Karnataka - Mangalore   

Coast Guard to conduct search and rescue exercises

Staff Correspondent

Focus will be on distress element involved while flying over the sea

MANGALORE: The Coast Guard will conduct search and rescue exercises to evaluate the capability of rescue agencies in the Arabian sea off the Mangalore, Kozhikode and Kochi coast from December 12 to 14, according to L.S. Asai, Chief Staff Officer, Coast Guard, Region West.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Asai said Indian Air Force and Navy personnel will also participate in this "real time'' operation and mock exercise. At least three ships of the Coast Guard and one of the Navy and aircraft will be involved in it.

Search and rescue operation involves the use of available resources to assist people and property in times of potential or actual distress. To coordinate it in accordance with the provisions of international conventions, the National Search and Rescue Board was constituted on January 28, 2002, with the Director-General of Coast Guard as chairman.

This will be the third such exercise. Earlier, the Coast Guard conducted such exercises in the Arabian sea off Agatti, Lakshadweep, in 2003 and in the Bay of Bengal off Chennai in March, 2005.

Dinesh Rajaputhran, Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Coast Guard, Region West, said the exercise will test the capabilities and preparedness of rescue agencies of the local administration. Coordination between air and marine rescue centres will also be tested.

So far, such exercises had not focused on the distress element involved while flying over the sea. This time, it will be tested how marine and air rescue centres coordinate in case an aircraft is in distress while flying over the sea.

The pilot of an aircraft flying over the sea will be asked to send the distress signal.

And coordination between the marine and air rescue centres and preparedness of the local administration to handle the situation will be assessed.

The exercise will help bring necessary amendments in search and rescue procedures. Sukant Choudhury, Commandant, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 3 (Karnataka), was present.

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