New Delhi, Nov 11 — The fifth edition of the pan-India coastal defence exercise Sea Vigil-26 is being held from November 11 to 19, coordinated by the Indian Navy as the lead agency, according to an official release from the Ministry of Defence carried by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Source: Press Information Bureau / Ministry of Defence

The exercise will be conducted in two phases: the Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE) phase from November 11 to 17, followed by the Sea Phase on November 18 and 19, the ministry said. It will span the entire coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of India and involve all coastal states and Union Territories, along with other maritime stakeholders including the fishing and coastal communities.

11–19 NovExercise dates
5thEdition of Sea Vigil
2Phases — CDSRE, then Sea Phase

BharatShakti reported that Sea Vigil-26 kicked off on November 11 to assess the country's preparedness against maritime security threats, with assets of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Security Police, Customs and other maritime agencies taking part, facilitated by the ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Fisheries.

Source: BharatShakti

Exercise Sea Vigil was conceptualised in 2018 to validate the measures instituted to strengthen maritime security in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, ANI reported, citing the defence ministry release. Sea Vigil-26 also serves as a build-up to the Indian Navy's biennial Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise, TROPEX.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

The nine-day drill is the longest edition of Sea Vigil so far, and its sea phase next week will test how the Navy, Coast Guard and state coastal police respond together to threats against ports, offshore installations and other coastal assets.