admiral Karambir Singh enegenders the deployment of the aircraft P-8I and Heron drones to conduct surveillance in the IOR. Read More…

Indian naval ship Kiltan arrived at Nha Rong Port, Ho Chi Minh City as part of Mission Sagar-III, providing 15 toned of HADR stores for the flood-affected people of Central Vietnam in on -going pandemic. Read More…

Indian Naval Ship Kiltan arrived at Sihanoukville Port, Cambodia on as part of ongoing Mission Sagar-III and delivered 15 Tons of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Stores for the flood-affected people of Cambodia. Read More…

Arun Prakash envisages on the system of Theatre Commands and how it must be tailored to meet country-specific requirements keeping in consideration, two possible issues i.e, the chain of command of the Theatre Commanders and the relationship of the CDS (or his equivalent) with the service Chiefs. Read More…

As 2020 draws to a close, Abhijit singh reflects on some trends that have shaped the maritime security landscape over the past decade. Despite some success in combating Somali pirates at the turn of the decade, regional navies have struggle to contain other irregular challenges. Read More…

The Indo-Pacific region is increasingly being viewed as a global centre of gravity, both for its economic and demographic potential. The paper offers recommendations for the IPOI to enable India, a champion of the principle ‘Free and open Indo – Paciifc’ can play a more proactive and constructive role in the region. Read More…

China’s growing footprint and influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has made the contest for power and control in the region significant. In cognizance, India has long been wary of power-plays in the Indian Ocean but finds itself with few options today but to participate in securing a free and open Indo-Pacific. Read More…

Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral AK Jain in conversation with ANI focuses on the importance of maritime domain awareness considering the growing security threat in the Indian Ocean Region. Read More…

Kalingas trade connections with Southeast Asia and China goes back centuries, and is really a testimony to India’s seafaring tradition. Read More…

One of the largest cultural projects in recent times, the 14-galleried museum project, Lothal, hopes to add a whiff of sea air to the landlocked confines of mainstream Indian history. Read more…

In the mid-19th century, Golconda, the shorthand for a rich mine was ruled over by the Qutb Shahi Sultanate He ruled over parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu from 1512 to 1687 and for whom sea & trade became vital symbols. Read More

Mansukh Mandaviya, Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways, wants to connect the country’s coastal and inland waterways. The various projects under the ambitious Sagarmala Programme aim to accelerate port-led infrastructure development and employment. Read More…

The Kandheri incident is an important footnote in history that lies at the heart of the success of the Maratha navy. Unlike rulers who built ships predominantly to trade, Shivaji built them to fight. Read More…

The Maritime History Society, under the Indian Navy, has spent 42 years navigating a vast sea of historical data to create a better understanding of the oceans. Interview of MHS Director Commodore Johnson delves deep geopolitics and importance of maritime consciousness. Read More…

India’s first surgical strike embarked by Rajendra Chola in 1025 CE, changed the course of the subcontinent’s history and became the first Indian to raid an overseas territory. Read More…

From his landlocked North Block office at the finance ministry, Principal Economic Adviser Sanjeev Sanyal has a 360 degree view of the sea. He has spent most of his life in cities shaped by the sea, and is convinced that India’s future will be shaped by turning the map around. Read More…

Amid worries that India’s border tensions with China could spill over the maritime front, Admiral Karambir Singh says the Indian Navy is ready to meet any challenge in the Indian Ocean Region. The admiral also talks about the Navy’s modernisation plans to counter the Chinese. Read More…

In 1025, Rajendra Chola I—the most powerful king in southern India—sent out ships to Srivijaya (now in Indonesia) to make a demonstration of power. This invasion illustrates India’s glorious maritime history. Read More…

The report proposed to the Government of India elucidates on having a single Maritime Theatre Command, headed by a Navy vice-admiral and based in Karwar, Karnataka, responsible for the entire maritime domain. Considering the geographical and geopolitical context, we need at least two maritime-focused commands, facing west and east. Read More…

The country’s first Maritime Theatre Command is set to take shape by 2021, with its Commander-in-Chief having full operational control over the Eastern and Western Naval Fleet. It is claimed to be the first new Geographical Theatre Command to be established as part of the biggest – ever military restructuring plan to build an integrated land – sea – air war fighting machinery. Read More…

In his annual comments in the run-up to Navy Day, naval chief Admiral Karambir Singh outlined the orientation of the IN as a force that is ”combat-ready, credible and cohesive” The silent service should explore these uncharted waters as its relevance in the affairs of the Indo-Pacific acquires greater salience. Read More…

‘Himgiri’, the first of the three Project 17A ships being built at M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata was launched on 14 December 2020. The launch of ‘Himgiri’ has showcased GRSE’s commitment towards the building of three state-of-the-art warships of P17A for Indian Navy. Read More…

The radical transformation of the world economy in the post-World War II period – driven by globalisation, trade, and technology – has underscored the role of connectivity. In 2019, India and Russia announced their intent to connect the ports in their respective cities, Chennai and Vladivostok. This paper explores the economic and strategic viability of this proposed maritime connectivity corridor. Read More…

