Indian Coast Guard Conducts Maritime Pollution Response Exercise at Porbandar 

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted an Area Level Maritime Pollution Response Workshop and Exercise at Porbandar on 21 and 22 February 2023. The aim of this exercise was to check the response mechanism for combating marine oil spill and revalidate the District Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan of ICG. 

The event was inaugurated by DIG SK Verghese, Commander, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 1, Porbandar on Tuesday, 21 February 2023.  Various stakeholder agencies including officials from GMB, Private Ports, Fisheries, Local Administration, Petrochemical Industries, Oil Handling Agencies and Scientists from International Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) delivered lectures and presentations during the workshop. 

The workshop was followed by oil spill exercise off Porbandar, wherein, efficacy of all stakeholders was ascertained. Validation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and contingencies as per District Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan of ICG were exercised. Practical demonstration of pollution response equipment was carried out onboard ICG Ship Samudra Pavak, being a Special Role Ship of ICG for combating marine oil spill. 

The event was a coordinated effort to improve synergy amongst stake holders in case of marine oil spill.