Chennai hosts maiden Indo-Vietnam joint Coast Guard exercise

National Institute of Ocean Technology ship Sagar Manjusa was also part of the exercise, being stakeholder in the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations along this coast.

The exercise focused towards acquainting the two Coast Guards with each other’s capabilities, strengthening their working level relationship to rescue lives at sea and further refine joint operation procedures.

The highlights of the exercise encompassed the scenario of an oil tanker being hijacked and subsequent rescue of its crew in a coordinated anti-piracy joint operation of both the countries and preventive efforts for marine environment protection. Interdiction of pirated vessel, coordinated joint boarding operation, SAR demonstration and external fire-fighting to salvage burning ships were the other highlights of the exercise.

The exercise culminated with an impressive steam past by the ships and fly past by the aircraft wherein the crew of the participating units saluted Major General Nguyen Van Son, Commandant Vietnam Coast Guard; and Eastern Seaboard Commander Inspector General Paramesh Sivamani, on board ICGS Shaurya.

The joint exercise was conducted under the overall supervision of Inspector General Paramesh Sivamani, while Additional Director General K R Nautiyal, Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard) was present during the exercise.