Indian Coast Guard conducts one-week Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre operations and Search & Rescue course in Mumbai for officers & sailors of six friendly countries
New Delhi, January 21. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has successfully conducted one week MRCC Ops & SAR course from January 16-21 under the aegis of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) for Officers and Sailors of Maritime Security Agencies from six Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs). Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC), Mumbai had steered effective conduct of the course for the six FFCs namely Bangladesh, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Myanmar and Maldives wherein a total of 22 (10 Officers and 12 sailors) trainees participated in the specialized training.
The one week course is modelled and designed in consonance with the International best practices primarily envisaging the Legal background domain of Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR), M-SAR Planning and Coordination, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), Lectures on Harmonisation of Aeronautical and Maritime SAR, Satellite Aided SAR Operations and Case studies on maritime SAR incidents amongst others. The training also included lectures by visiting faculties from Indian National Mission Control Centre (INMCC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Indian Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and subject matter experts from the Indian Coast Guard.
In addition to the class room instructions, Training visits and On Job Training (OJT) at MRCC Mumbai, Director General Shipping Communication (DG Com) Centre and Air Traffic Control (ATC), Mumbai Airport was also included in the programme. The course was inaugurated by Inspector General MV Badkar, PTM, TM, Commander Coast Guard Region (West).
It has been a well-established fact that, India has been a prime mover in according priority for collaboration and cooperation with the regional partners. ICG being one of the leading Coast Guards has been making earnest endeavors towards strengthening the regional maritime safety regime including capacity and capability building of the FFCs. Further, the course module is in tandem with the GoI’s vision of SAGAR i.e. Security and Growth for all in the Region and Neighborhood First Policy and support.
