NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, AUG 28
The 10th edition of the bi-annual National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise (SAREX-22) conducted by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) culminated with a grand display of sea exercise off Chennai on Sunday.
.@IndiaCoastGuard conducted 10th National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2022) at Chennai today. 24 observers from 16 foreign countries attended the Exercise. @SpokespersonMoD @pibchennai @DefenceMinIndia @pibchennai @drajaykumar_ias @AjaybhattBJP4UK @DDNewsChennai pic.twitter.com/1ZM9umjNtq
— Defence PRO Chennai (@Def_PRO_Chennai) August 28, 2022
The sea exercise involved two large-scale contingencies with participation of 16 ICG Ships, 01 Naval Ship, 06 ICG aircrafts, 01 Naval Advanced Light Helicopter ALH, 01 IAF Helicopter, Passenger Vessel Swarajdweep, 01 tug boat from Chennai Port Trust and 01 boat from the Customs, an official release said.
The 1st contingency simulated distress onboard a passenger vessel having 500 passengers onboard whereas the 2nd scenario depicted ditching of a civil aircraft with 200 passengers.
- New-age technology such as remote controlled lifebuoy was demonstrated
- 16 ICG Ships, 06 ICG aircrafts, 01 Naval Ship, 01 Naval Advanced Light Helicopter ALH, 01 IAF Helicopter involved in the two-day Exercise
The operation of SAREX was reviewed by the Chief of Indian Coast Guard VS Pathania along with other agencies and foreign participants.
During the exercise, new-age technology such as remote controlled lifebuoy was demonstrated on the Bay of Bengal.
Amongst the air elements used in the sea exercise, the rescue modalities demonstration by the newly inducted Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-MK-III) highlighted the ease and precision of using the state-of-art aircraft in large scale rescue operation.
The two-day exercise was inaugurated by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar yesterday. The Exercise being conducted under the aegis of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSARB) is hosted by the Indian Coast Guard, being the nodal maritime SAR coordinating agency for the Indian Search & Rescue Region (ISRR).
In addition to 51 participants from national Maritime Search and Rescue stakeholders, the exercise was attended by 24 foreign observers from 16 friendly foreign countries.
Further, the exercise also acted as an enabler to foster mutual understanding, promote collaborative approach and share best practices followed, whilst dealing with large scale contingencies such as Mass Rescue Operations.
