Indian Coast Guard to undertake joint training exercises with UAE
dubai — Senior officers of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), on board the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Samarth, will be undertaking joint training exercises with the UAE Coast Guard.
Simulated search and rescue operations, law enforcement and marine pollution response and control are some of the training activities that the ICG will undertake with Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA), Abu Dhabi.
Samarth, one of the ICG’s largest vessels and the first in the series of six large OPVs built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), arrived in the UAE on Monday and will be berthed in Rashid Port, Dubai until Friday. Samarth, the first in the series of the 105-metre OPV is a newly commissioned ship of the ICG.
The ship is commanded by deputy inspector-general KR Deepak Kumar, who stated that Samarth will visit four Gulf countries as part of its deployment in the region. “Indian Coast Guard ships have visited Gulf nations before, however, this is Samarth’s first visit to the UAE,” he said.
Clarifying details about the pollution response simulation exercise, DIG Kumar added that officers on board Samarth will showcase their know-how on clearing oil spills from the ocean, with the use of advanced pollution response equipment.
“She ( Samarth) is a two-year-old ship and is capable of carrying one twin-engine light helicopter and five high-speed boats… We have extremely advanced and integrated navigation and communication systems on board and are mostly involved in successful search and rescue operations,” said DIG Kumar. He elaborated that the ship recently rescued two South African nationals from extremely rough weather, near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian territorial waters.
Senior members of the UAE Coast Guard, Consul-General of India to Dubai Vipul, officers, prominent Indian businessmen and foreign officials gathered on board the vessel on Tuesday.
The consul-general said: “We’re extremely happy to have the ICG’s Samarth here with us. The joint training exercises are an indication of the positive partnership
The joint training exercises are an indication of the positive partnership and friendship that both countries share.” Vipul, Consul-General of India in Dubai
and friendship that both countries share,” he said. The cooperation between our Coast Guards is a vital part of the strategic partnership as announced by leaders of both nations, added Vipul.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com