The Mauritius National Coast Mauritius (MNCG) and two warships of the Indian Navy has set up a Joint Anti-Piracy Patrol (JAPP) to reinforce security in the Indian Ocean region.
The release from the Mauritian government indicates that as the waters of Seychelles border the Northern Boundary of the Mauritius Maritime Zone, the local authorities have become very worried following several recent pirate attacks in Seychelles territorial waters.
The release adds that the Mauritian government has asked for the help of friendly states and in this context the JAPP has been organized.
The military operations aim at giving the assurance to merchant ships and fishing vessels that adequate measures are being put in place by the Government of Mauritius to enhance military presence in the region, added the release.
The cooperation with the two Indian warships, namely the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shardul and the INS Varuna will also include training members of the MNCG on such military operations as “Visit, Board Search, Seizure” of suspicious vessels navigating in the region and “Fire Fighting and Damage and Pollution Control” on board ships.
The the two Indian naval ships together with members of the MNCG have been patrolling in the vicinity of the outer island of Agalega and have already controlled five merchant ships which were in the region, said the release.
Source African Press Agency
