NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, AUG 19
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a new Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) of Indian Coast Guard at Chennai on Sunday. The minister also inaugurated two new Coast Guard units – Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre (RMPRC) at Chennai and a Coast Guard Air Enclave at Puducherry through remote mode.
#WATCH | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh receives Guard of Honour, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu
He will inaugurate the Indian Coast Guard’s state-of-the-art Maritime Rescue Coordination Center and Marine Pollution Response Centre in Chennai today. pic.twitter.com/dOUqQBp51u
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2024
Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today inaugurated the @IndiaCoastGuard Maritime Rescue Coordination Center #MRCC at #Chennai, enhancing maritime safety and rescue capabilities on India's east coast. Additionally, Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Regional Marine… pic.twitter.com/QvwnIUdLKp
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 18, 2024
The new Coast Guard MRCC situated near Napier Bridge at Chennai, constructed at a cost of Rs 26.10 crore, will be an iconic structure facilitating the enhanced coordination for rescue of mariners and fishermen in distress at sea. The MRCC is installed with latest equipment for distress monitoring through terrestrial and satellite systems and are also equipped with advanced communication systems for real-time management of alerts by a highly trained personnel of Indian Coast Guard specialising in Search and Rescue procedures, with the rescue aircraft, ships and other facilities.
- Rajnath Singh inaugurates new state-of-the-art ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre building in Chennai
- Virtually launches Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre in Chennai & Coast Guard Air Enclave in Puducherry
- These establishments to ensure robust maritime security & provide efficient responses to emergencies
The new MRCC will serve as the nerve centre for coordinating all maritime rescue operations on the east coast of India and beyond, ensuring safety and well-being of our fishermen and mariners.
Rajnath Singh also inaugurated Indian Coast Guard Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre, in short RMPRC based at Chennai Port premises. RMPRC is first of its kind facility for coordinating response against marine pollution, particularly oil and chemical pollution, in waters adjoining the coastal states in the Indian Ocean Region. The creation of this centre at Chennai for co-ordinating marine pollution in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) was first announced by Rajnath Singh during the maiden Indo-ASEAN meeting held in Combodia on 22 Nov 2022.
Setting up of this centre was spearheaded by Coast Guard Regional Headquarters East at its premises within Chennai Port. The RMPRC will have an Emergency Response Centre (ERC) which will be manned 24 x 7 by Coast Guard personnel to monitor the marine oil pollution incidents. The Centre will also impart training in Pollution response techniques to various organizations such as Ports, Oil Handling agencies, Govt organizations and private participants. Apart from this, RMPRC will also train trainees from friendly foreign countries in combating oil pollution at sea. The practical training at RMPRC will involve actual deployment of various Oil handling equipment for maximum exposure to real time oil spill scenarios.
The Coast Guard Air Enclave at Puducherry was also inaugurated remotely by the defence minister, marks a significant milestone for ICG and will play a vital role in Maritime security along the Puducherry and south Tamil Nadu coast. The Air Enclave will be equipped with Chetak and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Squadrons. Both these helicopters are indigenously built and are capable to carry out Maritime patrol, Search and Rescue and other such missions both from land as well as from Coast Guard ships patrolling at sea.
The inaugural function was attended by eminent dignitaries from Centre and State organizations as well as a number of guests from friendly foreign countries. While addressing the gathering, the minister highlighted the role of ICG in saving lives at sea and protecting maritime interests of India. Since inception, ICG has saved more than 11000 lives, out of which, close to 3000 lives were saved on the east coast of India. He emphasized the need of 24×7 vigil, coordination and proactive approach from all agencies in the maritime domain to thwart both conventional and non-conventional threats originating from sea.
He praised personnel from Indian Coast Guard for their efforts in securing the vast coastline through dedicated and committed efforts. He said that Indian Coast Guard has been a premier maritime agency which has emerged as a significant player
