New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) sent the ship Samudra Paheredar, a special pollution control vessel to the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei to demonstrate its capabilities to combat marine pollution and strengthen bilateral cooperation with partner countries.
The ICG Samudra Paheredar will be in the region for three days, visiting ports in Manila, Ho Chi Minh, and Muara.
The ship is equipped with advanced marine pollution control equipment and a Chetak Helicopter in Pollution Response configuration, which is capable of containing and recovering spilt oil. In addition, the ship will also carry 25 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, who will participate in beach cleanup and other activities during the port calls.
The purpose of the visit is to extend ICG’s presence in the region and demonstrate its commitment to addressing the challenges of marine pollution, especially in the context of the changing demographics and rapid expansion of the coastal economy. The ship’s arrival in the region is also expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard, Vietnam Coast Guard, and Brunei Maritime agencies.
The visit is the third in a row by the Indian Coast Guard to ASEAN countries. Earlier this year, the ICG Pollution Control Vessels visited Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. The deployment is part of an initiative aimed at promoting ICG’s Marine Pollution Response capabilities and demonstrating its commitment to addressing the challenges of marine pollution in the ASEAN region.
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