Page 4 - Indian Ocean

Govt aims to increase warships in Arabian Sea to combat piracy risk

India permanently deploys warships at five choke points in the Indian Ocean, stretching from the Gulf of Aden in the west to the Malacca Strait in the east

Maldives as tourist hub: Its history and what lies ahead for island nation

Maldives, with a population of 550,000 people dispersed across 185 islands, has become a popular tourist hub in the last five decades and today attracts about 25% of its GDP directly from tourism

Merchant vessel with 15 Indian crew hijacked near Somalian coast: Navy

India sends a stealth guided-missile destroyer and patrol aircraft to monitor ship

Problems in Red Sea will not impact India's maritime trade: Shipping secy

Ports, Shipping and Waterways secretary T K Ramachandran on Wednesday said the problems in the Red Sea will have "no impact" on India's maritime trade with the rest of the world. The situation around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, has escalated due to recent attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants. Asked will the Red sea developments have any impact on India's maritime trade, he said, "no impact". The strait, vital for 30 per cent of global container traffic, has seen increased tensions with various incidents in 2023, including attacks and military manoeuvres by regional and global powers. The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, also known as the "Gate of Tears" in Arabic, is a crucial trade route that connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. It separates Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

6.5 magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia's Papua region, no casualties yet

A powerful earthquake shook Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua early on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.5 quake was centred 162 kilometers (101 miles) northeast of Abepura, a subdistrict in Jayapura, the capital of Papua province. It happened at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency said there was no danger of a tsunami but warned of possible aftershocks as the earthquake was centred in land. With a population of just 62,250, Abepura is one of Indonesia's least populated towns. In February, another shallow earthquake shook the province, killing four people who were unable to escape when a floating restaurant collapsed into the sea. Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 270 million people, is frequently hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its location on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in

Merchant ship attacked two days ago by 'drone' arrives outside Mumbai port

The cargo of the ship is planned to be transferred to another ship and a joint investigation is being carried out by the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Intelligence agencies and other officials

LIVE: Israeli military says some 8,000 Palestinian fighters killed in Gaza

Catch all the latest LIVE updates from across the globe here

Navy begins probe into attack on merchant vessel off India's west coast

The Indian Navy has launched an investigation into a suspected drone strike on a Mangalore-bound cargo vessel off India's west coast in the Arabian sea even as the merchant ship is on its way to Mumbai, officials familiar with the matter said on Sunday. The Navy and the Indian Coast Guard swung into action by deploying their assets including a warship and maritime patrol aircraft on Saturday soon after the UK Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO, reported the drone "attack" on MV Chem Pluto that has around 20 Indian crew members. There was no report of any casualty in the incident. The Liberian flagged vessel is now on its way to Mumbai and Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Vikram is providing security to it, the officials said. The Navy has launched an investigation into the incident including into the origin of the strike, said an official on the condition of anonymity as the matter is sensitive in nature. The vessel, carrying crude oil to the New Mangalore port from the Al Jubail po

Pentagon says Iranian drone struck chemical tanker in Indian Ocean: Report

The incident comes as the latest illustration of the growing regional tensions after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel

Cooperation in Indian Ocean must be inclusive: Maldives at China Forum

The new Maldives government on Friday said cooperation in the Indian Ocean must include all countries in the region and avoid factionalism to bring about development among the ocean communities in the area. Addressing the China-sponsored second conference of the Indian Ocean Region Forum in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southwest China, Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef said his country stands ready to forge stronger bonds, share expertise, and work hand in hand towards a resilient and prosperous Indian Ocean Region. Since the Maldives graduated from the list of Least Developed Countries in 2011, it has sought to strengthen its partnerships in the Indian Ocean and beyond to contribute to peaceful co-existence and prosperity in the region, he said. Cooperation in the Indian Ocean must be inclusive, without discrimination and must include all countries in the region, he said. Inclusivity would alleviate factionalism and contribute to the development and ...

