Indian Coast Guard Conducts 10th NATPOLREX Off Chennai Coast

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is set to conduct the 10th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-X) off the Chennai coast, Tamil Nadu, beginning tomorrow. The two-day biennial event is India’s flagship marine pollution preparedness exercise, organized to test and strengthen the nation’s response capabilities against marine oil spill disasters. This exercise will be held in conjunction with the 27th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) and Preparedness Meeting, bringing together key national and international stakeholders involved in maritime environmental protection.

About NATPOLREX-X

The National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX) is a biennial exercise organized by the Indian Coast Guard, which functions as the Central Coordinating Authority for oil spill response in Indian waters under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP).

The 10th edition—NATPOLREX-X (2025)—aims to,

• Evaluate India’s readiness to handle large-scale marine oil spills.
• Test inter-agency coordination and response mechanisms.
• Demonstrate technological innovations in oil spill control, containment, and recovery.

Strengthen maritime environmental governance and international cooperation in pollution response.

Participants and Scale of the Exercise

The event will bring together a wide spectrum of stakeholders from across India and abroad, including,

• Central ministries and departments (MoES, MoEFCC, MoPNG, MoPSW, MoD)
• Coastal State Governments
• Major ports and oil handling terminals
• Public and private oil companies
• Shipping and maritime organizations
• Indian Navy, Air Force, and State Pollution Control Boards

In addition, over 40 foreign observers from 32 countries and 100 national delegates will attend the exercise, highlighting India’s growing role in global marine environmental protection efforts.

Operational Demonstration and Capabilities

To showcase India’s maritime pollution response capability, the Indian Coast Guard will deploy a comprehensive fleet of pollution control vessels, aircraft, and specialized equipment.

Key assets to be used include,

• Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs) equipped with containment booms and skimmers.
• Fixed-wing surveillance aircraft and helicopters for aerial monitoring.
• Oil spill dispersant systems and recovery units for containment and cleanup.
• Coordination units linking the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) with national and regional command stations.

The drills will demonstrate tiered response mechanisms—local, regional, and national—ensuring readiness for any oil spill emergency within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Background: India’s Marine Pollution Response Network

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), under the Ministry of Defence, is the nodal agency for oil spill response in India.
• India’s Pollution Response Centres (PRCs) are located at Mumbai, Chennai, and Port Blair, with regional units across coastal states.
• India is a signatory to MARPOL 73/78 and a member of the Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Pollution in the South Asia Seas Region (SACEP).
• Through these frameworks, the ICG ensures India remains ready to handle any maritime environmental hazard within its 7,500 km coastline and vast EEZ.

Static Facts

• Exercise Name: NATPOLREX-X (10th National Level Pollution Response Exercise)
• Organizer: Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
• Location: Off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Duration: Two days (October 2025)
• Associated Event: 27th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) Meeting
• Objective: Evaluate India’s oil spill response and strengthen inter-agency cooperation