Navy, Coast Guard Coordinate Andhra Pradesh Coastal Security Agencies for Sea Vigil 2026 તૈયારી

India’s coastal security agencies in Andhra Pradesh have reviewed the state’s maritime preparedness ahead of Sea Vigil 2026, the fifth edition of the nationwide exercise running from November 11 to 19. The Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard are coordinating preparations with state and central agencies, as well as local fishermen, to assess readiness and improve cooperation along the coast.

The review took place on October 22 under the aegis of the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh). It brought together the major stakeholders responsible for coastal security in the state to examine existing arrangements, identify operational challenges and strengthen coordination.

Preparations involve the Navy and Coast Guard working alongside the Coastal Security Police, Fisheries Department, Ports authorities, Lighthouses, Customs and Immigration, the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB), intelligence agencies and the local fishermen community. Their joint work is intended to assess operational parameters, improve cooperation between agencies and streamline information-sharing.

Fishermen and coastal communities are part of the security effort because their presence along the shoreline can provide an additional layer of surveillance. They can also help security agencies by reporting suspicious maritime activity.

Nationwide exercise in two phases

Sea Vigil 2026 is being coordinated by the Indian Navy as the lead agency. It will cover India’s entire coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone, with participation from all coastal states and Union Territories. The exercise brings together the central and state agencies responsible for maritime security.

The exercise has two phases. The Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE) will run from November 11 to 17, followed by the Sea Phase on November 18 and 19. Participating agencies will use the exercise to assess their collective ability to respond to coastal security challenges.

First conceptualised in 2018 after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Sea Vigil was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of measures introduced to strengthen India’s coastal security architecture. It also serves as a precursor to the Indian Navy’s biennial Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which evaluates broader naval operational capabilities.

The preparations in Andhra Pradesh focus on inter-agency coordination, operational readiness and timely intelligence sharing as participating organisations work to strengthen maritime security and safeguard India’s maritime interests.