On Tuesday, the Indian Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar, a specialised Pollution Control Vessel stationed in Manila Bay, Philippines, participated in a bilateral maritime cooperation initiative. The vessel is equipped with advanced marine pollution control gear and a Chetak Helicopter.
This deployment will be from March 25 to April 12 and will address marine pollution concerns and enhance cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). This step marks the third consecutive mission to ASEAN countries. Earlier, it visited Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia in 2023.
To provide equipment demos and training on pollution response, the ship arranges port calls in Muara, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila. Additionally, the ship is carrying 25 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets who will take part in beach cleanup efforts as part of the ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’.
By strengthening the current Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Coast Guards of the Philippines and Vietnam, this tour also strengthens bilateral connections. Professional exchanges, cooperative exercises, and visits aimed at enhancing capacity are all on the programme, demonstrating India’s dedication to regional maritime security and safety.
General Sudhir Ravindran, the Samudra Paheredar, has a proven track record in various Coast Guard operations, including pollution response, surveillance, counter-crime, and search and rescue missions.
