In a move to strengthen coastal security, the Maharashtra police, in partnership with the Indian Navy and IIT Madras, have launched a mobile application called Marine Domain Awareness (MDA). The app is designed to track suspicious vessels along the state’s 877-km coastline, stretching from Palghar in the north to Sindhudurg in the south.
Traditionally, coastal monitoring has relied on the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which works well for large commercial ships but struggles to detect smaller vessels like fishing and passenger boats that often operate without identification systems. The MDA app, developed under the guidance of a professor at IIT Madras, is aimed at plugging this critical gap.
With around 32,000 boats operating along Maharashtra’s coast—including 28,000 fishing vessels and 4,000 passenger boats—authorities have long faced difficulties in distinguishing routine activity from potential threats.
How the system works
Under the new initiative, fishermen and passenger boat operators will receive mobile phones equipped with the MDA app. The app was piloted on 100 fishing boats over a month, and officials reported it was highly effective in tracking movement patterns in Indian waters.
Vessel activity will be monitored through a central control room at Mahim Sagari Police Station, with additional rooms planned across seven coastal districts for real-time surveillance and faster emergency response.
Inspector General of Police Rajiv Jain, heading Maharashtra’s coastal security, told The Indian Express, “The system would significantly enhance surveillance and response capabilities. The project has proven successful during trials, and work is underway to expand server capacity.” He also noted that authorities are working with the Department of Telecommunications to strengthen connectivity between vessels and control rooms, with more coastal towers being installed to improve network coverage at sea.
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Once fully implemented, registered Indian vessels will transmit identifiable “green” signals, while any unidentified or suspicious vessel entering Indian waters will trigger a “red” alert. Speed boats from the coastal police, Indian Coast Guard, and Indian Navy will be deployed for patrol and rapid response.
Why is coastal security vital?
Maharashtra’s coastline houses key maritime hubs like Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, along with offshore installations and petrochemical facilities. Coastal security has been a top priority since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, when terrorists entered via sea.
The MDA initiative also emphasises community participation, training fishermen to spot suspicious activity and assist authorities, making them active partners in safeguarding the coastline.
