VASCO: Outlining the future objectives of the Indian Coast Guard including its expansion plans, the National Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, gave the keynote address at the inaugural ceremony of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise SAREX -2020, held in Utorda.
Delegates from 19 countries, especially from Asia and Africa, were a part of the 9th SAREX meet, which was held off Goa Coast on Thursday and Friday.
“We are happy to have representatives from 19 countries which shared their best practices in this area,” he added.
He opined that there is a need to share and extend maritime cooperation between nations by having joint exercises. For this, while pointing out that India is a willing partner for such partnerships, he said efforts at the national and international level are needed; and that maritime security of Africa and India is a common goal, which the regions were striving towards.
“As human endeavours take us deeper into the sea, harmonisation of both aeronautics and maritime is going to become more important,” he added, while speaking about the synergy between the two sectors.
Moving on to the steps the Indian government has taken to strengthen the Indian Coast Guard, he announced that the Request for proposal (RFP) for acquiring 14 multi-role heavy helicopters for maritime search and rescue operations would be issued by March-end. “We are planning to have 80 aircrafts to support the fleet of 200 boats in our search and rescue operations. As part of this we are in the process of initiating two major programmes. One, we are acquiring 14 multi-role heavy helicopters for search and rescue deep into the economic zone. We hope that RFP for this project will be issued this month-end. We are also in process of acquiring 16 advanced light helicopters being built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India,” Kumar stated.
He further revealed that by 2025, the Indian Coast Guard is marching towards setting up 29 sub-stations at coastal areas for quick response and assistance during emergency time at the earliest. He also announced that there is a proposal to set up an Indian Coast Guard Academy in Mangalore, wherein subjects like – maritime security, international law, maritime law and search and rescue operation related syllabus – will be taught.
He also made it a point to explain that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision incorporates security and growth for all in the Indian Ocean region.
“As far as India is concerned, given the density of traffic in the Indian Ocean region, a significant traction of our overall trade coming from maritime routes, increased airline traffic over the sea, all these are factors which point out to a greater need for increase in better technological and logistics co-ordination for better search and rescue in maritime zone deeper into the seas,” he added.
At SAREX -2020, various agencies including the Airforce, Navy, Coast Guard, Paramedics etc conducted a joint mass rescue operation in the Arabian Sea. The search and rescue exercise was based on the theme that there is an aircraft that has crashed into the sea. While 220 passengers in this exercise were rescued, the operation was successfully executed. A senor Indian Coast Guard officer added that the teams learned valuable lessons through the joint exercise.
Later, during a press briefing, the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (DGICG) said a humanitarian approach is the common goal between multiple agencies involved in such joint exercise in situations of emergency. He was responding to queries if there would be any clash of approach between agencies and he added that when it comes to saving the lives of the people, there is no confrontation. “Instead there is a good handshake and cooperation. Synergy is created amongst various agencies by performing such joint exercises, “ the DGICG added.
