New Delhi || 28-11-2024
The 11th edition of Indian Coast Guard’s National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise & Workshop (SAREX-24) conducted today under the aegis of National Maritime Search and Rescue Board in Kochi, Kerala. The event inaugurated by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Director General S Paramesh, National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority and among other dignitaries.
The theme is ‘Enhancing Search and Rescue capabilities through Regional collaboration’. It signifies ICG’s commitment to provide succor during large-scale contingencies regardless of location, nationality or circumstances in the Indian Search & Rescue Region and beyond.
The first day of the event featured various programmes, including table-top exercise, workshop & seminars involving participation of senior officials from government agencies, Ministries & Armed Forces, various stakeholders and foreign delegates. On the second day, will feature the sea exercise involving two large scale contingencies will be carried out off the Kochi coast with participation of ships & aircraft of ICG, Navy, Indian Air Force, Passenger Vessel & Tug from Cochin Port Authority and boats from the Customs.
The first contingency simulated distress onboard a passenger vessel having 500 passengers onboard, while the second scenario was depict ditching of civil aircraft with 200 passengers. The response matrix in the sea exercise involved various methods to evacuate distressed passengers, wherein the advent of new-age technology using satellite-aided distress beacons, drones to deploy a life buoy, air droppable life rafts, operation of remote controlled life buoy demonstrated. The exercise was designed not only to evaluate efficiency of operations and coordination with national stakeholders, but also to aptly focus on cooperative engagements with the littorals and friendly countries.
Over the years, ICG has evolved as a premier maritime agency rightfully steering the Government’s efforts towards a stable and effective Maritime Search and Rescue construct. An MoU was signed with Indian Ocean Rim Association member states for coordinating SAR in the Indian Ocean Region and ICG is the implementing agency.
Further, ICG has been nominated as a nodal agency for SAR activities in the Indo-Pacific Region. ICG’s increased focus to the maritime safety aspect will go a long way in strengthening India’s global responsibility in sync with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.
