Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the newly-constructed Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on August 18, 2024. He also virtually launched the Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre, situated at Chennai Port, and the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Puducherry. These facilities have been established to strengthen maritime security and ensure swift responses to emergencies, reflecting the nation's commitment to maritime safety and environmental protection.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre is intended to significantly improve the coordination and effectiveness of maritime rescue operations for mariners and fishermen in distress. It highlights the Government's determination to safeguard lives and ensure prompt action in critical situations. The Centre is equipped with the latest technology for distress monitoring via terrestrial and satellite systems, along with advanced communication systems for real-time management of alerts by highly-trained ICG personnel, specialising in search and rescue operations.
The Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre, described as the first of its kind, has been established to coordinate responses to marine pollution, especially oil and chemical spills, in waters adjacent to the coastal states in the Indian Ocean Region. The creation of this centre was initially announced by Shri Rajnath Singh during the inaugural Indo-ASEAN meeting held in Cambodia on November 22, 2022. Spearheaded by Coast Guard Regional Headquarters East, this centre, located within Chennai Port, features an Emergency Response Centre that is staffed 24/7 by ICG personnel to monitor marine oil pollution incidents. The Centre will also provide training in pollution response techniques to a variety of organisations, including ports, oil handling agencies, government bodies, and private entities, as well as to personnel from friendly nations, involving practical exercises with oil handling equipment to simulate real-time oil spill scenarios.
The Coast Guard Air Enclave, another significant development, will play a crucial role in maritime security along the coast of Puducherry and southern Tamil Nadu. The Enclave will be equipped with Chetak and Advanced Light Helicopter Squadrons, both indigenously built and capable of undertaking maritime patrols, search and rescue missions, and other operations both from land and Coast Guard ships at sea.