The history of the world is replete with examples of seafaring and maritime nations that progressed and gained the ascendancy by powering their national progress through the oceans. The use of oceans, seas and waterways is as old as human existence itself. They have been the medium through which humanity, culture, ideas and trade have travelled across the globe. This quality of the oceans brings great significance to all nations, more so to a maritime nation such as ours. Read More…

In 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Mauritius, had articulated his vision of SAGAR, which highlighted the maritime orientation of India’s strategic neighbourhood and the importance of enhancing regional maritime security. Recent visits by the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Secretary to India’s maritime neighbours further underlines this. Read More…

The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), a nodal agency of the Gujarat government, has been trying to develop a maritime cluster consisting of Gujarat-based shipping lines, freight forwarders, shipping agents, bunker suppliers, stevedores, and shipbrokers with chartering requirements. at GIFT City in the state capital Gandhinagar through its subsidiary Gujarat Ports Infrastructure and Development Company Ltd (GPIDCL). Read More…

To recognise the achievements and contribution of the Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, on December 4, 2020, the Indian Navy took to Twitter to recall moments from the 1971 war which witnessed a military confrontation between India and Pakistan during the Bangladesh liberation war and recalled the contribution of INS Mysore during the Western Fleet Operations of 1971 War. Read More…

The Print has learnt, India’s plan for the Maritime Theatre Command (MTC), which will merge the Eastern and Western naval commands besides getting elements from the Army and the Air Force, could involve bringing the Indian Coast Guard assets under its operational control. Read More…

It has been twelve years since the heinous attack on Mumbai on 26 November 2020. While ‘coastal border management’ was institutionalised in 2004 with the establishment of the Department of Border Management (DoBM) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the management of coastal (and maritime) security in India underwent a paradigm shift after the ‘26/11’ attacks. Read More…

World Maritime Day was observed on September 24 and it has once again brought into focus UNESCO’s 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. Read More…

Dr Soni Wadhwa, Joint Director (Research), MHS writes in The Daily Guardian: The maritime domain is multidimensional. It has the onus of contributing trajectories for a wide connection with its ability for displacement of ships and boats, by the possibility of intermingling of people, as a carrier of ideas and assimilator of culture. Read More…

Saba Purkar and Ashwini Nawathe from Team MHS write an article in The Daily Guardian: India’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean Region has ensured that we have a list of maritime stories and heroes that have left an impressive wake. Read More…

Dr Andre Baptista from Team MHS writes in The Daily Guardian: The communities along the coast have been silent observers but active recipients of varied cultural traits and practices that serve as an excellent record of their histories. It is therefore unfortunate that the narratives of these communities are often relegated to the side lines in the overall telling of our country’s history. Read More…

Director MHS writes in The Daily Guardian: The concept of ‘Maritime Consciousness’ has been gaining prominence among the various jargons used in the maritime domain. Any country seeking a strong influence in the global high table must remain committed to ensure the security of the seas and sustainably exploit marine resources. Read More…

Ashwini Nawathe and Saba Purkar from Team MHS write an article for The Daily Guardian on the occasion of Remembrance Day: “On a warm Wednesday morning, 11 November 1942, HMIS Bengal a British Indian corvette, was escorting the oil tanker MV Ondina on passage from Freemantle to Diego Garcia. When they had reached half the way an unknown vessel was seen steaming straight for them. Read More…

Director MHS writes in The Daily Guardian: As a diplomatic instrument, the Navy has key attributes—access, mobility, reach and versatility. We need to embed these attributes within the larger vision of India›s role in the global arena. A flexible but proactive maritime international presence is essential to safeguard and project our national interests overseas. Read More…

The decision came after the central government notified the Director General of Shipping as the National Authority for Recycling of Ships under Section 3 of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, stated an official release from the Press Information Bureau on Thursday. Read More…

India will hand over INS Sindhuvir, a Kilo class submarine to the Myanmar Navy, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday. Addressing the weekly press interaction, official spokesperson of MEA Anurag Srivastava said this will be the first submarine of the Southeast Asian country and the move is in line with the overall Indian vision that aspires to guarantee security for all maritime partners. Read More…

With its entry into the DCOC, India gets a toehold in China’s glowing pearl, Djibouti. Observers view the DCOC entry as a positive move. They note that India so far has only access to information on white shipping (commercial), and tie-ups like DCOC which will give India access to grey (military) shipping activities, too. Read More…

The planned expansion of the NCC in coastal areas, which is essentially a community focused initiative has the potential to contribute effectively, in supporting both central and state agencies, in addressing challenges like disaster management and security-related tasks. Therefore, this capability must be effectively leveraged. Read More…

This policy brief recommends the opening up of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the friendly navies of the US, Japan, Australia and France, among others, in order to promote greater naval cooperation. Read More…

As competition intensifies in the Indian Ocean Region, India loses touch with Sri Lanka and solidifies relations with the Maldives. Read More…

