'Samudra Prahari' Conducts 'Pollution Response Table-Top' Exercise

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) pollution-control ship 'Samudra Prahari' conducted an extensive 'Pollution Response Table-Top' exercise at Khlong Toei Port in Bangkok, Thailand on the last day of her four-day visit on September 20, 2023.

The exercise was attended by officials from Thailand's Maritime Enforcement Coordination Center (MECC), Customs Department, Maritime Department, Royal Navy, Fisheries Department and other government departments.

Objective of the exercise:

• To express maritime expertise and commitment regarding shared challenges, especially tackling marine pollution.
• The exercise also included a scenario in which Thailand's marine pollution response contingency plan was developed and tested in collaboration with the Indian Coast Guard.
• This promoted knowledge sharing and an interactive environment between services, ensuring seamless collaboration during real-life oil pollution scenarios.
• The exercise also showcased the pollution response capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard and India's shared commitment to the region.

Puneet Sagar Abhiyan:

• During her visit, the ship's crew actively participated in an international outreach beach cleaning activity at Pattaya Beach along with NCC cadets and representatives of the Indian Embassy.
• This initiative was a part of Puneet Sagar Abhiyaan, a major nationwide campaign of NCC to create awareness about the importance of cleanliness as well as clean up plastic and other waste materials from beaches.
• Puneet Sagar Abhiyan was launched by NCC to clean Sea Shores/Beaches and other water bodies, including rivers & lakes, of plastic & other waste and increase awareness amongst the local population about the importance of keeping the beaches and river fronts clean. 
• The purpose of the Abhiyan is to educate locals and sensitise them about ‘Swachh Bharat’.

India-ASEAN Initiative:

• This visit of 'Samudra Prahari' to Bangkok under the India-ASEAN initiative is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and India's commitment to promote relations between the Indian Coast Guard and the Thai MECC in the maritime domain.
• It will prove to be very important in highlighting India as a reliable maritime partner in line with the theme of G-20 Chairmanship ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future’.
• The India-ASEAN initiative for overseas deployment was announced by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh during the ASEAN Defense Ministers' meeting in Cambodia in November 2022.