Indian Coast Guard, Navy Hone Search and Rescue Skills

Indian Coast Guard, being the coordinator of the Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR), conducted the 6th Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise (SAREX-14) from 19 to 20 March 2014 in and around Mumbai.

Events comprised of Search and Rescue (SAR) Workshop (Table Top Exercise) conducted on 19 March 2014 followed by Search and Rescue Exercise conducted at sea off Mumbai on 20 March 2014. A total of 21 international observers form 10 maritime nations witnessed the exercise. Besides this, members of National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board from various central and state departments, resources agencies and other maritime stakeholders also participated in the exercise.

The SAR Workshop and Exercise assumes significance in the wake of past SAR operations like rescue of crew of MV Mol Comfort, which broke into two portions about 900 Nautical Miles way from Indian west coast in June 2013 and rescue of MV Asian Express, which sank 90 Nautical Miles off Minicoy Islands in July 2013.

“During the exercise, the rescue demonstration by ships and aircraft of various resource agencies showcased India’s SAR capability and its commitment to safety of life in distress at sea”, the Indian MoD said in a release.

“Search and Rescue services need to respond to every situation with utmost alacrity displaying professional acumen and exercising full coordination with other support agencies. Given the multiplicity of stake holders, this calls for best SAR practices, efficient on ground coordination and enhanced integration with global SAR system.”

With this aim and to check the efficiency of SAR mechanism, Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, Director General of Indian Coast Guard being the National Maritime SAR coordinating Authority

During the exercise, a scenario of a cruise liner colliding with a cargo vessel and two fishing trawlers off Mumbai was demonstrated. Post collision, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIIRBs) from merchant vessels and Distress Alert Transmitters (DATs) from fishing trawlers were activated to check the efficiency of distress alert relay mechanisms. After receipt of distress message, SAR operations simulating ‘Mass Rescue’ through a coordinated SAR operation involving various SAR resource agencies were demonstrated. Ten ships, two Dornier aircraft, two helicopters from Coast Guard, one Indian Naval Ship, one Indian Air Force helicopter, two offshore support vessels from ONGC besides resource agencies like Airport Authority of India (MB), Indian Mission Control Centre (INMCC) Bangaluru, Maharashtra Administration, Maharashtra Police, and MbPT participated in the exercise.

“Proactive approach adopted on SAR, particularly for ensuring safety of fishermen has yielded positive results and contributed onwards growing confidence amongst the fishing community in the maritime SAR network in India, resulting in 6292 saved lives at sea till 24 Mar 14,” the release concluded.

[mappress]
Press Release, March 24, 2014, Image: Indian Navy