The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Japan Coast Guard (JCG) undertook a joint search and rescue exercise, ‘SAREX-18,’ in the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast.
The Coast Guards of India and Japan, during a joint exercise, simulated a hijacking of a cruise vessel and rescue of passengers on board and other rescue operations
Observers from 17 countries, a delegation from the Coast Guard of Japan, and members of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board witnessed the drill.
The aim of the exercise was to augment operational level interaction and capacity building in areas of search and rescue, pollution response and maritime law enforcement.