China to hold 2nd Indian Ocean Region Forum to firm up influence in India

China this week will hold the second conference of its Indian Ocean Region Forum, an initiative to bring together several countries in the region in an attempt to solidify its influence in the strategic waters adjacent to India's backyard. Last year the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), an organisation part of the ruling Communist Party of China's Leadership Group, held a meeting of the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation (CIORFDC) in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southwest China. CIDCA is headed by Luo Zhaohui, the former Vice Foreign Minister and ex-Ambassador to India. The CIDCA claimed 19 countries including Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti, Australia took part in the conference. Australia and Maldives subsequently denied their participation. India was not invited to the

Advanced fishing nations must take responsibility for tuna damage: India

India on Monday said that advanced fishing nations must take responsibility for the damage caused to the Indian Ocean tuna stocks. Addressing virtually the concluding session of the 19th Working Party on Data Collection and Statistics of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala said the recent surge in industrial fishing by some nations has raised concerns globally. While many nations allowed their gigantic industrial fleets to exploit and deplete the Indian Ocean's tuna wealth, India maintained fleets of modest size operating with passive gear and leaving minimal footprints in the seascape, he said. "The impact of advanced fishing nations on global tuna stocks, especially in the high seas, is undeniable," he said. Recent research indicates that high seas fisheries, in their current scale, heavily rely on large government subsidies. Stating that the surge in industrial fishing has posed challenges to the ...

India to add $5 bn aircraft carrier to counter China's naval presence

The new carrier, which can hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters and displaces 45,000 tons of water - a measure of size for ships, will be flying the French Rafale jets

Israeli ship targeted in suspected Iranian attack in Indian Ocean: Report

A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday. The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weeks long war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The defense official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew. We continue to monitor the situation closely, the official said. The official declined to elaborate on what intelligence the U.S. military gathered to assess Iran w

Indian Navy chief offers to run warship training hub for regional states

In order to bring together like-minded maritime nations of South and South Eastern Asia, the Indian Navy began hosting the Goa Maritime Conclave

Indian Navy keeping watch on Chinese counterpart in IOR, says Vice Admiral

The Indian Navy is monitoring the developments in West Asia and also keeping a sharp watch on the Chinese Navy's activities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) by the hour, a top Navy officer said on Wednesday in the context of the escalating Hamas-Israel conflict. Replying to a host of questions in a session at the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 here, Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, who heads the crucial Western Naval Command, said the Navy is fully aware of Chinese activities in the IOR or possible ripple effects of what is happening in West Asia. There is constantlyat this point of time there is someone in the naval headquarters or the command headquarters working on what could happen after whatever is happening in West Asia (a reference to the Hamas-Israel conflict)," he said. The vice admiral said as far as the Chinese are concerned, we are keeping a sharp watch on whatever they are doing in the South China Sea. "In the Indian Ocean, we are keeping a sharp watch as to where thei

Important to maintain Indian Ocean as open, inclusive space: EAM Jaishankar

India on Wednesday asked the countries in the Indian Ocean region to effectively address the development challenges as it warned them to be clear of the dangers of "hidden agendas" in unviable projects or unsustainable debt, in an apparent reference to China which is accused by the West of "debt trap" diplomacy. Speaking at the 23rd Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) here, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that it is important to maintain the Indian Ocean as a free, open and inclusive space based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), as the Constitution of the Seas. Later in his remarks to the press, Jaishankar said India's commitment to the IORA is deeply rooted in the principles of peaceful coexistence, shared prosperity, and regional collaboration. "For Member States to grow and prosper, development challenges must be continuously and effectively addressed. In particular, we should cooperate on various aspects of the

Respect for sovereignty remains foundation for reviving Indian Ocean: EAM

India on Wednesday said a multilateral rules-based international order, along with sincere respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity remains the foundation for reviving the Indian Ocean as a strong community, in a veiled attack on China which is flexing its muscles in the region. Speaking at the 23rd Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) here, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also said that it is important to maintain the Indian Ocean as a free, open and inclusive space based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), as the Constitution of the Seas. "We will continue our approach of contributing to build capacity and secure safety and security in the Indian Ocean region including as first responder and a net security provider," Jaishankar said as India assumed the Vice-Chair role of IORA for 2023-25 at the crucial meeting. "A multilateral rules-based international order, along with sincere respect for sovereignty and ...

Navy commences mega disaster relief exercise in the Indian Ocean

Exercise Chakravat forms a key component in the Navy's benign role, as climate change has significantly increased vulnerability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to natural disasters

Maldives election: The implications of pro-China Muizzu's win for India