An article by the research team at MHS in The Daily Guardian: “India is a country that boasts of oceanic expanse on three sides, a coastline which has shaped its past, and still continues to contribute to its present. Yet, one needs to note that the history of the Indian Peninsula has been predominantly been identified and studied from the landward dimension.” Read More…

A Report from The Indian Express:According to sources, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will have to consider a number of aspects before granting the No-Objection Certificate (NOC). Read More…

A Report from The Indian Express: It is the fifth and last in a series of FPVs built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. Read More…

Cmde Srikant Kesanur, Director of Maritime Warfare Centre in Mumbai and Officer in Charge of the Naval History Project, relives the glory days of INS Viraat, once the centrepiece of the Navy’s combat capability, and tells Mayura Janwalkar why a generation of naval officers saw her go with a heavy heart. Read More…

“From 1939 to 1945, the Royal Indian Navy fought on the high seas in the greatest conflict in human history. In this episode, Commodore Odakkal Johnson, director of the Maritime History Society joins Aditya Ramanathan and Aditya Pareek to talk about the Royal Indian Navy’s exploits and its legacy.” Listen Now…

“Denial of access to unauthorised vessels inside India’s Offshore Development Area is a major challenge, with warships and submarine involved in the robust surveillance arrangement.” Read More…

“Comprehending sagar in its vast and delicate multi-layered complexity is vital for India. Revisiting NMA of 2014 should be a policy imperative for the government.” Read More…

Commodore Odakkal Johnson, Director MHS, writes in The Daily Guardian: “Let INS Viraat be commissioned as IAC3. Three indigenously built aircraft carriers must be the face and force of an Aatmanirbhar Samudri Bharat.” Read More…

“As the world’s major powers pivot to an increasingly important part of the world, Delhi’s balancing act will become crucial” Read More…

“India’s maritime sector stands at the cusp of a new dawn. If we are to establish ourselves as a leader in the maritime space, we need to take giant leaps in technological and financial aspects.” Read More…

Former CNS Adm Arun Prakash about “A Maritime Awakening”: As we watch the situation in Ladakh unfold, it becomes increasingly obvious that not only is a military resolution improbable, but a “hot-war” may be unaffordable for both nuclear-armed countries. Read More…

Lt Gen KJ Singh writes: Vice Admiral M.P. Awati was probably the best role model for the Indian Navy…. “Vice Admiral M.P. Awati, you were not only omnipresent but also omniscient and omnipotent. You were considerate to listen; took trouble to be present, where most commandants never went and above all dared to be bold and compassionate in dispensing justice.” Read More…

Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd) writes: “If Viraat’s de-commissioning ceremony was a sad experience, the thought of this leviathan’s last voyage to the Alang boneyard is even more depressing. The sadness will extend well beyond our shores because ‘Happy Hermes’ is a fondly-remembered icon in the Royal Navy too. The UK First Sea Lord was present at her de-commissioning.” Read More…

An article by Director MHS, Cmde Odakkal Johnson in The Daily Guardian. “The Samudra Setu initiative by the Navy to repatriate Indians stuck overseas due to Covid-19 has also allowed us to look back at India’s maritime history to connect globally and celebrate the common or shared heritage.” Read More…

“The Djibouti Code of Conduct is a key tool in repressing piracy and armed robbery against ships in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. The event saw many proposals presented, such as the development of a regional informationsharing network, based on the existing national maritime information sharing centres in all the participating countries.” Read More…

“In the near-term, Quad partners could potentially help with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements across the Indo-Pacific while avoiding getting into the fight. Although not feasible in the near future, a sharp Indian maritime and air expeditionary capability could add to leverage.” Read More…

A thought provoking paper on climate change vis-a-vis shipping. “The impacts of climate change are now affecting the way of life for billions of people in almost every part of the planet….The consequences of such a large temperature rise will be catastrophic for human civilisations.” Read full paper…

Aegean II, a ship recently reported to have been hijacked by pirates is safe now. “The Aegean II had originally altered its course due to a damaged hull and after local police had boarded it, “there had been certain incidents on board the vessel”, the EU force said in a statement.” Read More…

Captain DK Sharma of BSI interacts with a very experienced and a highly decorated Naval Aviator Capt P Rajkumar SC NM(G) who tells us about the types of helicopters in the Indian Navy followed by the basic difference between flying over seas and terra firma viz. land. He also throws some light on the various challenges which the Naval Aviators face whilst carrying out flying from small decks of the ships…Listen Now….

An obituary by Cdr K Ashok Menon (Retd). “If his contribution to strategic thinking earned the Admiral praise from the savants, the legacy he left behind in the Navy too, albeit in a different avatar, has been equally unique”Read More…

The tug-of-war between the United Kingdom and Mauritius over Chagos archipelago – and the US military base on Diego Garcia – is hotting up. In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution which endorsed a non binding decision from the International Court of Justice that supported Mauritius’s claim to the Chagos. London has so far stoutly resisted calls to hand over the islands Read More…