The seminar opened with a keynote address by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, who emphasized the critical need for trust-based partnerships, collaborative frameworks, and enhanced interoperability to tackle emerging maritime challenges. Mr. Sushil Mansing Khopde, IPS, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Shipping, highlighted India’s initiatives to strengthen regional maritime security through regulatory alignment and cooperative engagement.
Discussions on Maritime Security
Over the course of two days, participants deliberated on regional security dynamics, operational coordination, maritime law, industry perspectives, and transnational maritime crime. Sessions emphasized technological integration, data interoperability, and collective commitment, underscoring the importance of a resilient and responsive maritime security framework across the region.
Practical Table-Top Exercise with MANTRA Software
On 5th November 2025, delegates will participate in a Table Top Exercise (TTX) at IFC–IOR using the indigenously developed Maritime Analytical Tool for Regional Awareness (MANTRA) software. The exercise will simulate maritime security scenarios including piracy, drug smuggling, irregular human migration, and distress-at-sea situations. Participants will practice multi-agency coordination, rapid information sharing, and synchronized response planning to refine real-time decision-making and collaborative maritime security outcomes.
Building Regional Maritime Resilience
Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna, CS NCO, concluded the seminar highlighting the importance of synergy among regional information-sharing frameworks. He reaffirmed that collaboration, sustained dialogue, and technology-driven solutions remain central to ensuring a secure and safe maritime domain in the Indian Ocean Region.