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Indian Coast Guard conducts exercise SAREX 22

Indian Coast Guard conducts exercise SAREX 22

Why is it in news?

The Indian Coast Guard recently conducted its biennial National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise SAREX 22 off the Chennai coast. Representatives of many countries participated in this exercise.

Highlights

• The objective of this exercise is to avoid accidents at sea and save lives by conducting rescue operations. During this, 24 observers from 16 countries participated in the exercise organized under the theme 'Capacity Building Towards Maritime Security'.

• This was the 10th exercise conducted by the Coast Guard. During this exercise, new technology like remote controlled lifebuoy was demonstrated over the Bay of Bengal.

Indian Coast Guard       

• ICG is a maritime law enforcement, search and rescue agency, which works under the Ministry of Defense of India. It has jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including contiguous areas and exclusive economic zones. This agency was established on February 1, 1977 under the Coast Guard Act, 1978.

Following are the missions of Indian Coast Guard-

• To protect artificial islands

• To protect marine ecology and environment

• To protect fishermen and sailors with ease

• The responsibilities of the Indian Coast Guard are offshore security coordination, national maritime search and rescue, coastal security.