Joint naval exercise to focus on search, rescue missions

The biennial feature is the eighth in the series of National Maritime Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise – 2018 (SAREX-18), coordinated by National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority headed by Director General Indian Coast Guard. The exercise will include a search and rescue workshop and table top exercise, followed by a search and rescue exercise off Chennai on January 17. 

The focus of this joint exercise will be on mass rescue operation, encompassing rescue of passenger and crew to place of safety from a simulated, sinking passenger vessel MV Santa Maria off Chennai. 

As a disaster contingency measure, Chennai local administration and resource agencies will be setting up medical triage camps and activating Incident Command System at Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of Indian Coast Guard at Chennai. 

During the exercise, the rescue demonstrations by ships and aircraft will showcase India’s search and rescue capabilities and its commitment to safety of life in distress at sea. Besides the mandated participation from members from National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board from various Central and State Departments, resource agencies and other maritime stake holders, international observers from 27 maritime nations will be witnessing the exercise as observers. 

Director General Rajendra Singh, PTM, TM, Director General Indian Coast Guard and Admiral Satoshi Nakajima, Commandant Japan Coast Guard will be jointly reviewing the search and rescue  exercise at sea.