Director General S Paramesh AVSM, PTM, TM, Director General Indian Coast Guard and Chairperson of the NMSAR Board, presided over the meeting. In his address, the Chairperson reaffirmed the collective resolve to safeguard lives at sea and underscored the importance of efficient search and rescue (SAR) operations as a cornerstone of India’s maritime safety architecture.
National Search and Rescue (SAR) awards for the year 2023-2024 were also presented during the meeting. MV He Yuan Shun 89, a Panama-flagged vessel, received the award in the Merchant Vessel category, while the Indian Fishing Boat Kedarnath Bhole was recognised in the Fishing Boat category. ICG Ship Rajveer received the award for the Government-owned SAR Unit category, and the Vessel Traffic System (VTS), Mumbai Port Authority, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) were jointly felicitated in the Ashore Unit category.
The 23rd NMSAR Board meeting focused on enhancing inter-agency coordination and collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen India’s overall SAR framework. Discussions centred on leveraging technology and modern communication systems to improve operational efficiency and maritime safety standards.
Since its inception, the ICG has conducted 4,203 SAR missions, saving 11,805 lives and carrying out 495 medical evacuations, equating to one life saved every alternate day. In the past year alone, the ICG undertook 119 missions, rescuing 108 lives and conducting 14 medical evacuations. The meeting convened representatives from essential maritime and aviation stakeholders, including the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, ISRO, INCOIS, Airports Authority of India, and the Directorate General of Shipping, among others. Through interactive sessions and presentations, participants exchanged ideas and best practices, reinforcing their collective commitment to promoting safer and more secure maritime operations.