Visakhapatnam, November 11, 2026: Preparations for Sea Vigil 2026 have brought the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard together with maritime security agencies and coastal communities in Andhra Pradesh. The fifth nationwide coastal defence exercise is scheduled to run from November 11 to 19.
On October 22, major stakeholders responsible for coastal security in the state reviewed existing arrangements under the aegis of the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh). The review examined current mechanisms, operational challenges and ways to improve coordination among the agencies safeguarding the coastline.
Preparations involve the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard working with the Coastal Security Police, Fisheries Department, Ports authorities, Lighthouses, Customs and Immigration, Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB), intelligence agencies and the local fishermen community.
The agencies are working to evaluate operational parameters, strengthen cooperation and improve information-sharing. Fishermen and coastal communities also form an additional layer of surveillance along the coast and can report suspicious maritime activity to security agencies.
Exercise to cover the coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone
The Indian Navy is coordinating Sea Vigil 2026 as the lead agency. The exercise will cover India’s entire coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone, with all coastal states and Union Territories taking part alongside central and state agencies responsible for maritime security.
Sea Vigil will be conducted in two phases. The Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE) phase is scheduled for November 11 to 17, followed by the Sea Phase on November 18 and 19.
Conceptualised in 2018 after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Sea Vigil was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of measures introduced to strengthen India’s coastal security architecture. It also precedes the Indian Navy’s biennial Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which evaluates broader naval operational capabilities.
The preparations in Andhra Pradesh focus on coordination between agencies, operational readiness and timely intelligence sharing. Through the exercise, participating organisations will assess their collective ability to respond to coastal security challenges and strengthen India’s maritime defence preparedness.
