The pollution control ship Samudra Prahari, which is part of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), is currently in ASEAN countries, officials said on Sunday. A statement from the government says that the operation will last from September 11 to October 4.
This deployment is part of India’s efforts to deal with marine pollution as part of its ASEAN initiatives. It shows off the ICG’s pollution response skills and its commitment to dealing with marine pollution problems and building up capacity in the region, according to the statement.
The ship has a Chetak chopper set up to respond to pollution, which makes it more useful in the area. It said that Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced this plan at a meeting of ASEAN defense ministers and at a meeting in Cambodia in November 2022.
The ship is planned to stop in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Jakarta during the deployment. Officials said it will show the ICG’s ability to deal with pollution and its commitment to working with others to deal with marine pollution.
The ship has 13 NCC cadets on board as part of a foreign exchange program. They will take part in “Puneet Sagar Abhiyan,” an international outreach program that focuses on beach cleanups and other similar activities in coordination with partner countries, according to a statement.
The visit is important because it will help strengthen ties with key maritime agencies like the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre and the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA). The statement said that these ties have grown over time to make sure that the seas in the area are safe, secure, and clean.
It also said that meetings with senior officials and staff from these agencies during the visit would improve the safety and security of the area even more.