Paradip: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Wednesday carried out an extensive marine pollution response exercise in deep-sea waters off the Paradip coast of Odisha to evaluate its preparedness for handling oil spills and other maritime pollution emergencies.
The large-scale drill focused on coordinated operations to detect, contain and mitigate pollution caused by accidental oil leaks from ships and other marine sources. Officials said the exercise was designed to assess operational readiness, response time and inter-agency coordination to protect the fragile marine ecosystem along Odisha’s coastline.
Simulated Oil Spill Scenario at Sea
As part of the mock drill, the Coast Guard simulated oil spill scenarios involving vessel-related leakage and marine contamination. Specialized Coast Guard ships, Dornier surveillance aircraft and advanced pollution response equipment were deployed to demonstrate effective containment and recovery operations under deep-sea conditions.
The exercise showcased the entire pollution response chain — from early detection at sea to containment, recovery and shoreline protection. Aerial surveillance played a key role, highlighting seamless coordination between aircraft and surface vessels during pollution control operations.
Five Coast Guard Vessels Deployed
Five Coast Guard ships — ICG Vijay, ICG Varad, ICG Amogh, ICG Adamya and ICG Charlie — participated in the drill. Pollution response vessels from Paradip Port were also involved, underlining strong coordination between the Indian Coast Guard and port authorities.
Officials said the multi-platform deployment helped simulate real-time operational challenges and evaluate the effectiveness of pollution control measures in varying maritime conditions.
Emphasis on Marine Environmental Protection
According to the Coast Guard, the exercise went beyond emergency preparedness and aimed to raise public awareness about its role in safeguarding the marine environment. From offshore containment to shoreline protection, the drill highlighted measures adopted to minimize long-term ecological damage following pollution incidents.
The Coast Guard added that similar pollution response exercises will be conducted regularly to strengthen capabilities and ensure swift and effective action during maritime environmental emergencies.
