As part of the Maritime Security Programme which was launched by then Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash on 19th May 2006 at ORF Chennai, Observer Research Foundation, the National Maritime Foundation and the College of Naval Warfare, ORF Mumbai joined hands to conduct an International seminar at ORF Mumbai on 11th and 12th January 2007.
As part of the Maritime Security Programme which was launched by then Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash on 19th May 2006 at ORF Chennai, Observer Research Foundation, the National Maritime Foundation and the College of Naval Warfare, ORF Mumbai joined hands to conduct an International seminar at ORF Mumbai on 11th and 12th January 2007.
The conference summary, recommendations and the flagged issues were presented to a select audience at ORF New Delhi on 16th January 2007 in the presence of the honourable Raksha Mantri Shri AK Antony, The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta and the Director General Coast Guard Vice Admiral RF Contractor. The highlights of the two events are covered in the succeeding paragraphs.
ORF Mumbai Conference on 11th and 12th Jan 07
The International conference was conducted at INHS Asvini auditorium with the seating capacity of 250 at ORF Mumbai, overlooking the Arabian Sea. The delegates and the dignitaries were heartily welcomed by Admiral Nayyar, Chairman of the National Maritime Foundation. Admiral Nayyar while delivering the welcome address, he brought out that this is the first time that two major think tanks and an institute of higher learning are coming together to conduct a conference of this nature to promote maritime interests in the region. He also highlighted the maritime dimensions that need to be examined in the context of a growing maritime India.
The Governor of Maharashtra His Excellency Shri SM Krishna inaugurated the conference on 11th morning. During the inaugural address the Governor brought out the significance of holding the conference in the Commercial capital of India with a maritime character. References were made to the Maratha Admiral Kanhoji Angre who had understood the significance of the control and use of the seas to growth of trade and security. He also brought out the aspect of the tradition of shipbuilding and repair that was prevalent for centuries in this part of India and its contribution to maritime trade and commerce.
The Governor brought out the great potential that the seas hold in the century of the seas. The fact that India would be placed amongst the top four economies had brought on additional responsibilities to protect the sea-lanes and bring out about a transformation in our Ports and related infrastructure.
Delivering the keynote address, the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command, Admiral SS Byce highlighted the need to have greater coordination and understanding amongst the many agencies tasked with the aspects of ocean management and governance. He stressed the need for a central agency, which could coordinate and oversee the tasking of many agencies that appear to be working in watertight compartments. The importance of balancing the two conflicting requirements of trade and security was even more in a competing environment driven by global practices to cut down costs and increase profits.
Conduct of Conference. There were four sessions spread over two days. Each session was chaired by an eminent personality after the keynote address by a subject expert. Four sessions were spread over two days of intense debate and deliberations bringing out relevant issues and action points for consideration by the stakeholders.
Participant Profile. All the sessions were attended by members of the shipping companies, Insurance sector, members of the Navy and the Coast Guard, Indian Register of Shipping, Maritime Institutes of learning, Academia and other intellectuals.
Socials. All the participants and the elite from ORF Mumbai were invited for an evening reception hosted by the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command onboard the Indian Museum Ship Vikant. Admiral SS Byce addressed the invitees and indicated his happiness in being able to be part of this initiative to promote maritime interests. Admiral Walter Doran who was the former Pacific Fleet Commander presently with Raytheon who also were major sponsors of the event was presented with a memento by Admiral Nayyar.
Valediction. General VP Malik Former Army Chief and the President of ISS Observer Research Foundation delivered the concluding remarks. While summing up the conference General Malik highlighted issues that needed attention by the policy makers. He expressed happiness at the way the conference was conceived and executed by the three organisations concerned and hoped that actionable points that merited attention would be assigned the right kind of priority by the policy makers.
Sponsorship/Partners. Raytheon whole-heartedly supported the event as major sponsors. Indian Ship Owners Association and the Indian Register of Shipping gladly accepted to be the conference partners to support the event that held interest both to the maritime trading community and to the security establishment.
Press/Media Coverage. Both the events were well covered by the media thus helping in the process of sensitisation of the public on a very important issue.
< class="maroontitle">Presentation of Conference Summary, Recommendations and Flagged Issues at New Delhi on 16th January 2007.
It was the decision of the organisers to ensure that no time was wasted in presenting the finding and recommendations to the decision makers from the GoI. Accordingly, the presentation of conference summary, findings and recommendations were put forward to a select audience in the presence of the Raksha Mantri, Shri AK Antony, The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta and the Director General Coast Guard.
Genera VP Malik Former Army Chief and the President of the ISS, ORF during his welcome address reemphasised the maritime character of India, the growing opportunities in the maritime field and drew attention to the inevitability of our sea linkages with other trading nations which are so essential to growth and prosperity of the country.
The Chief of the Naval Staff while addressing the gathering expressed happiness that such an initiative was taken by two major think tanks and the College of Naval warfare an Institute of higher learning, to provide a plat form to experts from the relevant fields to examine various issues that may aid the process of balancing the trade and security. Admiral Sureesh Mehta highlighted the importance of the ocean management and governance in a more systematic way to ensure that the Nation was in a position to harness this vast potential. The Chief of the Naval Staff also brought out the capability of the Navy that acquitted itself most creditably post Tsunami not only on our own shores but also in the neighbouring Indian Ocean Littorals ravaged by Tsunami.
Admiral Ravi Vohra IN (Retd), Director National Maritime Foundation and Commodore RS Vasan IN (Retd) gave an over view of the sessions and also highlighted the issues that merit attention by policy makers in the maritime sector to achieve that fine balance between aspects of trade and security.
Shri AK Antony, the honourable Raksha Mantri in his special address to the gathering expressed his unhappiness about the state of our shipbuilding potential and the time delays that are coming in the way of our being competitive.
The Raksha Mantri expressed his total happiness with the Navy for the way issued that he would do everything in his means to see that the issues that are of concern would be given topmost priority and he would oversee the implementation of the decisions taken.
< class="maroontitle">< style="font-size: medium;">Media Coverage
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