DEFENCE MINISTER SHRI
GEORGE FERNANDES INAUGURATED TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL MARITIME SEARCH
AND RESCUE CONFERENCE
The Defence Minister
Shri George Fernandes cautioned the International Community against
human involvement in accidents and tragedies at sea through militant
activism, piratical attacks, or by the agents of transnational
ocean crimes. Inaugurating the two-day International Maritime
Search and Rescue Conference organized by the Indian Coast Guard
at Chennai today the Minister said under these circumstances maritime
search and rescue is a full time activity for any agency involved
in it. He said he trusts that this forum will discuss and deliberate
these issues and identify the ways and means to provide credible
assistance to those in distress and trauma at sea.
The Minister
said that rendering timely assistance to humans in distress is
a noble service and those involved in the service do not look
at the nationality, caste, creed or colour of the people. They
render the service in the most humanitarian and civilized way.
Shri Fernandes said that he is aware of the steps taken by the
International Organisations like International Maritime Organisation,
International Civil Aviation Organisation, INMARSAT, COSPAS-SARSAT,
International telecommunication Union and others towards search
and rescue organizations.
The Defence Minister
said that the Coast Guard is a multi-mission armed force specially
constituted to provide safety and security in the maritime zones
of India. It is tasked to protect the lives and properties of
mariners in the Indian search and rescue region that extends much
beyond the maritime zones of India.
He told the conference
that it will be of interest to the delegates to note that about
60 per cent of lives that Coast Guard saved since its inception
was foreign seamen sailing under various flags. He said this truly
reflects its contribution towards international search and rescue
effort. The Minister informed the conference that India’s capability
in the international search and rescue effort is further enhanced
by two Indian satellites in the sky i.e. INSAT 2A and 2B. He said
that these satellites provides coverage for the entire Indian
and adjoining oceans.
The Minister
said that the person who traverses the ocean reposed faith in
these international agencies for safety and security and it is
the responsibility of the national governments to provide it.
He said the Coast Guard is declared as the national coordinating
authority for maritime search and rescue in the Indian Search
and Rescue region. It is a serious responsibility and to complete
this task they are assisted by other resource agencies in accordance
with the national contingency plan. The Minister said that it
is not possible for them to do it alone and it needs total support
from other national and international agencies and seafarers on
location.
Twenty-four countries
including Japan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar are
participating in the conference. This conference is being held
as a part of India’s recent accession to International Maritime
Organisation Search and Rescue convention 1979 and designation
of maritime search and rescue authority status on the Coast Guard
. The main invitees are the neighbouring countries sharing their
Search and Rescue Regions (SRR) with India. The International
Organization associated with search and rescue services and policy
making, organizations and departments representing National SAR
board, shipping authorities, ports, shipping boards, scientific
institutions, shipping institutions and various ministries are
also participating in the conference.
DG Coast Guard Vice
Admiral OP Bansal also addressed the Conference.
