The 20th National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board meeting was organized by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Friday, 18 November 2022 at Kevadia in Gujarat as part of the series of annual Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR) meetings. This high-level meeting was chaired by the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard and the Chairman of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board, Director General V.S. Pathania, PTM, and was held under the chairmanship of TM. The NMSAR Board comprises a total of 31 members from various Union Ministries/agencies, members of the Armed Forces, all coastal States, and Union Territories and oversees the vast Indian Search and Rescue Region of 4.6 million square kilometers (ISRR) meets annually to discuss policy issues, formulate guidelines and procedures and evaluate the effectiveness of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Plan and provide services to seafarers and fishermen.
The Chairman, in his introductory address, highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by the Indian Coast Guard under the auspices of the Board in coordination with other stakeholders/resource agencies for strengthening M-SAR services. During this meeting, Director General V.S. Pathania, PTM, TM, Chairman, National Maritime Search, and Rescue Board released the National Maritime Search and Rescue Plan- 2022.
The SAR Plan serves as a policy document for all participating agencies and stakeholders to direct an integrated and coordinated approach to the functioning of the M-SAR system and aims to build the capacity and efficiency of SAR services in India.
The Search and Rescue Assistance Tool-Integrated ( SARAT-I) version 1.0 jointly developed by the Center for National Oceanic Information Services of India ( INCOIS) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was also launched. This software is designed to integrate the most probable area delineation while deriving the line datum probability algorithm during aeronautical contingency at sea.
The objective of this software is to assist in locating missing aircraft after the loss of contact with Air Traffic Control ( ATC)/Coast-based RADAR (launch of software subject to final evaluation) and to assist in the process of how it disintegrated at sea.
Apart from discussing various issues related to maritime security and identifying areas for improvement of SAR services through policy framework and awareness programs, the meeting also featured technical presentations by subject matter experts from ICG, ISRO, Maharashtra State Fisheries, and Karnataka State Fisheries followed by deliberations. Sessions and discussion sessions were held on agenda items from stakeholders.
The NMSAR Board applauds the SAR efforts of merchant seafarers, government-owned vessels, coastal units, and fishermen for their heroic work in assisting the distressed organization at sea every year in various capacities. During the award ceremony, the Chairman awarded SAR awards for the year 2021-22 under four categories which include SAR Award for Merchant Vessels, SAR Award for Fishermen, SAR Award for Government Owned Unit, and SAR Award for Coastal Units. SAR for merchant ships award was jointly awarded to Indian flagged vessel MV Santiago and Panamanian flagged vessel MV Alliance. The SAR Award for Fishermen was awarded to Ramdas, Master of Krishna Narayan, a West Bengal registered fishing boat. Also, the SAR award for the government-owned unit was jointly awarded to ICG vessel Anmol and MFV Bluefin of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep administration, while the SAR award for the coastal unit was awarded to Gujarat Maritime Board ( GMB) as their sub-unit.VTS was awarded for carrying out immediate rescue coordination efforts on behalf of Khambhat.
The Chairman, in his concluding remarks, appreciated the collaborative efforts being undertaken by all stakeholders toward the shared objective of providing a safe marine environment to seafarers in the Area of Responsibility ( AOR).
