Chennai: "India's geolocation at the centre stage of the Indian Ocean Region and dense merchant marine, fishing routes keeps us always on guard. As the nodal maritime Search and Rescue(SAR) agency, Indian Coast Guard(ICG) has saved more than 11,500 lives stranded at sea, over the last four decades" said VS Pathania, Director General, Indian Coast Guard. The head of the Indian Coast Guard was in the Southern Indian city of Chennai, for the 10th National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2022), which is an at-sea exercise aimed at validating the best practices and procedures to be followed during the conduct of a Mass Rescue Operation(MRO). 



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Themed “Capacity Building Towards Marine Passenger Safety”, the 2022 edition of the biennial SAREX exercise witnessed 51 participants from national Maritime SAR stakeholders and is also being attended by 24 observers from 16 friendly-foreign countries.  The exercise which is conducted under the aegis of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSARB) is hosted by the Indian Coast Guard, as the nodal maritime SAR coordinating agency for the Indian Search & Rescue Region (ISRR)


Also Read: Indian Coast Guard Recruitment 2022: Apply for Asst Commandant posts at joinindiancoastguard.cdac.in, direct link here



​The event featured simulated responses to two mass rescue contingencies, where one is involving a passenger vessel and the other with a passenger aircraft. The Defence Secretary also mentioned about an unmanned SAR life-buoy developed by an Indian start-up in the Exercise. Among the simulated operations showcased off the coast of Chennai included firing a water cannon to extinguish the blaze on-board a passenger vessel, Indian Air Force Military transporter plane 'C-130J' and Coast Guard Dorner aircraft dropping a life raft at sea, Chetak and Advanced Light Helicopters of the ICG performing rescue, high-speed vessels of ICG also displayed their ability to rapidly mobilize and transport men and material.