Indian Coast Guard to Host SAREX-24 Maritime Exercise in Kochi

The Indian Coast Guard will conduct the National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercises & Workshop (SAREX-24) at Kochi from November 27 to 30. Organized under the aegis of the National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board, it will cover validation of the National M-SAR framework through a holistic and collaborative process.

The statement further emphasized the importance of India's large 4.6 million square kilometers of Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR). The Indian Coast Guard has been a great proponent of developing cooperation not only with homeland agencies but also with neighboring nations and friendly foreign counterparts to enrich search and rescue operations in the area.

Response operation to large scale contingencies at sea, termed as 'Mass Rescue Operation' (MRO) will be the essence of 11th edition of SAREX-24.

The theme of the exercise will be 'Enhancing Search and Rescue capabilities through Regional collaboration' to signify ICG's commitment and resolute to provide succor during large scale contingencies regardless of location, Nationality or circumstances in the ISRR and beyond.

The two-day event will be inaugurated by Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS, Defence Secretary in presence of Director General S Paramesh, PTM, TM, Director General, Indian Coast Guard who is also the National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority.

On the first day of the event, on November 28, various programmes including Table Top exercise, Workshop, Seminars etc involving participation of senior officials from the government agencies, ministries and armed forces, various stake holders and Ffreign delegates will be conducted.

On second day of the event, the Sea exercise involving two large scale contingencies will be carried out off Kochi coast with participation of ships and aircraft of Indian Coast Guard, Navy, Indian Air Force, Passenger Vessel and Tug from Cochin Port Authority and boats from the Customs.

The first contingency will simulate distress onboard a passenger vessel having 500 passengers onboard, whereas, the second scenario will depict ditching of civil aircraft with 200 passengers. The response matrix in the sea exercise will involve various methodology 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 etc will be demonstrated, the release added.

The exercise is 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 Foreign Countries (FFCs).

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