NE ENVIRONMENT BUREAU
CHENNAI, OCT 4
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will conduct the 10th edition of the National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-X) along with the 27th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) & Preparedness Meeting on Sunday-Monday, October 5–6, 2025, off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
10th edition of National Level Pollution Response Exercise #NATPOLREX-X to be conducted by @IndiaCoastGuard on 05–06 Oct '25, off Chennai Coast. The biennial exercise will evaluate & enhance preparedness to respond to marine oil spill incidents, testing inter-agency coordination. pic.twitter.com/p8rb0ZT2eF
— Defence PRO Chennai (@Def_PRO_Chennai) October 3, 2025
- 10th National Oil Spill Exercise to showcase India’s preparedness, global participation from 32 countries
- The event will draw participation from a wide spectrum of stakeholders—central ministries, coastal state governments, major ports, oil handling agencies, and maritime organisations.
This biennial flagship drill is aimed at testing India’s readiness to tackle marine oil spills and strengthening inter-agency coordination under the NOSDCP framework.
Leadership and Oversight
The exercise will be overseen by Director General Paramesh Sivamani, AVSM, PTM, TM, Director General, Indian Coast Guard and Chairperson, NOSDCP. He will review the preparedness levels, operational efficiency, and synergy among the participating agencies.
Broad Stakeholder Participation
The event will draw participation from a wide spectrum of stakeholders—central ministries, coastal state governments, major ports, oil handling agencies, and maritime organisations.
Adding global relevance, NATPOLREX-X will be observed by over 40 foreign delegates from 32 countries alongside more than 100 national representatives.
Showcasing India’s Response Capability
To demonstrate operational preparedness, the ICG will deploy a range of pollution response assets including pollution-control ships, aircraft, and specialised equipment. The drills will underline a multi-tiered strategy that integrates both national and international response efforts.
Commitment to Marine Environmental Protection
Through NATPOLREX-X 2025, India will reaffirm its commitment to safeguarding the marine ecosystem, aligning with its vision of sustainable development and ecological responsibility.
The exercise is expected to:
- Strengthen inter-agency cooperation
- Promote adoption of global best practices
- Set new benchmarks in environmental stewardship, operational readiness, and technological integration.
