Navies Of India, Mozambique Perform Joint Surveillance Of Exclusive Economic Zone

Off the coast of Mozambique, the navies of India and Mozambique worked together to keep an eye on the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

From March 21 to 23, the INS Sujata and the Mozambique Navy worked together for the first time to watch the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast of Mozambique.

Indian Navy said in a statement that Mozambican naval officers were onboard INS Sujata during surveillance and activities like questioning, investigating merchant and fishing vessels, visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations, and training Bridge and Machinery watchkeepers.

The joint EEZ surveillance will improve maritime cooperation between India and Mozambique. It is also in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR, which shows India’s commitment to security and growth for everyone in the Indian Ocean region.

A spokesperson for the Indian Navy tweeted, “The #INSSujata and the #Mozambique Navy worked together for the first time to watch the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast of #Mozambique from March 21–23. Search and seizure operations, as well as the training of bridge and machinery watchkeepers, were done.”

In another tweet, the Indian Navy spokesperson said, “The joint EEZ surveillance will improve maritime cooperation between the two countries and is in line with the @PMOIndia Shri @narendramodi’s vision of #SAGAR, which shows India’s commitment to security and growth for all in the region.”

The ship INS Sujata, which is based at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, went to Port Maputo, Mozambique, from March 19 to 21 as part of an overseas deployment.

Captain Nitin Kapoor, DA Pretoria, Commandant NRN Siva Babu, Coast Guard Afloat Support Team, and Captain Florentino Jose’ Narciso from the Mozambican Navy met the ship at the jetty on March 21, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release. The Mozambican Navy Band and traditional dancers also performed.

The Mozambican Navy sent about 40 people to the ship for Cross deck training. The training included a tour of the training facilities, a briefing on diving operations, training on VBSS and light weapons, visual communication, and maintenance of machinery and hygiene onboard.

The people in the Indian Navy and the Mozambican Navy also got together for activities like morning yoga sessions and soccer games. Onboard Sujata, several Indian and Mozambican dignitaries and diplomats also attended a reception. In the press release, the Ministry of Defence said that the INS Sujata’s trip to Mozambique strengthened cooperation and ties between the two navies.