- Indian Coast Guard Conducts 20th National Maritime Search And Rescue Board Meeting In Gujarat
- The SAR Award for the Ashore Unit was received by Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) for prompt rescue coordination efforts on behalf of its sub-unit VTS Khambhat.
- NAMSAR launches Search and Rescue Aid Tool-Integrated (SARAT-I) version 1.0 developed jointly by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI)
GOWRI MANICKAVASAGAM
KEVADIA (NARMADA), NOV 19
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in a series of Annual Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR) Meetings, conducted its 20th National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board meeting at Kevadia in the Narmada district of Gujarat on Friday.
VTS Khambat, Sub unit of #Gujarat #maritime Board was awarded SAR Award for Shore Unit for 2021-22 by Director General @indiacoastguard in 20th NMSAR meeting at Kevadiya, Gujarat
VTS Khambat coordinated #Rescue of 5 fishermen & 08 crew of sinking tug off Hazira 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/TmcEoTB3P7
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) November 18, 2022
The apex level meeting was chaired by VS Pathania, PTM, TM, Director General, the Indian Coast Guard and the Chairman National Maritime Search and Rescue Board.
The @IndiaCoastGuard DG VS Pathania commended Deepan Bhadran DIG & KK Patel Dy SP of #Gujarat ATS for exemplary cordination during joint anti #narcotics #Operations with ICG off Gujarat coast
IG AK Harbola CG Cdr NW was also present @PMOIndia @DefenceMinIndia @giridhararamane pic.twitter.com/haDJqqkYYJ
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) November 18, 2022
With a view to enhance the security of vital defence and economic activities of Gujarat, NMSAR has decided to bifurcate the North-West Region the Coast Guard for administrative exigencies. NMSAR had already been conducted in Gujarat about 4 or 5 years ago and for the first time held in Kevadia, the DG said.
20th Annual NAMSAR Meeting at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat in #progress@IndiaCoastguard
is coordinator for Maritime Search
& Rescue in Indian S&R RegionDG, ICG is Chairman & consists of @indiannavy @IAF_MCC @DGCAIndia Fisheries, DG Shipping, Marine Police @NDRFHQ pic.twitter.com/b75YPMVjQT
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) November 18, 2022
“The NMSAR Board comprising 31 members from various central ministries and agencies, members of armed forces, and all Coastal States and Union Territories meets annually to discuss the policy issues. In the meeting, guidelines and procedures are formulated, to assess the efficacy of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Plans and services for the mariners and the fishermen, in the vast 4.6 million sq km of the Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR),” the DNG said.
#azadikaamritmoahotsav#tuesdayvibe#aviation@HALHQBLR handed over last of 16 ALHs 🚁 Mk-III, #maritime role to @IndiaCoastGuard DG VS Pathania@giridhararamane@makeinindia @TwitterNews @DGCAIndia @ANI@gopalsutar @IAF_MCC @adgpi @indiannavy @NCC_Dte_Gujarat @gujratsamachar pic.twitter.com/nugoNqysbG
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) November 15, 2022
The Chairman in his inaugural address, highlighted various initiatives undertaken by Indian Coast Guard in coordination with other stakeholders/resource agencies for strengthening the M-SAR services under the aegis of the Board.
During the meeting, Director General VS Pathania, PTM, TM, Chairman National Maritime Search and Rescue Board launched the National Maritime Search and Rescue Plan-2022. The SAR plan serves as a policy document for all the participating agencies & stakeholders for directing an integrated and coordinated approach towards functioning of the M-SAR system and is aimed towards capacity and capability building of SAR services in India.
During the meeting, Search and Rescue Aid Tool-Integrated (SARAT-I) version 1.0 developed jointly by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was also launched. The software has been designed to integrate depiction of most probable area during an aeronautical contingency over sea factoring the line datum probability algorithm. The software is aimed to aid search of missing aircraft after losing contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC)/ Shore based RADAR (Launch of the software is subject to final evaluation) and processed to how ditched over sea.
Apart from deliberations on various maritime safety issues and identifying areas of improvement of SAR services through policy framework and awareness programmes, technical presentations were also delivered by the subject experts from ICG, ISRO, Maharashtra State Fisheries and Karnataka State Fisheries followed by brain storming sessions and discussions on Agenda Points from the stakeholders.
The NMSAR Board recognises the SAR efforts of merchant mariners, Govt. Owned Vessels, Ashore unit and Fishermen every year taking account of the gallant act of rendering assistance to distressed entity at sea at various capacities.
“During the award ceremony, the SAR award for the year 2021-22 was conferred by the Chairman under four categories: SAR awards for the Merchant Vessel, SAR award for the Fishermen, SAR award for the Government Owned Unit and SAR award for Ashore Unit,” the DG said.
The SAR Award for Merchant Vessel was jointly conferred to Indian flagged vessel MV Santiago and a Panama Flagged vessel MV Alliance. The SAR award for fishermen was given to Ram Das, Master of West Bengal registered fishing Boat Krishna Narayan. Further, SAR award for Government owned unit was jointly awarded to ICG Ship Anmol and MFV Blufin of Union Territory of Lakshadweep administration whereas, the SAR Award for the Ashore Unit was received by Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) for prompt rescue coordination efforts on behalf of its sub-unit VTS Khambhat.
The Chairman in his closing remarks, appreciated the collaborative efforts by each stakeholders towards common objective of providing a safer maritime environment for seafarers in the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
