New Delhi: The Indian and Thai navies on Wednesday kicked off a three-day coordinated patrol in the Andaman Sea in the backdrop of growing concern over China's increasing maritime presence in the Indian Ocean region. The Indian Navy's offshore patrol vessel INS Saryu and Thai ship Krabi along with Dornier maritime patrol aircraft from both navies are participating in the 31st edition of the India-Thailand coordinated patrol (CORPAT), officials said.
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The two navies have been bi-annually undertaking CORPAT along their international maritime boundary line (IMBL) since 2005 to keep the vital part of the Indian Ocean safe and secure for global trade, Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. "The CORPAT builds up understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitates institution of measures to prevent and suppress unlawful activities like illegal unreported unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy," he said.
"It further helps enhance the operational synergy by exchange of information for the prevention of smuggling, illegal immigration and the conduct of search and rescue operations at sea," he added. In sync with the government's vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with the countries in the Indian Ocean Region towards enhancing regional maritime security.