The two boats will help Mozambique in combating maritime terrorism and insurgency in the country
In a move that will help Mozambique bolster its maritime security, India has gifted two water-jet propelled Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) to the southern African country, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Saturday.
 
These water-jet-propelled boats which have a top speed of 45 knots and a range of 200 nautical miles at 12 knots, were handed over to the Government of Mozambique on November 8 in a ceremony which was attended by Indian High Commissioner Robert Shetkintong, newly appointed Defence Adviser at Maputo, Colonel Puneet Attri, and the Commanding Officer of INS Gharial, Commander Ranjan Chib.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Defence, Augusto Casimiro Mueio, formally accepted the vessels on behalf of the Government of Mozambique, the Ministry of Defence said.
 
These vessels which can carry a crew of five personnel, are equipped with machine guns and bullet-resistant cabins. The two FICs will significantly aid the Government of Mozambique in its effort to combat maritime terrorism and ongoing insurgency in the Cabo Delgado province, the Ministry added.
 
Capacity building exercise 
Earlier, to bolster the efforts of the Government of Mozambique for maritime security, the Government of India had gifted two large Interceptor vessels in 2019, followed by two FICs of the same class in January 2022.
 
India has provided training opportunities for the Mozambique Armed Forces in various professional institutions of the Indian Armed Forces.
 
India also gifted an Infantry Weapons Training Simulator to Mozambique in November last year to be installed at the Army Practicing School Manhica, near Maputo. On-job training on operating and maintaining the Indian-gifted vessels is also provided by the resident Indian Coast Guard Afloat Support Team at Maputo.
 
The Interceptors vessels gifted by India have played a pivotal role since 2019 in anti-insurgency operations, maritime patrol & interdiction, and logistics support missions. In the last two years, Indian Warships have made regular port calls at Maputo, Beira and Nacala.
 
Indian Naval Ships Tir and Sujata participated in the 2nd edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania (IMT) Trilateral Exercise at Nacala, held in March 2023.
 
Previously, Indian Naval Ships Sujata, Sunayna and Sumedha undertook joint EEZ Surveillance missions with the Mozambique Navy to strengthen maritime security in the region and undertake harbour and sea training for Mozambique Navy personnel.
 
India and Mozambique share a robust strategic partnership that has grown even stronger with each passing year in multiple realms.
 
India is thus fully committed to helping and supporting its maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region in line with the vision of Security and Growth for all in the region (SAGAR) advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 
Humanitarian support to Mozambique 
The Indian Navy has also been the first responder to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to several nations in the region during natural calamities and other contingencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
In March 2019, Indian Naval Ships Sujata & Shardul and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi were diverted from their deployment to assist Mozambique when Cyclone Idai struck the Sofala province.
 
Over a period of two weeks, the ships rescued more than 200 civilians, provided emergency medical treatment to over 2,300 people and supplied 10 Tonnes of food material by boats and helicopter to flood-affected areas
 
In March 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India donated 100,000 doses and supplied over one million doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine to Mozambique under the COVAX programme.
 
Conclusion
The Indian Navy has been seen by several nations in the IOR as the preferred partner for maritime security. It has been collaborating with several friendly littorals of the IOR to equip and train their maritime security forces to counter maritime security challenges like piracy, drug, and human trafficking, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and maritime terrorism.