CHENNAI: In one of the largest search and rescue operation drills Sarex-2022 held off the coast of Chennai, 16 Indian Coast Guard ships and seven aircraft, one navy ship, one air force helicopter, a navy helicopter, a boat from customs and a tug from Chennai Port simultaneously 'rescued' around 300 people on Sunday.
Two accident scenarios - a stricken passenger ship with 500 passengers that has caught fire and a plane with 200 passengers that has crashed into the sea - were simulated in the sea to demonstrate different techniques and technology used to save life quickly. Remote controlled buoys, a recent acquisition, advanced light helicopters and drones were used for the exercise. Representatives from 16 countries observed the exercise. Passenger ship Swarajdweep which is used on Chennai-Port Blair route was used as the stricken vessel.
The search and rescue exercise with the theme "Capacity Building Towards Marine Passenger Safety" was aimed at training and demonstrating capabilities and coordination between multiple agencies.
Director general of Coast Guard VS Pathania said that the focus was on technology which saves time and can help in reaching the location fast for rescuing people in case of a contingency. "The use of remote controlled buoys showed the need for technology in saving lives. The aim was to reevaluate standard operating procedure."
He also said that more planes are in the pipeline and that will help the coast guard to become one of the strongest forces in the region. The advanced light helicopter is a force multiplier and the exercises will help the coast guard because "we are strategically situated in a region where there is a lot of marine traffic ".
Asked about laning of refugees from Sri Lanka, Pathania said that refugees are not coming in large numbers and the coast guard acts as a deterrent.
The Indian Coast Guard also has an added responsibility because an MoU has been signed with Indian Ocean Rim Association member states for coordinating the search and rescue operations in the Indian Ocean region and the Indian Coast Guard has been nominated as nodal agency for search and rescue activities in the Indo Pacific region.
