ICG conducts regional search and rescue exercise off Mumbai Coast

ICG conducts regional search and rescue exercise off Mumbai Coast

By Raju Vernekar

Mumbai: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Regional Headquarters (West) executed the Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise ‘ReSAREX-26’ off the Mumbai coast, to validate contingency protocols and foster interoperability with primary state and central stakeholders.

 As the nodal agency for maritime SAR in India, ICG conducted the sea exercise with primary state and central stakeholders, including the Maharashtra State Administration, Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), Indian Customs, Port Authorities- MBPA & JNPA, CISF and the fisheries dept.

 Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, IAS, was the Chief Guest for the exercise. He was accompanied by Additional Chief Secretary (Home). PS (Special), SID Commissioner, IG Coastal Security and other senior dignitaries of the state administration, witnessed the live drills onboard Indian Coast Guard ship “Samrat”.

 The sea exercise presented highly realistic crisis scenarios to test the rapid response capabilities of the deployed assets, which included ICG Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs), Interceptor Boats (IBs), Chetak and ALH Mk-III helicopters.

 Key operational evolutions demonstrated during the exercise included: Shipborne Firefighting: Fast-response containment and boundary cooling on an Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) simulating a major onboard fire. Aeronautical CASEVAC: Precision winching and rapid Casualty Evacuation using a rescue bucket via ALH Mk-III helicopter, Man Overboard (MOB) Rescue: Coordinated retrieval of an MOB from a simulated distressed fishing boat by specialized ICG aircrew divers deployed from a Chetak helicopter and advanced Tech Deployment: Demonstration of swift survivor retrieval using state-of-the-art Remotely Operated Lifebuoys.

 Speaking on the occasion, DIG Sudhakar Patil, Commander, Coast Guard (Maharashtra), highlighted the vital importance of civil-armed forces coordination in coastal safety. “ICG remains ever ready to undertake search and rescue operations in coordination with other stakeholders and resource agencies,” he stated. “Over the last year, the ICG has saved hundreds of lives through coordinated efforts.”

 Chief Guest Shri Rajesh Agarwal, commended the precision exhibited by the ICG and collaborating agencies, emphasizing that the safety of the busy maritime corridors off Mumbai relies heavily on such institutional preparedness. Reiterating its service motto “Vayam Rakshamah” (We Protect), the Indian Coast Guard affirmed its ongoing commitment to safeguarding lives at sea in all weather conditions, reinforcing the SAR safety net across our waters and beyond.