Coast Guard to Hold ‘SAREX 24’ in Kochi from Nov 27-30

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is set to conduct the 11th edition of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercises & Workshop (SAREX-24) in Kochi from November 27 to 30. The event, organized under the aegis of the National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board, aims to enhance India’s capabilities in maritime search and rescue (SAR) operations through a collaborative approach involving various national and international stakeholders.

Key Details

• Event: SAREX-24 (National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercises & Workshop)
• Dates: November 27 to 30, 2024
• Location: Kochi, India
• Inaugural Speaker: Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS (Defence Secretary)
• Main Focus: Enhancing SAR capabilities through regional collaboration
• Lead Organizer: Indian Coast Guard (ICG)

Objectives and Themes

• The workshop will focus on validating India’s National M-SAR construct using a collaborative approach.
• The primary theme for the exercise is “Enhancing Search and Rescue capabilities through Regional collaboration.”
• It aims to demonstrate ICG’s commitment to providing assistance during large-scale maritime contingencies, irrespective of location, nationality, or circumstances.

Key Activities

Workshop and Seminars

• On November 28, the first day of the event, the workshop will feature table-top exercises and seminars involving senior officials from government agencies, ministries, armed forces, and foreign delegates.

Sea Exercise

• The second day will focus on a large-scale sea exercise off the Kochi coast.

Two major contingencies will be simulated,

• First Scenario: A distress situation involving a passenger vessel with 500 passengers on board.
• Second Scenario: A civil aircraft ditching with 200 passengers.

The exercise will showcase modern technologies and operational strategies for SAR operations, including,

• Satellite-aided distress beacons
• Drones for deploying life buoys
• Air-droppable life rafts
• Remote-controlled life buoys for evacuation
• Participant Agencies
• Indian Coast Guard
• Indian Navy
• Indian Air Force
• Cochin Port Authority (Passenger vessel and tug)
• Customs Department
• Foreign Delegates and stakeholders from littoral regions and friendly foreign countries

Significance

• SAREX-24 is crucial for testing coordination and efficiency in large-scale rescue operations at sea.
• The exercise will focus on cooperation between national agencies and international stakeholders.
• It aims to strengthen maritime safety and disaster response strategies across India’s vast 4.6 million square kilometer Search and Rescue Region (ISRR).