The Indian Navy will be responsible for the overall maritime security of the country, including coastal and off-shore security, Defence Minister AK Antony announced on Saturday.
Speaking at a function in Kochi, Antony said the Navy would be assisted by the Coast Guard, the state marine police and other central and state agencies for the coastal defence.
Joint operation centres would be set up at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi and Port Blair, to be manned and operated by the navy and Coast Guard with inputs from other agencies, he said.
The announcement follows stepped up security measures in the wake of the November attack on Mumbai by terrorists who New Delhi says were Pakistanis and reached India by sea. The attack left some 170 people dead.