As part of bilateral security ties under the Anti-Terrorism Assistance pact between India and the USA, Maritime Interdiction of Terrorism training was conducted at Indian Coast Guard station Okha in Devbhoomi Dwarka district from September 11 to 29 by the Anti-Terrorism Assistance, Bureau of Diplomatic  Security, the USA.

The inclusion of maritime security and cyber crime into the existing six training programmes has added new dimensions to the enhanced security cooperation.  A total of 18 Officers from Indian Coast Guard and police department of various States of India attended the training programme. The training covered theory and practical classes on personal safety, room intervention techniques, boarding tactics, frisking and searching techniques. The three weeks long training also covered training onboard marine platform where participants were taken to the ship for simulated boarding exercises, various equipment were brought from the US.

At the concluding ceremony held on Friday, the chief guest, Inspector General Rakesh Pal, Tatrakshak Medal, Commander Coast Guard Region (North-West), said that maritime security is  always dynamic and the challenges it throws to security agencies at sea and land are enormous. History bears witness to different dimensions in which the sea can be used. On one hand the sea seamlessly connects the world, brings in benefits of prosperity through trade and commerce, with its resources always available for humanity, while on the other hand - the threat of piracy, armed robbery, drug, human and arms trafficking and terrorism too emanate from sea.

These threats have plagued human civilization for long, forcing us to design and develop strategies to tackle them.  This three weeks programme would definitely give an insight into the maritime security challenges and provide means to thwart them by synergising the efforts of security agencies.