Mangaluru: Coast guard stimulates mass search and rescue operation

Mangaluru: The state unit of Indian Coast Guard simulated a Mass Rescue Operation (MRO) off Mangaluru coast on the receipt of a distress message by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai relayed through Indian Mission Control Centre.

A Coast Guard Dornier on patrol was diverted to ascertain the position of the distress vessel. On ascertaining the location, all operational surface Coast Guard units were directed to be ready to sail and render assistance. A Coast Guard Chetak helicopter was also launched for assistance at the incident site.

Reports state that nearly 60 people who were simulated to be injured/overboard were rescued using various means by Coast Guard rescue units.

The simulated rescued survivors were brought ashore and transferred to triage area set up at the New Mangalore Port Berth No 1. Subsequently, they were shifted to various hospitals for medical management, the release said.

The regional maritime Search and Rescue exercise began with a workshop on December 28 and an M-SAR demo at sea on December 30 tested the efficacy of operations of various SAR agencies in the state.

Five Coast Guard ships, two helicopters and two Hovercraft and other stakeholders like the Indian Mission Control Centre (INMCC) ,  Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), state agencies like Coastal Security Police, Customs and Fisheries Department personnel participated in the exercise, as per the release issued by the State unit of Coastal Guard in Mangaluru.