Indian Coast Guard demonstrates daring search and rescue exercises at SAREX-2024 off Kochi coast

Indian Coast Guard conducts SAREX-2024 off Kochi coast, showcasing mass-rescue operations and promoting international cooperation in maritime safety.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the 11th edition of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2024) off the Kochi coast on Friday (November 29, 2024.)

The exercise, which was inaugurated by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and was reviewed by Director General of the ICG, S. Paramesh, also saw participation from members of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board and 38 foreign observers representing Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).

SAREX-2024 was held on the theme ‘Enhancing Search and Rescue Capabilities Through Regional Collaboration’. A highlight of the event was a sea exercise on Friday in the sea off Kochi, which simulated a large-scale contingency involving a passenger aircraft crash. The scenario portrayed an aircraft carrying 250 passengers that encountered severe technical failure, losing communication with air traffic control (ATC) and vanishing from radar, while flying approximately 150 nautical miles northwest of Kochi.

A coordinated mass rescue operation (MRO) was swiftly initiated, demonstrating the seamless deployment of resources, including ships and aircraft from the ICG, Indian Air Force (IAF), tugs from Cochin Port Authority, three Kochi Water Metro ferries, a Garuda rescue and emergency vessel of Kochi Water Metro Limited, a water ambulance provided by the Government of Kerala.

The key actions held included IAF aircraft and ICG ships dropping life rafts, advanced light helicopters (ALH) evacuating passengers, crew rescue operations utilising Jason Cradle technology, innovative deployment of drones to deliver lifebuoys and the successful execution of these operations with high level of coordination and preparedness among participating agencies.

SAREX-2024 was held to validate standard operating procedures (SOPs) and best practices for conducting mass-rescue operations. It served as a vital platform to enhance mutual understanding, to foster collaboration, and to exchange strategies for managing large-scale maritime contingencies, ICG sources said.

The exercise also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in strengthening maritime safety.