Western Naval Command conducts exericise for offshore security

Mumbai: The Western Naval Command conducted an offshore security exercise, ‘Prasthan’  in the Offshore Development Area (ODA) on the B-193 platform of ONGC, located about 38 nautical miles west of Mumbai, on March 23, 2022.

The day-long exercise resulted in refining standard operating procedures (SOPs) and response-actions to a number of contingencies in the Offshore Defence Area off Mumbai.

Conducted every six months, this exercise is an important element of ensuring offshore security and aims to integrate efforts of all maritime stakeholders involved in offshore defence.

Contingencies such as terrorist intrusion, bomb explosion, casualty evacuation, search and rescue, man overboard, major fire, oil spill and mass evacuation were exercised.

Earlier, on March 17, 2022, a loss of control of an Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) that necessitated towing by an Emergency Towing Vessel was also exercised. The exercise provided all stakeholders with a realistic experience to assess their readiness to respond and combat contingencies in the Western ODA, as also to operate together in a coordinated and synergised manner.

Led by the Navy, the exercise saw participation from the Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, ONGC, Mumbai Port Trust, Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust, Customs, state fisheries department, Mercantile Marine Department and the Marine Police. 

The exercise met all its intended objectives, the Ministry of Defence stated today.

– global bihari bureau