Coast Guard conducts SAREX exercise off Odisha coast

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the 12th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise — SAREX-2026 — off the Odisha coast on October 8.

• It was conducted under the aegis of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSARB).

• The theme was “Leveraging Technology to Strengthen SAR Preparedness and Maritime Safety”.

• India’s maritime search and rescue framework has evolved significantly since the country acceded to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979 in 2001 and constituted the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board in 2002.

• The exercise was conducted around 45 km off the Paradip coast.

• It involved the participation of the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Shipping Corporation of India, Directorate General of Shipping, Fisheries, Customs, Marine Police, Paradip Port Authority and the Odisha government.

• As many as 15 Coast Guard ships, three Dornier aircraft, three Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), a Chetak helicopter, an IAF C-130J and Mi-17 aircraft, two Indian Navy ships and several civil and state resources participated in the exercise.

• The exercise was witnessed by 32 observers from 30 countries, marking a significant step towards strengthening international cooperation in maritime Search and Rescue (SAR).

• SAREX-2026 reaffirmed the collective resolve of India and its international partners to build a faster, technology-enabled, and seamlessly coordinated Search and Rescue framework, in line with the vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the spirit of MAHASAGAR.