Post 26/11, India has taken several steps to implement a comprehensive coastal monitoring, control and surveillance system. Notable amongst them is an indigenous Two-way mobile satellite service (MSS) network developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the purpose of Vessel tracking.
ISRO and Indian Navy did a proof-of-concept trial, and later ISRO commissioned a project to conduct field trials of the indigenous Vessel Tracking System (VTS) based on NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation). Over 1000 fishing vessels in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Puducherry were equipped with VTS and on successful completion of field trials, a report was submitted in 2019 for further action.
From a coastal security perspective, the aim of the project was to connect all the sub-20-meter fishing vessels to a unified platform via ISRO’s satellites. The VTS can provide data to operational centres of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guards for better co-ordination in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) of coastline. Besides strengthening the information dissemination mechanism amongst India’s maritime security agencies, the VTS enables maritime data fusion at The Information Management and Analysis Center (IMAC) that links information from high seas and India’s coastline and island territories. VTS also enhances the technical surveillance infrastructure at The National Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence (NC3I) Network. During distress situations it also aids Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in search and rescue operations.
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